Big Basin Redwoods State Park is perched in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is a living monument to California’s pioneering conservation legacy. As the state’s oldest park, it showcases towering ancient coast redwoods, sun-dappled creek canyons, and panoramic ridge vistas. Now in a powerful phase of regeneration since the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, Big Basin is reborn—offering an inspiring blend of ecological recovery, outdoor adventure, and cultural resiliency.
What Makes Big Basin Redwoods State Park Unique
Founded in 1902, the park preserves nearly 18,000 acres of the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. Despite the devastating fire, the Cathedral-like giants—the Mother of the Forest, the Father of the Forest, and the Statue of Responsibility—survive. Dozens of miles of trails and fire roads showcase nature’s resilience: young ferns and spring wildflowers now carpet the forest floor beneath the old-growth canopy peeking through recovering crowns.
Activities & Amenities
Hiking & Biking Trails
With over 20 miles now open—including the popular Redwood Loop, Dool Trail, Meteor Trail, Sunset Trail, Gazos Creek Road, North Escape Road, Middle Ridge Road, Johansen and Chalks Roads—you can explore canyon bottoms, ridge tops, and creek crossings. Bicycles and horseback riders are welcome on fire roads, offering varied terrain for exploration.
Visitor Center & Interpretive Programs
A temporary visitor center near headquarters provides maps, interpretive exhibits, and staffed information. Park rangers and volunteers lead guided walks, forest-recovery tours, and Junior Ranger programs on weekends and holidays.
Picnic Areas & Restrooms
Picnic tables have returned near the Dool Trailhead and along fire roads, with at least one ADA-accessible table. Vault restrooms and hand-washing stations are available, though there are no showers or potable water—bring your own or purchase bottled water at the kiosk.
Cultural & Educational Opportunities
Interpretive exhibits honor the Ohlone tribes, park history, fire ecology, and the Sempervirens conservation movement. The museum wing inside the visitor center features rotating art exhibits, a redwood seedling nursery, and live-stream nature cams.
Wildlife Viewing & Birdwatching
The recovering habitat attracts deer, raccoons, bobcats, and abundant birdlife—Steller’s jays, woodpeckers, warblers, and the elusive marbled murrelet. Spring brings wildflower blooms: trilliums, redwood violets, trillium, fairy lanterns, and irises.
Forest-Driving & Shuttle Service
A free shuttle runs summer weekends and holidays from nearby Saddle Mountain overflow parking to the visitor hub. Highway 236 through the park is open to vehicles and cyclists, offering scenic driving with endless pullouts.
Practical Visitor Tips
- Parking Reservations: Required for vehicles—$6 fee + $2 reservation; no reservation needed for bikers, hikers or bus riders.
- Day-Use Hours: Open 8am–sunset; access may be limited during wildfires or heavy maintenance.
- Water: No potable sources—bring sufficient water or buy bottled at the kiosk.
- Pets: Not allowed beyond the parking area and first mile of North Escape Road.
- Fire Safety: No open flames—campfires are prohibited on fire roads and trails.
- Pack In, Pack Out: The park is crumb-clean—dispose of all trash, sunscreen containers, coffee pods, etc.
- Biking & Equestrians: Allowed only on fire roads—check maps and signs.
- Cell Service: Spotty or none—download maps and inform others of your route.
- Accessibility: ADA parking and vault toilets available; some trailheads and picnic tables are accessible.
Local Insight & Seasonal Tip
Visit the Redwood Loop at dawn to bask in the golden light streaming through towering redwoods. Mid-spring offers a carpet of wildflowers across the forest floor; fall delivers crisp air and sunlit ridges. A hidden gem: hike the short side-path off Meteor Trail to a secluded bench overlooking Gazos Creek—perfect for birdwatching or quiet reflection. After your visit, reward yourself with a fresh pie or sandwich from Boulder Creek’s attic café—local comfort after a day among giants.