Big Basin Redwoods State Park
21600 Big Basin Way
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
Big Basin is located 9 miles from Boulder Creek on Hwy 236 • (831) 338-3944
Redwood Loop Walk
Every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm
How do these grand redwoods grow to be so old? So tall? How are they important to humans? Join us for this fun and informative guided half-mile stroll through a magnificent old-growth redwood forest. Meet the famous Mother Tree, the Father of the Forest and the incredible Chimney Tree on this one-hour walk. Stroller and wheelchair accessible. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Campfire Programs
Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 pm (except no program July 2)
Join us in our historic campfire center for an evening of song and story. Serenade the glittering stars and learn about redwood ecology, creatures of the forest or stories of the park while relaxing in the shadows of the towering trees. Fire lighting and marshmallows (we provide the marshmallows and sticks!) at 7:00 pm; program begins at 7:30 pm. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. Good dogs welcome!
Big Basin Nature Club
Every Sunday in July at 10:00 am
Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in July at 4:30 pm (except no program Thursday, July 2)
This fun program is designed for children ages 3-6 and their families. Pretend, play, sing and explore! This half-hour program will introduce youngsters to the wonders of the redwood forest. Meet at the Nature Lodge.
Junior Rangers at Big Basin
Every Sunday at 11:00 am
Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 3:00 pm (except no program Thursday, July 2)
Discover the fascinating secrets of the forest. Explore, practice outdoor skills and play games as you learn about plants, animals, geology, and more. This one-hour program is designed for kids ages 7-12. Sorry parents, this program is for kids only! Please register your child 15 minutes before the program begins. Meet at the Nature Lodge.
Twilight Hike
Every Monday at 7:30 pm
Join us for an easy, level walk for the whole family. Experience the turning of the day into night in the forest, and learn about the critters that are just becoming active as the sun goes down. This is a one-hour, half-mile walk. Meet at Park Headquarters. Wheelchair/stroller accessible. Bring a flashlight. Sorry, no dogs on the trail.
The Road Less Traveled
Every Sunday at 10:00 am
On this dog-friendly walk, we travel on North Escape Road, a paved road closed to traffic. We tour stunning old-growth redwood groves along beautiful Opal Creek. We'll discuss redwood ecology and park history while exploring the deep shade of the redwood forest. This is a fun, easy, three-mile roundtrip walk with docent Micki Downs and her dog Spock. Bring water and meet at Headquarters.
Ocean View Summit Hike
Saturday, July 4 at 10:00 am
Join docent David Auerbach on one of our most diverse hikes—by mountain streams, oak woodlands, chaparral and redwoods. You’ll discuss forests, flowers and fires on a six-mile, four-hour hike. This somewhat strenuous ascent is rewarded with ocean views on a clear day. Bring water, lunch and good hiking shoes. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Creeping Forest Ramble
Sunday, July 5 at 12:00 noon
Explore the natural history of this less-visited trail with docent Doreen Devorah on a three-hour, 2.5-mile hike up and down the “creeping” terrain, along creeks, through fire-scarred redwoods and over log bridges. Bring water and good hiking shoes. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Coffee Talk
Saturday, July 11 from 9:00-12:00
Come to the Sempervirens Room next to Park Headquarters for free coffee or hot chocolate! This is a great way to start your day in Big Basin. Tom Rohlf, a Big Basin docent, will be happy to answer questions about the park, suggest activities and help get you going on the right trail.
Outlook from Mt. McAbee
Saturday, July 11 at 10:00 am
Join docent Philip Shear on a hike to McAbee Outlook. We'll stop at the top and enjoy the lovely ocean views, returning through a beautiful old-growth redwood forest. Difficulty level is moderate. The hike is six miles and about three and a half hours. Bring plenty of water, snacks and good hiking shoes.North Escape Stroll
Saturday, July 11 at 12:30 pm
This is a dog-friendly stroll along our beautiful North Escape Road where you’ll experience the forest through touch, smell and sound. Discover the amazing acorn granaries, the fragrant Douglas-firs and the grand redwoods. Learn about the different elements that create a redwood forest. This ¾-mile stroll with docent Oscar Medina will take about an hour. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Berry Creek Falls Hike
Saturday, July 18 at 9:30 am
Travel deep into the heart of Big Basin as you experience a wide range of habitats on this moderate to strenuous 12-mile-loop hike. Wind through cool, shady redwood canyons and climb dry, exposed ridges as you hike to the jewel of Big Basin─60-foot Berry Creek Falls and its three adjacent cascading waterfalls. Bring lots of water, lunch and layers of clothing. Docent Bill Rhoades will be your guide on this six-hour hike. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Wildflower Walk!
Saturday, July 18 at 10:00 am
Sunday, July 19 at 10:00 am
Join docent Scott Peden to learn to identify the companion plants of the redwood forest. This is a wonderful way to enjoy the Santa Cruz Mountains! Bring along a field guide if you have one. Saturday’s walk is a four-mile, four-hour walk. Sunday’s walk is a five-mile, five-hour walk. Bring water and snacks. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Shadowbrook Stroll
Sunday, July 19 at 12:00 noon
Docent Doreen Devorah will show you a less-traveled trail that takes you by Union Creek, to the Sempervirens Falls and back through the redwoods. This is a four-mile, three-hour hike. Bring water and good hiking shoes. Meet at Park Headquarters.
SPECIAL EVENT!
Tales of the Basin: A Weekend of Storytelling
July 25, 26
Events of this weekend will spotlight storytellers, park history, special children’s performers and the tradition of spinning a yarn beside the evening fire. South Bay Storytellers will present the campfire program on Saturday night.
Felling the Giants
Saturday, July 25 at 11:30 am
Logging was the major industry in the Santa Cruz Mountains for over 50 years. How did lumbermen cut down these tall, tall trees? What was life like in a logging camp? What tools did they use? Join Dan Friend, a former Ranger at Big Basin, as he tells stories of the logging days and demonstrates how loggers were able to fell these giants—without chain saws! Meet at Park Headquarters.
Family Discovery Walk
Saturday, July 25 at 12:30 pm
Join docent Norm Beeson for a fun-filled family walk and investigate the mysteries and wonders of Big Basin’s redwood forest! We’ll discover what surprises the day offers on this easy, one-mile roundtrip walk that lasts about 1.5 hours. Bring water, a snack or lunch and an adventurous spirit! Meet at Park Headquarters.
Boating, Dancing, Dining and More!—Big Basin in its Heyday
Saturday, July 25 at 2:30 pm
Big Basin was a very popular tourist resort in the 1900s. The park had a hotel, store, post office, barbershop, dance hall, tennis courts, a lake and more! Take a fascinating tour with Dan Friend, a ranger here in the 1970s, and “see” Big Basin as it was in those vibrant early days. This is a one-mile, two-hour walk. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Big Basin “Nature Tails”
Saturday, July 25 at 4:30 pm
A world of animal songs and stories presented for children of all ages by local storytellers. Meet at the Campfire Center.
Storytellers’ Showcase
Saturday, July 25 at 7:00 pm
Sit back and experience an old-fashioned evening steeped in the oral tradition, as our guest storytellers weave their yarns in our historic amphitheater. Meet at the Campfire Center. The evening begins with fire lighting and marshmallow roasting at 7:00, and storytelling at 7:30.
What's that Bird?
Sunday, July 26 at 9:00 am
This easy, one-mile stroll with docent Karen DeMello will introduce you to the birds of the redwood forest. Beginner birders are welcomed! Bring binoculars if you have them–but they’re not required. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Footsteps of the Pioneers
Sunday, July 26 at 12:00 noon
Join docent Doreen Devorah on an easy three-mile, two-hour round trip to the site of the Maddock Cabin. Enjoy a beautiful walk through the redwoods and hear stories of the early settlers and their life deep in the forest. Meet at Park Headquarters and bring water. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Could You Survive in the Wild?
Sunday, July 26 at 1:00 pm
During this fun, interactive demonstration, you’ll learn what it takes to survive overnight in the wilderness. Dan Friend, a wilderness survival teacher, will lead this family friendly, hour-long program on how to be prepared in the wilderness—what to bring in your pack and what knowledge to have in your head. Bring your daypack and we’ll review the contents! Meet at Park Headquarters.
RANCHO DEL OSO NATURE AND HISTORY CENTER
Located 16 miles north of Santa Cruz along Highway One, at the coastal side of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. (831) 427-2288.
GUEST SPEAKER
Saturday, July 18 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Snakes are Special Reptiles
For more information call 831-427-2288.
Natural History Hikes
Every Sunday in July at 1:00 p.m.
Join Naturalist Laura Shaw for an hour long hike to explore what lives here and why.
Each weekend hike will have a different theme so come to more than one and see what new surprises she has found to show you.
Volunteers Needed!
Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center is looking for enthusiastic volunteers. As a State Park Volunteer, you can help us by hosting the Nature and History Center on weekends, or help special events come alive. For more information, please call (831)-427-2288.
