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
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Volunteer Training begins in March!
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is gearing up for a busy season—would you like to become an important member of the volunteer team? The park is seeking volunteers who want to assist visitors and share the natural and cultural history of our parks. To join the Big Basin Redwoods docent volunteer staff, please call (831) 338-8883 or email sblake@parks.ca.gov.ALL WALKS START AT PARK HEADQUARTERS.
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.
Winter Wildflower Walk!
Saturday, March 20 at 10:00 am
Sunday, March 21 at 10:00 am
Flowers in the winter? Fall rains bring a whole new blooming season upon us—many plants survived through the long, hot, dry summer just waiting for the cooler, wetter months to return and refresh them. Lichens, mosses and many chaparral plants just begin blooming this time of year! Join docent Scott Peden and learn to identify these flowering plants. Saturday’s walk is a four-mile, four-hour walk. Sunday’s walk is a five-mile, five-hour walk. Bring water, lunch and good hiking shoes. In case of rain, there will be a wildflower slide show in our warm Sempervirens Room! Meet at Park Headquarters.
Footsteps of the Pioneers
Saturday, March 20 at 12:00 noon
Docent Doreen Devorah will guide you on this easy, three-mile, two-hour roundtrip walk to the site of the old Maddock Cabin. Enjoy a beautiful walk through the redwoods and hear stories of the early settlers and their life deep in the forest. Bring water. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Shadowbrook Stroll
Saturday, March 28 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. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Sempervirens Saunter
Saturday, April 3 at 12:00 noon
This moderate five-mile, four-hour loop walk will take you back in time to the origins of California’s oldest state park. Discover the redwoods and other treasures that inspired the movement to save the trees. Docent Doreen Devorah will share stories of the park’s first human inhabitants, pioneering homesteaders and early redwood conservationists. We’ll enjoy views of Slippery Rock and Sempervirens Falls. Bring water and snacks. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Footsteps of the Pioneers
Sunday, April 4 at 12:00 noon
Docent Eva Fewel will guide you on this easy, three-mile, two-hour roundtrip walk to the site of the old Maddock Cabin. Enjoy a beautiful walk through the redwoods and hear stories of the early settlers and their life deep in the forest. Bring water. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Ocean View Summit Hike
Saturday, April 10 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.
Berry Creek Falls Hike
Sunday, April 11 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 shady redwood canyons and climb dry ridges as you hike to the jewel of Big Basin—65-foot Berry Creek Falls. Bring lots of water, lunch and wear layers. Docent Bill Rhoades will be your guide on this six- to seven-hour hike. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Wildflower Walk!
Saturday, April 17 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 season in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Bring along a field guide if you have one. This is a four-mile, four-hour walk. Bring water, lunch and good hiking shoes. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Shadowbrook Stroll
Sunday, April 18 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.
Footsteps of the Pioneers
Saturday, April 24 at 12:00 noon
Docent Doreen Devorah will guide you on this easy, three-mile, two-hour roundtrip walk to the site of the old Maddock Cabin. Enjoy a beautiful walk through the redwoods and hear stories of the early settlers and their life deep in the forest. Bring water. 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.
Looking for Eggs in Nature
Sunday, April 4 at 1:30 p.m.
A special nature walk for children that would like to look for eggs in nature. Search for frog eggs, insect eggs, newt's eggs and other "special" eggs. There maybe newt or frog’s eggs, insect eggs or birds eggs. The hike will be about a half-mile in length. We welcome families of all ages.
Tidepool Exploration at Waddell Beach
Sunday April 18 at 9:00 a.m.
Low tide is at 9:00am, so let’s get up early, meet at the Waddell Beach parking lot and walk about ¼ mile to the tidepools. Spring is a great time to see colorful nudibranchs (sea slugs), octopus and a wide variety of crabs. Families are welcome. Please wear layers of clothes and sturdy shoes or boots that can get wet. We will gather back at the nature center afterwards to warm up with hot chocolate, tea or coffee around the fire and learn more about what we have just seen. Meet at the Waddell Beach parking lot off of Highway 1, just south of Año Nuevo State Reserve. More information is available at (831) 427-2288.
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. More information is available by calling Varyl White, Docent Coordinator at (831)-427-2288.
