Mountain Parks Foundation




			Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park How long is the walk in the redwood grove? The trail is an easy, 0.8 mile, flat wheelchair accessible loop throughout the giant redwoods. Walk takes from 30 – 60 minutes. 25 cent Self-guided brochures are available at the park entrance, and from the Nature Center and the Foundation Store. How many miles of hiking trails? 20 Where can I walk my dog? On the Meadow Trail from Highway 9 and on the Graham Hill Trail from the Campground. Both trails lead to Pipeline Road, a 3.3 mile paved road closed to public vehicles where you may also walk your dog. Dogs are not allowed in the redwood grove. They are welcome in the campground and picnic areas, and must be leased at all times. Where can I ride my bike? On all paved and fire roads in the park. Bicyclists under 18 must wear a helmet. Where can I ride my horse? On most trails and fire roads. Some trails are very slippery in winter months, and will be closed at that time. Can I get a map of Henry Cowell? You can purchase a Henry Cowell map at the park entrance, the Nature Center and Nature Store or click on Nature Store on this website. The map indicates all park trails. How do I make a camping reservation? Make your reservations for camping in all California State Parks can be made by phoning ReserveAmerica at 1-800-444-PARK or visiting the webpage at http://www.cal-parks.ca.gov Who was Henry Cowell? Henry Cowell arrived in Santa Cruz area in 1865 and bought half of the shares of the Santa Cruz limestone business from Albion Jordan for $100,000. By 1886 he was reported to have the highest income in Santa Cruz County in addition to owning 10,000 acres of land in the area. His businesses included limestone quarries, shipping, logging, cattle, cement trade and large land holdings, ranches and lime deposits in 15 counties. His property included over 1,600 acres of forest adjacent to Welch’s Big Trees Resort He developed lime quarries at Rincon and Fall Creek. The limestone were an excellent grade and available where there were large quantities of fuel for the kilns. During the years of highest demand, 80% of the statewide need for lime was supplied by Santa Cruz County What is the history of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park? The areas now described as Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park were Rancheros in the 1830’s and 1840’s. Various landowners have purchased parts of the Rancheros throughout history. In 1867 Joseph Warren Welch purchased 350 acres containing the forty-acre stand of virgin redwood now part of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. In 1868 Welch planned a resort building with dining room, kitchen and sleeping rooms and opened to the public. By 1889 the resort was complete with train station, hotel, dining hall, cabins and dance pavilion. Dignitaries from all over the world come to marvel at the trees. In 1889, a painter/photographer named Andrew P. Hill was hired to take pictures of redwoods in Welch’s Grove. But Welch would not let him take pictures of his grove so Hill traveled to Big Basin area instead. He was so inspired by the grandeur of the redwoods, and so alarmed that all these giants were being cut down, that he vowed that the magnificent trees should be saved for generations to enjoy. He and friends such as journalist, Josephine McCracken, attracted wealthy and influential people who formed Sempervirens Club. These visionaries raised funds and convinced legislators to purchase Big Basin, thus beginning the preservation movement and establishing California’s oldest State Park. And the beginnings of this vision began in Welch’s Grove because Hill could not take a photograph. At the turn of the Century the Welch family looked for a buyer for the resort and surrounding property. Welch’s son and the County worked out a purchase that would make the grove a county park, thereby preserving the redwoods. In 1930 Santa Cruz County paid $75,000 for 120 acres which included the incomparable 40 acre Big Trees Grove. In 1952 Henry’s son, S. H. Cowell decided he wanted to give the property he was especially fond of next to Welch’s Grove to the State of California in memory of his father. S. H. Cowell wanted the County to give up Welch’s Grove so that all the property could be managed together. On August 14, 1954 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was formally dedicated as a new unit of California State Parks.
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Can I get a map of Henry Cowell? You can purchase a Henry Cowell map at the park entrance, the Nature Center and Nature Store or click on Nature Store on this website. The map indicates all park trails.

Can I get a map of Henry Cowell?
You can purchase a Henry Cowell map at the park entrance, the Nature Center and Nature Store or click on Nature Store on this website. The map indicates all park trails.