A Perfect Day in Felton: Redwoods, Good Food + A Little Mountain Magic

Twenty minutes from the beaches of Santa Cruz, Highway 9 starts winding into the mountains, the temperature drops a few degrees, and suddenly the redwoods take over. Welcome to Felton, the kind of town where you can spend the morning underneath trees that have been around for more than a thousand years, grab lunch from a local spot, hear a steam train whistle through the forest, wander through a few shops, and still make it to live music by night.

If you've got a day, here's how we'd spend it.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: COFFEE

Start in downtown Felton with breakfast and coffee before heading into the trees. The Grove Cafe and Bakery is a great place to settle in with seasonal food, house-made breads and pastries, and a patio right in the middle of town. 

Our morning agenda:

• Coffee

• Something good for breakfast

• Absolutely no rushing

You're on mountain time now.

NEXT STOP: HENRY COWELL

From downtown, head to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, where the landscape changes almost immediately and everything starts to feel a little quieter. For a first visit, the Redwood Grove Loop is an easy place to begin, taking you through the park's 40-acre old-growth grove without requiring a major hike.

Some of the trees here have been growing for well over a thousand years, and the tallest reaches roughly 277 feet into the air, so this is your reminder to look up.

WORTH KNOWING

The redwoods aren't the only thing happening here. Henry Cowell contains several distinct ecosystems, including the rare Santa Cruz Sandhills, river habitat, grasslands, and redwood forest.

While you're walking, look for:

• Redwood sorrel covering the forest floor

• Banana slugs hiding in damp places

• Life growing on fallen logs

• The enormous circles and clusters of redwoods

• Whatever is making that sound above your head

And listen closely. Somewhere in the distance, you might hear the whistle of a steam train.

Sometimes the best thing to do in the redwoods is very little.

Find a bench, sit for a minute, and let the forest do its thing.

MAKE A STOP AT THE NATURE STORE

Before leaving the park, wander into the Mountain Parks Foundation Nature Store near the main parking lot. You'll find trail maps, books, local artwork, nature-inspired gifts, apparel, snacks, and plenty of banana slug merchandise you probably didn't know you needed until approximately five minutes ago.

But here's the part worth knowing:

Your Nature Store souvenir does more than remind you of your visit.

Purchases help support educational programming and interpretive experiences at Henry Cowell and Big Basin Redwoods State Parks, and the store itself is supported by a dedicated group of volunteers.

So yes, buying the banana slug magnet counts as supporting the parks.

FOLLOW THE TRAIN WHISTLE

If you've been hearing that unmistakable whistle through the trees, head next door to Roaring Camp Railroads, where historic steam trains travel through the redwoods and offer an entirely different way to experience the forest.

There's something especially interesting about seeing these mountains by rail because trains were once deeply connected to the industries that shaped the Santa Cruz Mountains, moving lumber, lime, and people through the region.

Today, the experience looks a little different:

• Historic steam trains

• Towering redwoods

• Mountain views

• A very good excuse to feel like you're in another century for an hour

THEN HEAD BACK INTO FELTON

By now, lunch is probably a good idea. Head back toward downtown, grab something to eat, or stop at Wild Roots Market for picnic provisions and take them over to Felton Covered Bridge Park.

And while you're eating, here's a little lunch-table trivia.

WORTH KNOWING

Felton was laid out as a town in 1868.

The community grew during a period when lumber and lime were major industries in the Santa Cruz Mountains, with railroads and flumes helping move those resources out of the region. The town's covered bridge came a few decades later in the 1890s and remains one of the historic structures connecting modern Felton to its past.

After lunch, leave some room to wander. Pop into a local shop, grab another coffee, look through locally made goods, or simply walk around town and see where you end up.

Felton is better when you don't have every minute planned.

TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME

Felton doesn't require a packed itinerary, and that's sort of the point. Come for the redwoods, stay for lunch, wander into a shop you didn't plan on visiting, learn something strange, buy the banana slug magnet, and sit underneath a tree for longer than you intended.

Places like Henry Cowell don't stay extraordinary by accident. Mountain Parks Foundation works in cooperation with California State Parks to support programs, visitor experiences, interpretation, volunteer efforts, and stewardship that help Henry Cowell and Big Basin continue to thrive.

Explore slowly. Look a little closer. We'll see you under the redwoods.