Our Parks
BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK
California's oldest state park. A living testament to nature's resilience.
Photo by Bill Rhoades © CA State Parks
Big Basin Redwoods is where California's conservation story began. Established in 1902, it is the oldest state park in California and home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. These trees have stood for more than a thousand years. Many of them survived the CZU Lightning Complex Fire of 2020 and are already growing back, a reminder of what endures when we choose to protect it.
Visiting Big Basin
Big Basin is located in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, 9 miles from Boulder Creek and 35 miles from San Jose. The drive in is part of the experience.
The park is currently open for limited day-use from 8 a.m. to sunset. Parking reservations are encouraged due to limited availability and can be made through the California State Parks website.
Getting there without a car is manageable, too. Santa Cruz Metro runs weekend bus service to Big Basin on Route 35 during the summer months. No entrance fee or reservation is required for bus arrivals.
Know Before You Go
Big Basin is partially open and actively being restored following the CZU Lightning Complex Fire of 2020. Conditions continue to improve, but it is important to plan ahead.
Always check the California State Parks website for the most current conditions before your visit.
Stay Informed
From online trail information to pet policies, the California State Parks website is the best place to find current hours, fees, and park updates.
Big Basin's trails wind past ancient trees, meandering creeks, and wildlife in habitats ranging from damp canyon bottoms to chaparral-covered slopes. Trail access continues to expand as restoration work progresses following the CZU Fire and subsequent storm damage, with options available for easy, moderate, and strenuous hikers alike.
Before heading out, check in at the park entrance kiosk for current conditions and pick up a free park map. Always carry water, wear layers, and plan to complete your hike before sunset.
Hiking
Limited walk-in and bike-in camping is available at Rancho del Oso, the coastal unit of Big Basin, located off Highway 1 near Davenport. Camping within the main park area is not yet available as infrastructure continues to be rebuilt. Check the California State Parks website for the most current availability.
Camping
There are still many beautiful spots in Big Basin to stop, rest, and take it all in. Visit the California State Parks website to find available picnic areas and plan your visit.
Picnicking
A Place Worth Protecting: The History of Big Basin
The story of Big Basin begins not with legislation, but with a photograph.
In 1889, painter and photographer Andrew P. Hill traveled to the Santa Cruz Mountains to document the ancient redwoods. What he found stopped him in his tracks. The trees were magnificent, and they were being cut down. Hill left that visit with more than photographs. He left with a purpose.
He gathered friends, writers, and civic leaders and formed the Sempervirens Club. Together they raised funds, wrote articles, lobbied legislators, and convinced California to act. In 1902, Big Basin became a California state park. It was a radical idea at the time: that land could be set aside not for profit, but for people and for the future.
That original 3,800 acres has since grown to more than 18,000. The park has survived logging, development pressure, and in 2020, one of the most devastating wildfires in California history. And still the redwoods stand. Still, they grow.
Big Basin’s history is a living record of what happens when we choose to protect what matters.
Maps
Planning your visit starts with knowing the general area. Although there are no printed trail maps available showing Big Basin’s trails post-fire, maps for areas around Big Basin are available for purchase online or in our Nature Store at Henry Cowell.
Plan a Day at Big Basin
Few places compare to Big Basin. Whether you are a newcomer or a returning friend, the forest has a way of slowing the world and sharpening your perspective.
The CZU Lightning Complex Fire: Big Basin’s Story
Big Basin is an Amazing Place
Did you know Big Basin is California’s oldest state park and the birthplace of the American conservation movement? With over 18,000 acres of land and water, dynamic habitats, and a diversity of plants and wildlife, you’ll never run out of awe-inspiring destinations.
Big Basin is partially open after extensive damage sustained in the 2020 CZU Fire.
A sample of what is open now (subject to change as additional trails are opened):
Temporary visitor information center
Redwood Loop Trail
Dool Trail
Meteor Trail
Sunset Trail (from Dool Trail to Middle Ridge Road)
Gazos Creek Road (from North Escape Road to Sandy Point)
North Escape Road (from former Headquarters area to Meteor Trail)
Middle Ridge Road (from Gazos Creek Road to Johansen Road)
Johansen Road
Chalks Road
Skyline to the Sea Trail (from Gazos Creek Road to North Escape Road and Loop off Middle Ridge Fire Road)
Day-use parking by reservation
Temporary restrooms
Temporary handwashing stations
What is currently closed?
Most backcountry areas
All campgrounds (Except Rancho del Oso)
All drinking water sources (water fountains, spigots, sinks, etc.)
