Our Parks
HENRY COWELL REDWOODS
STATE PARK (including Fall Creek)
Photo by Lee Williams
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Ancient forests, hidden canyons, and a landscape unlike anywhere else on earth.
Henry Cowell Redwoods is one of the Santa Cruz Mountains' most beloved destinations. Home to a famous 40-acre grove of old-growth coast redwoods, the park has inspired visitors for generations, including explorer John C. Fremont and President Theodore Roosevelt. The tallest tree in the park stands approximately 277 feet tall. The oldest have been here far longer than any of us.
Beyond the redwoods, Henry Cowell holds something truly rare: the remnants of an ancient inland sea found nowhere else except Santa Cruz County. This is a place that rewards the curious.
Explore Henry Cowell Virtually
Not sure where to start? Take a virtual tour of the Henry Cowell Redwoods before your visit. It is a beautiful way to get oriented and get excited about what is waiting for you.
Visiting Henry Cowell
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is located in Felton, in the heart of the San Lorenzo Valley. The park is open year-round and offers something for every kind of visitor, from first-time families to seasoned hikers and everyone in between.
Hiking
Henry Cowell has approximately 20 miles of trails ranging from 0.4 to 3.3 miles in length. Terrain varies from old-growth redwood forest to open chaparral, offering options for every experience level and pace. Whether you have an hour or a full day, there is a trail waiting for you.
Check the California State Parks website for current trail information including terrain, steepness, distance, and estimated hiking time.
Camping
Henry Cowell offers camping within its beautiful forest setting. While Mountain Parks Foundation does not manage camping reservations directly, we have made it easy to find what you need.
Picnicking
Lovely picnic areas for individuals and groups are located just inside the park near the main entrance. Wander a little farther and you will find picture-perfect spots tucked throughout the forest. Pack a lunch and stay a while.
Stay Informed
Before you visit, get the information you need. From trail maps to pet policies, the California State Parks website is the best place to find current hours, fees, and park updates.
The History of Henry Cowell Redwoods
The land that is now Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park has been shaped by centuries of human hands, from the Ohlone people who first called it home to the ranchers, timber barons, and conservationists who followed.
In the 1830s and 1840s the area was divided into ranchos. In 1867, Joseph Warren Welch purchased 350 acres containing the 40-acre grove of old-growth redwoods that still stands at the heart of the park today. Welch developed the land as a resort, drawing visitors who came to marvel at the trees.
Henry Cowell arrived in the Santa Cruz area in 1865. A businessman of significant scale, he built his fortune through limestone quarries, shipping, logging, cattle, and land. By 1886 he held more than 10,000 acres in the region and was reported to have the highest income in Santa Cruz County. His property included more than 1,600 acres of forest adjacent to Welch's grove. He developed lime quarries at Rincon and Fall Creek, and at the peak of production, Santa Cruz County supplied 80 percent of the statewide demand for lime.
After his death in 1903, Cowell's land eventually passed to the state, and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was established to preserve the forests and the stories they hold.
Fall Creek Unit
A few miles north of the main park lies the Fall Creek Unit, a second-growth redwood forest with a fern-lined river canyon and the quiet remnants of a once-thriving lime processing industry. Open for day use, Fall Creek offers nearly 20 miles of connecting trails through one of the most peaceful corners of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Parking and trailheads are located on Felton Empire Road off Highway 9.
Maps
A good map makes every trail better. Printed trail maps for Henry Cowell are available for purchase online or in our Nature Store. It is a great way to support the parks while you explore them.
Can't Make It to the Park?
The old-growth grove at Henry Cowell has a way of making the rest of the world go quiet. If you can't be there in person right now, the next best thing is a few minutes on the Redwood Loop Trail — virtually. Take a walk. Visit the Visitor Center. Let the trees do their thing.
Henry Cowell is a Wonderful Place
Explore this San Lorenzo Valley gem with its old-growth redwood forest, plants and animals that you’re not likely to find anywhere else in the world, and the remnants of an ancient inland sea that exists nowhere else but here in Santa Cruz County!
Take a virtual tour of the Henry Cowell Grove
Visiting Henry Cowell
There is so much to do in this beautiful spot. See for yourself below.
Hiking.
Henry Cowell has about 20 miles of trails, ranging from 0.4 miles to 3.3 miles long. Terrain varies from forest to chaparral. Get information about terrain, steepness, distance,and hiking-time duration for many popular trails here.
Photo by Lee Williams
Camping.
We understand that your ultimate park experience may include camping in our beautiful forest. While we do not handle camping reservations for Henry Cowell, we offer website links to connect you to the reservation services you need here.
Unknown photographer
Picnicking.
There are lovely picnic areas for individuals and groups just inside the park, near the main entrance. Other picture-perfect picnic spots await you as you wander around the park.
Photo by Lee Williams
FAQs.
Before you visit Henry Cowell, get the information you need. From where to walk your dog to where to get a map of the park, you can find many answers right here.
Unknown photo contributor
Photo by Bill Rhoades © CA State Parks
Events.
Henry Cowell activities and events are co-sponsored by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks. All activities are posted on the State Parks website.
Redwood RX Classes
Mountain Parks Foundation is partnering with California State Parks to provide a nature-based wellness program called Redwood Rx. Redwood Rx offers a variety of new opportunities to connect with nature and experience the health and wellness benefits of our Redwoods State Parks.
A Bit of Henry Cowell History
© CA State Parks
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.
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.
The California State Parks website has much more information.
News in Henry Cowell
Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods
A few miles north is the Fall Creek Unit– a second-growth redwood forest with a fern-lined river canyon and remnants of a successful lime-processing industry. Fall Creek is open for day use only, and includes almost twenty miles of connecting trails. Parking and trailheads are marked on Felton Empire Road off Highway 9.
Photo by Dave Kuty
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