Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

21600 Big Basin Hwy.
Boulder Creek, California 95006
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Local Phone: (831) 338-8860

Big Basin is California's oldest State Park, established in 1902.

Home to the largest continuous stand of Ancient Coast Redwoods south of San Francisco, the park consists of Old Growth and recovering Redwood Forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitats.

Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 2,000 feet.

The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops.

While dogs are not permitted on any of the trails, the North Escape Road, the former fire evacuation road, surrounded by redwoods, provides for a 7-mile round-trip trek on a paved surface that parallels Opal Creek for much of the way.

• Dogs are permitted in the campsites, picnic areas, and on paved roads only.
• They must be on a leash and attended at all times.
• Dogs ARE NOT permitted on any of the trails.

Big Basin - Photo Credit: Alice Chen
Big Basin - Photo Credit: Alice Chen
Every time we visit, Santa Cruz County gets more and more dog-friendly. And this year there are several new opportunities to bark about. Tops among them: As of a couple of years ago, dogs have a place to hike with their people at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, where they previously were confined to campsites and picnic areas. The North Escape Road isn’t a trail, exactly, but it’ll do: The former fire evacuation road, surrounded by redwoods, provides for a 7-mile round-trip trek on a paved surface that parallels Opal Creek for much of the way. more »
Presley at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. <br/> Photo Credit: @alisonrainw
Presley at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
Photo Credit: @alisonrainw
Santa Cruz County is famous for its groves of towering coast redwoods, and Big Basin Redwoods State Park is just one place to see them. If you’re traveling with youngsters of the two-legged variety as well as those with fur, you’re sure to enjoy a ride on a narrow-gauge railroad once used to haul redwood logs out of the Santa Cruz Mountains. more »
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