Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is the oldest state park in California and is home to some of the largest and oldest redwood trees in the world, with some dating back over 2,000 years.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The park is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 65 miles south of San Francisco, and covers over 18,000 acres of land.
There are many good reasons to visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park, including hiking, camping, picnicking, birdwatching, and exploring the beautiful natural surroundings. The park offers over 80 miles of hiking trails that wind through towering redwoods, waterfalls, and streams, providing visitors with breathtaking scenery and opportunities to experience nature up close.
Some of the specific points of interest to see in the park include the 50-foot-tall Berry Creek Falls, the Sempervirens Falls, the Buzzard's Roost Trail, and the Redwood Loop Trail, which takes hikers through a grove of old-growth redwoods that are over 1,000 years old.
Interesting facts about the park include that it was established in 1902 and was the first state park in California. It is also home to the largest continuous stand of old-growth redwood forest south of San Francisco, and has been designated as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The best time of year to visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller. Summer can be hot and crowded, while winter can be rainy and cold.
Overall, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is an amazing destination for anyone who loves nature and wants to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the redwoods.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Rancho Del Oso Horse Camp
|
||
Alder Trail Camp
|
||
Twin Redwoods Trail Camp
|
||
Camp Herbert Trail Camp
|
||
Nephi Trail Camp
|
||
Manti Trail Camp
|
State Reserve Año Nuevo
Ano Nuevo State Park
Gazos Creek State Beach
Butano State Park
Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve