Big Basin Redwoods State Park

$ 10 for parking and well worth it.
Please check out the nature museum because you’ll see some of the preserved animals on display.

PARKING:
this is by far one of the NICEST parks I’ve been able to hike at. there’s a lot of parking and the spaces themselves are spacious/​wide. it’s $ 10 to park in the actual lot but I noted a lot of free parking further down the road. you pay the parking fee at the Park Headquarters which is located across from the parking lot. when you pay the $ 10 fee, the park ranger manning the booth will give you a map of the trails as well as a slip to put in your car. the slip notes what time you started your hike and which trail you’re going on so the Rangers know where to look for you in case you’re lost/​have not returned to your car after sunset.
FACILITIES:
like I said this is one of the nicest parks I’ve hiked at. there’s a museum (we didn’t have the time to check it out though), a snack bar, a lot of clean restrooms which were fully stocked with toilet paper (LOL like 5 rolls of toilet paper in each bathroom stocked). compared to most other state parks where the toilets are just a hole in the ground, Big Basin has actual flushable toilets haha and a real sink with running water, which was a pleasant surprise. there’s a lot of rangers roaming near the park headquarters so if you have any questions regarding the park/​trails definitely go talk to them. most other parks I go to, I find it rare to actually see any person working. the lady I spoke with was really helpful. there’s some water fountains to so you can fill up your water bottles as well.
DRIVE THERE:
we were coming from SJ so it was about an hour plus drive but be aware the roads to Big Basin were pretty windy, nothing terribly scary though.
HIKE/​TRAILS:
my boyfriend and I opted for the hike to see the waterfalls! I think most Unilocalers, did the Skyline to the Sea Trail — Berry Creek Trail — Sunset Trail loop (around 10 plus miles). however after some research and suggestions from veteran berry creek hikers, we ended up doing the trail counterclockwise from Sunset to Skyline instead. this was smarter in my opinion because you get the up/​down inclines out of the way first when you still have energy in the beginning, so when you’re hiking back to HQ/​parking lot you have the stretch of the hike where it’s relatively flatter and less tiring.
it took us almost 7 hours… big reason why was that the trails were completely muddy… because of the rain from the few nights before which made the hike 10x harder and easier to lose traction if you’re not wearing legit hiking shoes. some fair warning if you choose to hike these trails after some rainfall!!! our shoes and pants were covered in mud.
ALSO: on the skyline to the sea trail, there’s a bridge that is broken that crosses over a wide creek so you’ll have to be prepared to walk over this giant fallen tree. and a little bit further down there’s another broken bridge with a tree that collapsed over it so you’ll have to manage to climb over that as well. it was pretty intense.
there’s some benches along the trail to sit down and enjoy the view so definitely pack a lunch and bring a lot of water. my boyfriend and I enjoyed our lunch right in the seating area in front of Berry Creek Falls. :) the falls themselves are beautiful and especially since there’s been some rain the past few weeks, the flow was really strong. four great falls to treat ourselves to after a long hike — definitely worth the drive and long hike to see them!!!

«If you’ve seen one Redwood, you’ve seen them all.» ― Ronald Reagan
Begging the pardon of «The Great Communicator,» but I humbly disagree with the above quote. There are few things that can bring my soul to its knees, and really make me feel insignificant in the overall scheme of things like nature’s marvels; the Grand Canyon has that effect, as well as the magnificent Redwoods here at Big Basin (BB). CA’s first National Park (1902) boasts an enormous 18,000 acres –10,800 of which feature old-​growth forests– and over 80 miles of usable trails, whose elevations span from Sea Level to over 2,000′. BB is one of Nature’s truly spectacular places, and for those of us that live within a short drive away, we should really count our blessings. The entire park itself is gigantic and features a multitude of hikes for all skill levels; families with young children, and even the most hardcore explorer will find plenty of what they need here. There are so many things to see and do here, that it’s hard to sum it all up in a review, but I shall endeavor to try!
Features:
–Dogs are permitted in the campsites, picnic areas, and on paved roads only. Dogs are *NOT* permitted on trails.
–Restrooms at all the major campgrounds and at the Park HQ.
–x7 different campgrounds, but reservations are required
–There are a few Picnic areas around the Park HQ (check the map).
–Great Visitors Center, General Store, Museum and one of the nicest Gift Shops I’ve seen at a CA park.
–Pay phones are available at certain places, as cell reception is spotty – at best!
–BB has a ton of great waterfalls, with Berry Creek Falls being the most popular.
–Bikes and Horses are allowed on certain trails.
–Tons of Activities and programs throughout the year (
).
–Parking is $ 10/​day, but you can park for free in more isolated areas like Waddell Beach, Whitehouse Canyon Road or China Grade.
The Redwoods alone are well worth the trip. Just standing by them makes even my 6’6″ body feel like an ant. The one thing that always amazes me about BB is the further you go away from HQ and all the other hikers/​campers, the quieter and quieter it becomes. If you find yourself alone I encourage you to take a moment and listen. It’s amazing how our ears almost ache at the barren stillness because they’re so used to being constantly assaulted. Pain never hurt so good. Happy hikes!

My husband and stepson went on a six hour hike in Big Basin park today, but there is no cell reception in the area they went to, and we hadn’t heard a peep from them all day. I was moderately worried, but when it got to about 8:00 pm his ex wife (my stepson’s mom) was getting really concerned and so was I. At 9 we decided it was time to call the park rangers. I don’t think I’ve ever been so worried. We’re so dependent on cell phones and technology, to have my hubby go totally silent on me is really unusual. Anyway we called the Big Basin Police Department at 831−475−4242, and they transferred me to John Gunnick, who was able to locate their car (unattended) in the parking lot. Somehow he was able to locate them.
I am so grateful to him, and Ann at State Park Dispatch, and the first gal who transferred me to John (sorry I forgot her name) but when someone is missing it is just about the most stressful thing imagineable. The fact that John was able to assure me that they have crews to do search and rescue IF NEEDED (thank God it was not needed) just really put my mind at ease. Turns out my husband moderately hurt his leg, but when they’re so far into the woods with no cell phone, you can picture all kinds of crazy scenarios, like a mountain lion sinking it’s teeth into them, or maybe they slipped and fell down a steep hill, or maybe my husband had a heart attack. I had no idea!
All this to say, it would have been WAY more stressful if the Big Basin Police Dept, the park rangers and the State Park Dispatch had not been so helpful and supportive. I really appreciate it so much.
Just a tip, they told me that people often leave notes in their car showing where they went, in the event that a search and rescue team needs to go out. Apparently not everyone (like my husband) knows this! But now he will know for sure!
Thanks so much to everyone who helped us tonight!

We went during #optoutside on black friday. They were letting in people for free at the state parks so the entire place was packed! It really is a beautiful place with multiple trails for different skill levels. We chose an easy trail. There were guided tours for it and they explained the significance and history behind the trees. I would consider going back and doing the more longer trails to the waterfalls should I ever end up back here again

If you want to hike to Sempreviren Falls but don’t want to drag your feet through mud… just walk up the paved road next to the Sequoia Trail.
(This entry written by husband)

My boyfriend and I did the Berry Falls loop and it was amazing! Beautiful redwood forest hike to a huge waterfall! It had just rained too so there were several large waterfalls. We will definitely not forget this joke! There were very few people as well, which was nice. Probably because it was winter and the forecast said a chance of rain that day. I’m so glad we decided to go!

One of the most well manicured, pristine trails I’ve been on.
But I’m an inexperienced East Coaster, with limited experience out in California, so there could be better.
Here, you’ll see your medium large red-​woods an walk miles and miles of soft, pine covered trails.
I did Skyline-​to-​the-​Sea to Berry Creek Loop — it got a little tedious towards the end but was oh so worth it.

Took the berry creek falls trail going in the 11 mile hoop! The waterfalls were beautiful, but I warn you, it is a LONG and tiring hike (for someone who hasn’t worked out in about a year) bring snacks and at least 5 water bottles! I went on a pretty cold day & I was sweating!
Once you hit the waterfalls, there’s a decent size seating area where you can sit down and relax.
Next time I will have to come prepared hahaha I was literally dying at 7 miles LOL

It’s a bit of a trek to get up there with the windy roads (plus sections where it’s a very narrow road for two directions of traffic and people are NOT paying attention). But, there are many lookout points for you to admire the amazing views from the top of the mountain.
Once there, you pay a small fee ($ 5/​person? Or $ 10 per car?). Great hiking area with multiple paths for the experienced and less experienced. It does get a bit confusing, so pay the 25 cents for the little trail maps or borrow a trail map and return it later.
As a note, it’s best if you go on their site first and figure out what kind of hike you want to do ahead of time. The maps they give you at the park are not as informative and for me, there was absolutely no service to pull them up once there.
Overall, wonderful views of the forest. Great big Redwoods and wonderful waterfalls on some of the trails!

If you want a good workout with a magical background. this is the place for you! A friend of mine took me here and we went bike riding through Berry creek falls all the way to the falls. It was very peaceful and a lot of hills. There are two waterfalls here. Some people say they can do the whole trip on bike within two hours. I have a pretty cruddy mountain bike and I did stop and take pictures. It took us about 3.5 hours. I’ve done the trail several times and each time it does get easier. This is a must see! If you are hiking I would imagine you need quite a few hours so make sure you have enough daylight.

If you want to escape the city life for a day, I highly recommend hiking at Big Basin. You cannot hear the sounds of the cars or anything, but the eerily quietness of the woods. Come early because parking is usually full, or you can pay for parking inside the lot for $$.Also dress warm, came here the beginning of December and it was absolutely freezing! Although if you keep moving it is not as bad, but if you stay still it gets pretty chilly.
There are multiple hikes you can go on and even connect to several other trails. The most popular one is the water fall hike, which you start off going on some trail that leads you to Berry Creek falls. The hike is to average about 10 miles and 6 hours. Honestly, you can get it done under 6 hours, including time for a break and lots of photo opportunities. My friends and I did the water fall trail and took a different way back and took us about 5 hours.
The trail was peaceful and quiet. We did not run into a lot of people on a Saturday morning, surprisingly. It made it extra nice to be alone in the woods, however also creepy, if you want to look at it that way. «If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?»
My only advice would be to bring water and be careful of bugs. My boyfriend actually got a tick bite from this hike. It was odd too because he was was wearing a long sleeve, a sweater, long socks, but he was wearing shorts. He was also wearing a backpack. He discover this tick several hours later at home. It was located on his lower back. That is why I find it odd, because it was on his back where he was wearing a sweater and a backpack the whole time. He felt soreness in that area and rubbed it out. Felt a scab, or so he thought, and realized it wasn’t coming off. He looked in the mirror and saw this thing in him. Luckily, he discovered it and pulled the whole thing out. He also went to the doctor’s a few days later to make sure he doesn’t have lime disease. So be careful!

California Trip #7
«There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more.»
― George Gordon Byron
My main purpose for my California trip was to hike and explore as much as I could throughout the short week I was there. While Point Lobos was probably my favorite, Big Basin Redwoods State Park (BB) was equally beautiful, but a completely different experience. As I drove through the winding yet stressful roads to get there, I was extremely excited to meet the majestic Redwoods.
I arrived right around opening – chilly and empty. I paid my $ 10 at the ranger station and asked for a suggestion on what trail I should use. I decided to go on the Meteor Trail, which is 6 miles. The most amazing part of the hike (and I can actually say it was hiking unlike the walking I do here in Hampton Roads) was that I never saw a soul until the very end of the trail.
Here’s some info for you:
*BB was established in 1902 and is the oldest State Park in California.
*Arrive at opening 8 a.m. if you want to hike and enjoy solitude.
*Not much cell signal up there.
*Clean, flushable toilets and water to fill your bottle water.
*When you pay for the $ 10 parking fee, ask for a map as it was very helpful during my hike. If you plan on doing a longer hike, they will give you a piece of paper to put on your dashboard. They want to make sure you found your way back to your vehicle safely.
*Bring more water than you think you need especially if you’re not used to higher elevations. Hiking uphill makes you really thirsty! I’m used to walking 6 miles here in Hampton Roads and don’t normally use much water. But on that hike in BB, I needed more than the one bottle I brought.
*Meteor Trail was wonderful because it had so many different environments: creeks, Old Growth Trees, and even a peek of the ocean.
*They do have food at the gift shop/​store, but it’s all heat-​up stuff.
The parking lot was pretty full when I finished my hike around 11:30 a.m. That’s why it’s so important to arrive early. I loved my time at BB, but I’m not sure I would visit often if I lived in the Bay Area. The drive out there is just too stressful for me. The roads aren’t that strenuous itself – I’ve been on much worse. But it’s the drivers behind you that make you nervous.
I would highly recommend you visit at least once though. Those trees made me feel so small and insignificant. It was an amazing experience, and it has whet my appetite for more Redwoods up north. Some day…

What? Big Basin for a wedding? Yes! My niece and new hubby recently had their wedding in the agora on a very warm October Saturday. Besides those of us US based friends and relatives, 10 of their friends and family flew in from Tasmania, Australia to attend. In fact, this couple, both graduates of UC Santa Cruz now live in Tasmania themselves, and saved their money for this occasion for years. They chose Big Basin because of its beauty, and they didn’t want a typical wedding.
I can’t give too much info on the hiking here, but my Unilocal friend Bradley N. did that a couple of years ago. Anyway, we stayed at a local hotel and drove the 20 or so miles up which takes 40 minutes because of the winding roads. Once you get there, parking might be scarce on a Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, I was driving my mom who has a handicap sticker and we parked in front of the bathrooms. I did have a tough time wheel chairing her down the rocky path with. It was even worse going back up to the car. Surprisingly, a few parking spots opened up in a few minutes. But be prepared for crowd if the weather is nice esp. in the summer months.
But oh man, the scenery! Wow, I am a semi tree hugger see the forest as a world of its own. I think of how many people have come and gone in front of these majestic redwoods. Trees and plants provide the oxygen we need and we provide the CO2 they need. There were some fallen humongous redwood trees that are tragic in my eyes, They remind us of the cycle of life. There were lots of birds hanging out… But I digress.
The stage is small. Prior to the ceremony, the wedding planners and my niece created a simple but beautiful backdrop with flowers native to Australia. They hired a string quarter which gave the wedding some class amidst the natural dirt floor, mostly casually dressed crowd, and the passers by who seemed surprised to see a wedding here. It was a genius selection on their part, as both my niece and her hubby are rugged hikers and decided to come to their old hometown so her mostly California attendees didn’t have to come to Tasmania. You could imagine how our shoes looked. Her bridesmaids helped her keep that expensive white wedding down from turning brown.
We were in and out of there in an hour. After the wedding while pictures were taken, my a few of my other nieces decided to look for the mother and father of the redwood trees. Wow. One niece decided to plank. Some other time, I’d really like to take time and check more of this park out. What a gorgeous area. Some people call it God’s country… no argument from me.

This place is a nice little gem of the Bay Area. Littered with a few waterfalls, Big Basin Redwoods State Park (BP) is one of the few places in the Bay Area where you can hike and see such majestic trees AND lovely waterfalls.
Despite the drought season I was surprised to see that the waterfalls were still active, albeit in a much smaller amount than previous years. The varying hikes/​trails to chose from is also quite nice as you’re not subjected to the same path that everyone else is taking.
The rangers are quite helpful in outlining prospective routes based on your experience, what you want to see, or the amount of time you have available.
We opted for the 10-​ish mile Berry Creek loop which brought us along three waterfalls and had an elevation change of roughly 1,000 feet. The signs said strenuous, but I found it fairly moderate. Regardless of which way you begin the loop, you experience the majority of the incline on the back end of the trail.
My one gripe with BP is the location and the amount of driving it takes to get to the park. The tiny single lane road which weaves through the mountains is quite stomach churning. Also doesn’t help that people try to breeze around blind turns and dip into oncoming lanes…
But overall this place is a great day trip for hiking. I advise to come early as parking is limited. It would suck to drive the 1 hour from civilization only to have to wait 1 – 2 hours for a simple parking spot!

The paths are clearly marked and I like the milage markers on each of the signs. I went with my Hubs and our 3 year old, so we only did the smaller hike. I was glad we went on a weekday as I can see this Park being busy on the weekend. Another bonus is being able to hike for a good 20 something minutes and not hear anyone else hiking. It was a nice peaceful silence and a gorgeous view of the redwoods.
I have to give 2 thumbs up to the Big Basin Café in the snack bar connected to the gift shop. (This quick stop spot, is not to be confused with «Big Basin Café» in Saratoga.) The café offered a $ 3 Blue Ribbon brand neapolitan ice cream sandwich… the golden trophy that kept my son going for 3 miles on his own little feet! Other $ 3 items: Big Sticks & nostalgic rainbow colored snow cones. $ 4 items: Nestle curnch bar, magnum ice cream bar, snickers. They also offered wraps and sandwiches which I did not expect much from. The $ 10 turkey wrap w thousand island dressing had thick slices of turkey, crisp veggies and a condiment bar like no other. You self-​serve on red onion slices, pickles, jalapeño slices and various other condiments. What a top notch selection!
We drove by the camping area as well as the tent cabins. Both camping options looked very clean and spacious. I love that everyone is not in each other’s area and they are given a nice boundary. Another trip to be had! :)

Wow! What an incredible view! My friends and I came here for a good hike on a Saturday morning. Parking could be a hassle but you’ll eventually find one around. Being there and smelling the fresh air makes me so happy!
Since some of us had plans later that day, we chose a shorter and a less strenuous hike. The trail basically led us up to the top, which was so so so nice! So beautiful! I forgot the trail already… but I think it was something mountain trail. You’ll probably see it on the map. It’s a one way trail so you hike up and down the same trail. It was very worth going all the way up even though we encountered some rattlesnakes, so beware of your surroundings! We had to go around into the bushes to avoid the snake since we were so close to getting to the top.
Overall, I highly recommend coming here! You get a beautiful view of the Santa Cruz hills. It’s so pretty! I will be coming back to hike their other trails, like the one that leads to the waterfall!

I am in love with Big Basin! I was originally planning to visit Muir Woods, but was scared off after hearing about the huge crowds and horrible parking situation there over Memorial Day weekend. Instead, I ended up going to Big Basin and loved every minute of it!
We drove in from Saratoga, and the road to Big Basin was realllllly well done. Yes, it was winding with blind turns and cliffs, but the drive was smooth and beautiful the whole way there. There are lookout points along the way, and you may be tempted to stop by all of them, since everywhere is just that gorgeous. It will take you at least twice as long to get there as your GPS says though, just FYI. Cell service is minimum in most places as well (but that was a welcome change!).
Entrance fee was $ 10 per car. Parking can be tough — we had to park wayyy far off and then walk awhile just to get to a trail. I would recommend getting to Big Basin early though. We arrived around 11:30 am to the park entrance, and it appeared that they closed off the entrance to more cars just before 12 pm. I did go during Memorial Day weekend though, so that might have been a reason why it was so crowded.
I did part of the Skyline to the Sea trail, and it was awesome. I regret not getting there earlier to do the whole trail. I also regret not having the opportunity to camp here (someday!). Because everything was gorgeous, and now I am convinced that there’s nothing better than being in the woods surrounded by the redwoods! There are not a lot of signs, and the map isn’t the clearest., so just FYI. In addition, despite the crowds, there were plenty of times that you and your group are just hiking alone, with no other groups to be seen or heard. Loved it :) Big Basin, I will be back!
P. S. Be on the lookout for banana slugs :)

Would I do this hike again? Maybe in a year…
Went with my friend and boyfriend and knocked out this 10 mile hike in about 4 hours. Lot’s of incline then decline x repeat.
The waterfalls were gorgeous! The Berry Creek Falls especially, it’s super cute to take a picture off with yourself or group your hiking with. The Silver Falls was cute and less flow compared to Berry Creek, but there’s the fallen tree you can walk across if you’re ballsy or else you can get close enough to touch the water.
They have different trails depending on what you want to see, but if you’re up for it definitely try that 10 mile hike, time flies!
$ 10 for day parking, but numerous places for photo opportunities with the gorgeous redwood trees as well.

Being a 90s kid, I know TLC repeatedly told us not to go chasing waterfalls… however, when you’re at Big Basin, you have to do just that! Attempt the 10.1 mile hike, and you’ll get to witness three gorgeous waterfalls. 10 miles seems like quite the challenge, but trust me, it’s totally worth it.
Get to the park early (in the morning) so 1. you can get parking and 2. it’s nice and cool. Pay $ 10 for parking at the headquarters, mark the trails you’re going on, and step into paradise!
When you’re surrounded by technology all the time, it’s nice to turn off your phones and be one with nature. It’s pretty relaxing walking through miles and miles of redwood trees. The trails aren’t that hard (aka not too steep), but don’t go into it thinking it’s all flat lands. Be prepared to spend at least half a day here!