Location: County: Santa Cruz. Nearest City: Boulder Creek. See map 1.

Campsites, facilities: There are 111 sites for tents or RVs up to 27 feet long, 38 walk-in sites, 36 tent cabins (reservations required), 4 group sites, and 10 hike-in campsites. Piped water, picnic tables, and fire grills are provided. Rest rooms, coin-operated showers, a sanitary disposal station, and groceries are available. Some campsites and facilities are wheelchair accessible. Leashed pets are allowed in campsites only.

Reservations, fees: Reserve by phoning 1-800-444-PARK/7275 ($7.50 reservation fee); Family site; $16-$18 per night, $1 pet fee. Group Sites: Sequoia (2 developed sites): 50 people per site, $150.00 per site. Parking for 18 vehicles. Sky Meadow (2 primitive sites): 40 people per site, $120 per site. For tent cabin fees and reservations, phone 1-800-874-8368.

Contact: Phone Big Basin Redwoods State Park at 1-831-338-8860 or 1-831-429-2850.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park
21600 Big Basin Way
Boulder Creek CA 95006-9064

Operating hours, seasons: Daily, 8:30 a.m. to 10: p.m. The park is open year-round.

Directions: From Santa Cruz, turn north on Highway 9 and drive 12 miles to the turn off. From Saratoga, turn south on Highway 9 and drive approximately 21 miles to the 236 turn off. Turn west on Highway 236 and drive nine miles to the park headquarters.

Weather, clothing: The weather can be changeable; layered clothing is recommended.

Trip notes: Big Basin is one of the best state parks and is the oldest park in California, established in 1902, featuring giant redwoods near the park headquarters, secluded campsites (up to 8 people may stay in a single family site) set in forest, group sites (up to 50 people may stay in a single group site), and rare opportunities to stay in a tent cabin or a backpacking trail site. It is a great park for hikers, with two waterfalls, one close and one far, making for stellar destinations. The close one is Sempervirens Falls, a long, narrow, silvery stream, an easy 1.5-hour round-trip on the Sequoia Trail. The far one is the famous Berry Creek Falls, a spectacular 70-foot cascade set in a beautiful canyon, framed by redwoods. For hikers in good condition, figure two hours (4.7 miles) to reach Berry Creek Falls, five hours for the round-trip in-and-out, and six hours for the complete loop (12 miles) that extends into the park's most remote areas. There is also an easy nature loop trail near the park headquarters in the valley floor that is routed past several mammoth redwoods. The Skyline to the Sea Trail passes through the park along Waddell Creek to the beach. There is also the 23 mile trail to Castle Rock State Park.

 

 

 

 

 

Where to go Camping

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Miwok Lodge 439