Contact Info
Boulder Creek, CA 95006-9064
- Phone:
- 831-338-8860
Basics
- Location:
- 40 miles west of San Jose in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Type:
- State Parks
- Elevation:
- Sea level to 2,000 feet
Description
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 over 18,000 acres of Old Growth and recovering Redwood Forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitats. The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny and warm at the ridge tops.
The park has over 80 miles of trails. Some of these trails link Big Basin to Castle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of the Santa Cruz range. The Skyline to the Sea Trail threads its way through the park along Waddell Creek to the beach and adjacent Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwater marsh.
The park has a surprising number of waterfalls, a wide variety of environments from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes, many animals (deer, raccoons, an occasional bobcat) and lots of bird life, including Steller’s jays, egrets, herons and California woodpeckers.
Hours + Fees
Season:
Amenities
Amenities:
Modern Restrooms
Picnic Area(s)
Visitor Center
