Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Big Basin Redwoods State Park, founded in 1902, protects the largest stand of old-growth coast redwoods south of San Francisco. In August 2020 the CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned more than 97 percent of the park and destroyed nearly every building, including the historic headquarters and the campgrounds. Most of the ancient redwoods survived. Their trunks are blackened, but fresh green shoots now sprout straight from the bark. The forest floor is full of new growth.

Our redwood forests guide compares Big Basin with the other groves near Palo Alto. This page goes deeper on Big Basin alone: what is open in late 2026, parking and fees, the shuttle and bus, the best trails and a sample day.

What is open in late 2026

The park reopened for limited day use in July 2022. According to a California State Parks release from May 2026, more than 230,000 people have visited since then, an interim visitor center is open and more than 20 miles of trails have been restored. Here is the picture from the park page and its 2026 information sheet:

• Hours: day-use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. The park may close during bad weather.
• Open: the main day-use area near the old park core, the interim visitor center at 21600 Big Basin Way and a network of reopened trails and fire roads.
• Closed: all trails to Berry Creek Falls and the West Waddell Creek Wilderness. The park also says camping reservations are not available because the main park's campgrounds remain closed.
• No services: there is no drinking water, no electricity and no cell service in the park. Wi-Fi is limited. Bring all your water and food.
• Dogs: allowed on a six-foot leash in paved areas only, never on trails or unpaved roads.

Rebuilding will take years. The Reimagining Big Basin project is planning permanent facilities, trails and campgrounds in phases. Check the park's Big Basin Access advisory before every trip, since trail openings change as crews clear more of the backcountry.

Getting there from Palo Alto

Big Basin is about 40 to 45 miles from Palo Alto, but every route ends on slow mountain roads. Plan on 1 to 1.25 hours each way. The most direct route climbs to Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35), either up Page Mill Road or by way of Saratoga and Highway 9. From Saratoga Gap, follow Highway 9 south toward Boulder Creek and turn onto Highway 236, which winds down to the park entrance. Coming from the south side, Highway 236 leaves Highway 9 in Boulder Creek and reaches the entrance kiosk in about nine miles.

All the roads are curvy and narrow, with bicycles and blind corners. Oversized vehicles and trailers cannot park for day use. Check Caltrans road conditions after storms, when the mountain highways can close for slides or fallen trees.

State Parks warns that rideshare and car share apps do not work well here. There is no cell service at the entrance. Visitors who arrive by Uber or a shared car have been stranded without a ride home.

Parking reservations and fees

Reservations are no longer required, but the park says they are highly recommended because spaces are limited. Only a reservation guarantees a space in the main day-use area.

Reservations are made through the park partner, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, linked from the park page. The fees help fund the park. Prices are subject to change, so confirm on the park page before you go.

The shuttle and the bus

In summer 2026, State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks ran a shuttle on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It looped from the Saddle Mountain overflow lot at Highway 236 and Little Basin Road to the main day-use area. The 14-passenger shuttle was wheelchair accessible, carried bikes and was free to ride, though parking at Saddle Mountain cost $10 on a first-come basis. Expect it to return in summer 2027, but watch for an announcement.

Santa Cruz METRO Route 35 also serves the park on weekends and holidays. The State Parks release lists fares of $2 a ride or $6 for a day pass, free parking at the Scotts Valley METRO station and free park entry for bus riders. The park page describes this as summer service, so check METRO's schedule before planning a winter trip by bus.

Trails to walk

The park's information sheet suggests trips by the time you have:

• One hour: the visitor center, then the paved North Escape Road, 1.5 miles one way, where leashed dogs and bikes are allowed. Rangers or volunteers lead Redwood Loop walks on weekends by request at the visitor center.
• Half a day: the Sequoia Trail and Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail loop past 20-foot Sempervirens Falls, 4.3 miles. The Sequoia Trail reopened on May 22, 2026, for the first time since the fire. Other options are Ocean View Summit (4.2 miles round trip), Mount McAbee Overlook (5.7 miles) and the Dool, Middle Ridge and Meteor loop (5.5 miles).
• A full day: about 12 miles of fire roads by foot, bike or horse, from Gazos Creek Fire Road to Sandy Point, Johansen Fire Road and Middle Ridge Fire Road.

Temperatures can top 100°F on hot days, especially on the open, burned ridges. Carry plenty of water and start early in summer. Our redwood hikes guide has more groves for shorter outings.

Rancho del Oso on the coast

The park's coastal unit, Rancho del Oso, sits off Highway 1 about 20 miles north of Santa Cruz. It has no road or trail link to the main redwood area, so treat it as a separate stop. Day use there needs no fee or reservation, according to the park. It has hiking trails, a nature and history center and beach access. The May 2026 release said interim walk-in and bike-in camping had returned there, but camping rules change, so check the park page before planning a night.

Best time to go

Spring is lovely, with green ferns, running creeks and full waterfalls. Fall weekdays are quiet and cool. Winter rain makes the forest smell wonderful, but storms can close roads and the park, so check conditions. Summer weekends are the busiest, which is when a parking reservation matters most. Our weather guide explains how much cooler the mountains can be than Palo Alto, except during inland heat waves.

Where to eat

There is no food or water for sale in the park. Pack a picnic and eat at the picnic area in the main day-use area, then carry out every crumb. The park asks visitors to keep it "crumb clean" to protect the endangered marbled murrelet, a seabird that nests high in old-growth redwoods. Jays and ravens drawn to food scraps raid its nests.

For dinner on the way home through Saratoga, Big Basin Way (Highway 9) has two restaurants confirmed for late 2026. The Hero Ranch Kitchen, 14583 Big Basin Way, lists dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. Flowers, 14577 Big Basin Way, lists the same days and hours. Our Saratoga food guide has more.

A sample day

1. Night before. Book a parking reservation and download a park map, since there is no cell service.
2. 7:30 a.m. Leave Palo Alto with water, lunch and layers.
3. 8:45 a.m. Arrive soon after the park opens. Stop at the visitor center.
4. 9:15 a.m. Hike the 4.3-mile loop to Sempervirens Falls.
5. 12:30 p.m. Picnic in the day-use area, then a slow walk among the big trees near the old park core.
6. 2:30 p.m. Drive home over Highway 236 and Highway 9, with a stop at Saratoga Gap or an early dinner in Saratoga.

To see more of the Santa Cruz Mountains, combine the trip with Castle Rock State Park on Skyline or spend a night and visit Henry Cowell Redwoods the next morning. You can compare hotels in Santa Cruz and Los Gatos for a base. Browse all day trips from Palo Alto.

Frequently asked questions