Felton and Henry Cowell Redwoods

Felton sits on Highway 9 in the San Lorenzo Valley, about six miles inland from Santa Cruz. It is a small, low-key mountain town of a few blocks, but three of the best family outings in the Santa Cruz Mountains are packed around it: the old-growth grove at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, the steam trains of Roaring Camp Railroads and the Felton Covered Bridge. You can see all three in one unhurried day and still be home for dinner.

Our Santa Cruz guide and our redwood forests guide each give Henry Cowell a short section. This page goes deeper on the park and the town, with the late 2026 fees, train prices and closures you need to plan the day.

Getting there from Palo Alto

Take Interstate 280 or Highway 85 south to Los Gatos, then Highway 17 over the summit toward Santa Cruz. In Scotts Valley, exit at Mount Hermon Road and follow it west until it ends at Graham Hill Road. For Roaring Camp and the Henry Cowell campground, turn left on Graham Hill Road. For the main day use area and the Redwood Grove, turn right, then left on Highway 9 into Felton and continue about two miles south to the park entrance. The drive is about 40 miles and takes 50 minutes to an hour in light traffic.

Highway 17 is a winding mountain freeway with sharp curves and frequent crashes. Keep to the speed limit, leave room and avoid summer weekend afternoons, when beach traffic backs up from Scotts Valley to Los Gatos. Our traffic guide has more on timing.

Make it a loop on Highway 9

On the way home, consider Highway 9 north from Felton through Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek, then up through the redwoods to Saratoga Gap and down to Saratoga. It is slower and twistier than Highway 17 but far prettier. It passes Castle Rock State Park near the summit. Winter storms sometimes close sections of Highway 9, so check Caltrans road conditions before you commit.

By transit

It is possible but slow. Take Caltrain to San Jose Diridon, ride the Highway 17 Express bus to Santa Cruz ($7) and then a Santa Cruz Metro bus up Highway 9 to Felton. Expect two and a half to three hours each way. Check 511.org for connections.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Henry Cowell is best known for its 40-acre grove of old-growth coast redwoods along the San Lorenzo River, some of the tallest trees close to the Bay Area. The grove drew visitors long before it became a park. In the 1800s it was a private resort called Big Trees with a stop on the narrow-gauge railroad from Santa Cruz. It later became a county park and then, with land from the Cowell family, a state park. Above the river, the park climbs into the Santa Cruz Sandhills, a rare habitat of ponderosa pine and sand found almost nowhere else.

The state park page, checked November 1, 2026, lists:

The Redwood Grove Loop

Start at the visitor center and walk the Redwood Grove Loop, an almost flat path of about 0.8 mile through the old-growth grove. Numbered posts match a trail guide. The highlight is the Fremont Tree, a giant you can step inside through a fire scar. Bring a flashlight for a look up the hollow. The loop is mostly accessible and dogs are not allowed. Rangers lead guided walks in the grove on some weekends. The park's event calendar lists them.

Longer walks

• River Trail: follows the San Lorenzo River downstream from the grove, beside the tracks of Roaring Camp's beach line.
• Observation Deck: a climb of a few miles into the sandhills to a platform with views over the forest to Monterey Bay.
• Garden of Eden: a popular swimming hole on the river, reached from the Ox Fire Road trailhead about 0.75 mile south of the main entrance on Highway 9. Parking is roadside and limited. The river is cold and currents are strong after rain.
• Fall Creek Unit: a separate section off Graham Hill Road with a shady creek trail and the ruins of 19th century lime kilns.

The park also has a campground on Graham Hill Road, reserved through ReserveCalifornia. Our camping guide lists other options near Palo Alto.

Roaring Camp Railroads

Right next to the park, at 5401 Graham Hill Road, Roaring Camp recreates an 1880s logging town and runs narrow-gauge steam trains into the redwoods. Its geared Shay, Heisler and Climax locomotives date from 1890 and are among the oldest steam engines in regular passenger service in the country.

The Roaring Camp website lists:

• Redwood Forest Steam Train: a 75-minute round trip over trestles and up a steep grade to the summit of Bear Mountain, with narration about logging history. Adults 13 and up $42.35, children 2 to 12 $26.45, under 2 free.
• Santa Cruz Beach Train: the line down the river gorge to the Boardwalk is not running and is due to return in spring 2027.
• Seasonal events: holiday lights trains, a holiday market and New Year's trains in winter, plus mushroom forages and other weekend events.

Departures vary by day and season and holiday trains sell out, so buy tickets online ahead. Our kids and trains guide lists other rail outings closer to Palo Alto.

The Felton Covered Bridge

A few blocks from the center of town, the Felton Covered Bridge crosses the San Lorenzo River in a small park off Mount Hermon Road. Built in 1892, it is often described as the tallest covered bridge in the country. It is closed to cars but open to walkers. It takes ten minutes and makes a good photo stop, with a lawn and picnic tables beside it.

Felton and the San Lorenzo Valley

Felton's small center along Highway 9 has a grocery store, cafes, pizza and a few casual restaurants. Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek, a few miles north on Highway 9, have more of the same in the same unhurried style. Many places close early or take a day off midweek, so pack snacks if you plan a long hike. For more choice, downtown Santa Cruz is 15 minutes away.

When to go

Henry Cowell works in every season. In summer the redwood shade stays cool when Palo Alto is hot, though the parking lots fill on weekends. Fall is warm and dry. Winter turns the forest green and wet, the river runs high and Roaring Camp's holiday trains run. Storms can bring downed trees, flooding and road closures, so check conditions after heavy rain. Our weather guide has more on the seasons.

A sample day

1. 9 a.m. Leave Palo Alto for Highway 17.
2. 10 a.m. Redwood Grove Loop and the visitor center at Henry Cowell.
3. 11:30 a.m. Lunch in Felton and a look at the covered bridge.
4. 1 p.m. Steam train to Bear Mountain at Roaring Camp.
5. 3 p.m. Drive home on Highway 9 through Boulder Creek, or continue to Santa Cruz for sunset on West Cliff Drive.

If you would rather not drive Highway 17 twice in a day, stay a night in Scotts Valley or Santa Cruz. You can compare hotels in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley. Browse all our day trips from Palo Alto for more ideas.

Frequently asked questions