Equestrian Trails

Horses are allowed on Equestrian Trails and all double track trails in the Park.

Horse Camps

Six sites.Six people per site.Minimum of one horse per site.One tow vehicle and one horse trailer per site. Reserve via Rancho Del Oso.

The park has over 80 miles of trails. Be sure and pick up a map at park headquarters before your hike and take a look at the multimedia kiosk in the Sempervirens Room (next to park headquarters). There you will find great information, photos, and video of some of the most popular 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.

* Mountain Biking o Fire Roads are open to Mountain Biking o No Mountain Bikes allowed on Single Track Trails o North Escape Road (Picnic Area Road) is level and paved and makes a good easy route. + It is closed to private autos passed the locked gate

Museum

See wonderful photographs of the area from years past, learn about redwood forests, and see the many birds, reptiles, incects and mammals that live in Big Basin. Open 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Boulder Creek

There are several stores, restaurants, and other services located in Boulder Creek just 9 miles from Park Headquarters.

All roads into Big Basin are curvy. If you have an RV or trailer, take Route 1 - it is the least curvy.

Route 1 (From San Jose Area)

Take Highway 880 South, which automatically becomes Highway 17. As you head towards Santa Cruz and come down from the summit, you will see a sign on the freeway for Big Basin. The actual road name is Mount Hermon Road. Exit the freeway here and stay right onto Mount Hermon Road. Stay on this road as it goes through the city of Scotts Valley. Mount Hermon Road ends at an intersection with a signal (Graham Hill Rd.). Turn right at this light. You will immediately come to another lighted intersection, (Highway 9) turn right again. Stay on Highway 9 in this northerly direction for 15 miles. You will be traveling through several mountain towns. You will eventually come to the town of Boulder Creek. In Boulder Creek there is one stop sign. At this stop sign you will turn left onto Highway 236/Big Basin Way. Stay on this highway for 9 miles and you will enter the Park. Proceed to Park Headquarters.

Route 2 (From San Francisco Area)

Take either the 101 or 280 freeway south. From there take the 85 freeway south. Exit 85 at Saratoga Avenue. Turn right and head west on Saratoga Avenue. This road goes through the quaint shopping area of Saratoga and then begins to climb into the mountains. At this point the road automatically becomes Highway 9. Stay on 9 as it winds through the mountains for 6 miles. You will then see as sign for Hwy 236/Big Basin. Go straight onto Hwy 236 and continue on this road for 9 miles until you come to Park Headquarters.

Route 3 (From Highway 1 South of Santa Cruz)

Take Highway 1 north to Santa Cruz. Take Highway 9 north and travel on it for 15 miles. You will pass through several mountain towns and eventually arrive at the town of Boulder Creek. In Boulder Creek there is one stop sign. At this stop sign you will turn left onto Highway 236/Big Basin Way. Stay on this road for 9 miles and you will enter the Park. Proceed to Park Headquarters.

Detour: Should Highway 9 be closed near Santa Cruz, exit Highway 1 at Ocean Street. Turn right onto Graham Hill Road at the first signal you come to on Ocean. This road will take you into the town of Felton , where you will turn right onto Highway 9. Highway 9 winds through several mountain towns and eventually comes to the town of Boulder Creek. In Boulder Creek there is one stop sign. At this stop sign you will turn left onto Highway 236/Big Basin Way. Stay on this road for 9 miles and you will enter the Park. Proceed to Park Headquarters.