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California State Parks

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USA Parks
California
Central Coast & Central Valley Region
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
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Big Basin Redwoods State Park House Number 10 - 2020 © Gordon Warren Epperly
This House Number 10 is the only Ranger Residence to survive the Wildfire of August 2020.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Park Ranger Residence - Sky Meadow © Gordon Warren Epperly
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Wifes of Park Rangers - 1948 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Photo taken in Living Room of Park Ranger House Number 10. The only surviving House of the Big Basin Wildfire of August 2020.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Floyed Epperly and Roy Pinhale - 1949 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Floyed Epperly and Roy Pinhale playing at Sky Meadow Park Ranger Residence of Sky Meadow, Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Swimming Pool - 1949 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Home of William Ross Epperly - 1949 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Sky Meadow Ranger Residence - 1949 © Gordon Warren Epperly
A Snow Year at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Gate House and Entrance Sign - 1948 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Gordon, Floyed, and Victor Epperly - 1947 © Gordon Warren Epperly
The Children of Park Ranger, William Ross Epperly, sitting on steps of their House Number 10. This House is the only one to survive the Wildfire of August 2020.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Victor Epperly Birthday Party - 1947 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Photo taken in the Recreation Hall of Park Headquarters. The children are those of the Park Rangers.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park © Gordon Warren Epperly
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Victor and Floyed Epperly - 1948 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Photo taken in Kitchen of Park Ranger House Number 10. The only surviving House of the Big Basin Wildfire of August 2020.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Children walking Sky Meadow Lane - 1953 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Keith Epperly - Roy Penhale - Victor Epperly - Danny Spencer walking at Sky Meadow Ranger Residence of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Walt Disney - Gnome Mobil © Gordon Warren Epperly
The movie Gnome Mobil was filmed in part within Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Ranger William Ross Epperly - 1950 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Victor Epperlys Birthday - 1950 © Gordon Warren Epperly
Big Basin Redwoods State Park © Jeremy Bishop tidesinourveins / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Boulder Creek, United States
Big Basin Redwoods State Park © Terri0907 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK
BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK
21600 Big Basin Way
Boulder Creek, California   95006
(lat:37.1666 lon:-122.251) map location

Phone: 831-338-8860
Reservations: 831-338-8860
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. Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 2,000 feet. The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops.

Dogs are permitted in the campsites, picnic areas, and on paved roads only. They must be on a leash and attended at all times. Dogs ARE NOT permitted on any of the trails.
Nature of the Area
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.
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseHiking Trailyes
CampingPrimitiveyes
 Full Hookup Sitesyes
Park Store
General Store

Food, beverages, essential camping supplies, single speed bike rentals and more are available at the Big Basin Redwoods Store located across the street from Park Headquarters. Open daily 10:00am to 4:00pm. Closed during the months of December and January.

Gift Shop

Located next to the Big Basin Redwoods Store, you?ll find a wide selection of gifts, postcards, and clothing and more. Open daily 10:00am to 4:00pm. Closed during the months of December and January.
Camping
Tent Cabins

Registration for the Tent Cabins is at the Gift Shop or after hours at the Host Site at Huckleberry Campground. Tent Cabins are managed by a private concession.

Trail Camps

Six people per site

Reserve via Big Basin Headquarters

Group Camps

Sequoia Group Camp (2 Group Camps) Open All Year

Fifty people per site 18 Vehicles

Sky Meadow Group Camp (2 Group Camps) May 26-Oct 28

Forty people per site 15 Vehicles



Horse Area
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.
Trails
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.
Bicycling
* 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
Area Attractions
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.

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
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Area Campgrounds
Santa Cruz North/Costanoa KOA
2001 Rossi Road
Pescadero, CA
650-879-1100
Saratoga Springs
22801 Big Basin Way
Saratoga, CA
408-867-9999
Cotillion Gardens RV Park
300 Old Big Trees Road
Felton, CA
831-335-7669
River Grove Resort
4980 Highway 9
Felton, CA
831-335-4511
Smithwoods RV Park
4770 Highway 9
Felton, CA
831-335-4321
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
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.

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California
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California State Parks

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