| Big Basin Redwoods State Park | |
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 2025 view of the forest following the 2020CZU Lightning Complex fires burned over 97% of the park | |
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| Location | Santa Cruz County, California,United States |
| Nearest city | Santa Cruz, California |
| Coordinates | 37°10′21″N122°13′21″W / 37.17250°N 122.22250°W /37.17250; -122.22250 |
| Area | 18,000 acres (73 km2) |
| Established | 1902 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | parks |
| Reference no. | 827[1] |
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is astate park in theU.S. state ofCalifornia, located inSanta Cruz County, about 36 km (22 mi) northwest ofSanta Cruz. The park contains almost all of theWaddell Creekwatershed, which was formed by theseismic uplift of its rim, and the erosion of its center by the many streams in its bowl-shaped depression.
Big Basin is California's oldeststate park, established in 1902, earning its designation as aCalifornia Historical Landmark.[1] Its original 3,800 acres (15 km2) have been increased over the years to over 18,000 acres (73 km2). It is part of theNorthern California coastal forests ecoregion and is home to the largest continuous stand of ancientcoast redwoods south ofSan Francisco. It contains 10,800 acres (44 km2) ofold-growth forest[2] as well as recovering redwood forest, with mixedconifer,oaks,chaparral andriparianhabitats. Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 600 m (2,000 ft). The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops.
The park has over 130 km (81 mi) of trails. Some of these trails link Big Basin toCastle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of theSanta Cruz range. TheSkyline-to-the-Sea Trail threads its way through the park along Waddell Creek to Waddell Beach, and the adjacentTheodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwatermarsh.[3]
The park has manywaterfalls, a wide variety of environments (from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes), many species of mammals (deer,raccoons, an occasionalbobcat) and abundant bird life – includingSteller's jays,egrets,herons andacorn woodpeckers.
TheCZU Lightning Complex fires in August 2020 burned over 97% of Big Basin and destroyed the park headquarters, closing the park for 2 years during rebuilding efforts before it reopened in Summer 2022.
Archaeological evidence has sporadically found prehistoric people inhabited old growth forests within the Park. Numerous resources would have been available to California Indians in the old growth forests, such as basketry material, plant foods like acorns and bulbs as well as animal prey for hunters and perhaps traditional sacred places.Ohlone tribes that lived on watercourses which begin in the park were theQuiroste, Achistaca,Cotoni and Sayante.[4] In October 1769, thePortola expedition encountered the redwoods of southern Santa Cruz County, and camped at the mouth of Waddell Creek, in present-day Big Basin, later that month. Although many in the party had been ill withscurvy, they gorged themselves onberries and quickly recovered. This miraculous recovery, as it seemed at the time, inspired the name given to the valley: 'Cañada de la Salud' or Canyon of Health.[citation needed]
By the late 19th century, redwood forests were gaining international appreciation while also being decimated. Early conservationists, including notable Santa CruzansWilliam T. Jeter andArthur A. Taylor (A. A. Taylor) were joined by Santa Clara County activistsAndrew P. Hill, FatherRobert Kenna andCarrie Stevens Walter. Their movement to preserve the Big Basin redwood forest began at Stanford University on May 1, Soon after Santa Cruzans led an excursion to the park where seven men and two women formed theSempervirens Club. The Sempervirens galvanized the state-wide effort resulting in ground-breaking legislation being signed into law in March 1901.[5] The official land transfer occurred in 1902: The California Redwood Park initially consisted of 3,800 acres (15 km2), most of it old growth forest.[citation needed]
In the following decades, visitation to Big Basin grew steadily as park amenities were developed. TheBig Basin Inn offered cabins to rent, a restaurant, general store, barber shop, gas station and photographic studio. There were also a post office, a concrete swimming pool, boating areas, tennis courts and a dance floor. Campsites cost 50 cents a night in 1927 and many families stayed all summer. During theGreat Depression of the 1930s, theCivilian Conservation Corps assigned a company to Big Basin. These men built theamphitheater, miles of trails, and many of the buildings still used today. Themain administration building, built by the CCC in 1936, was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places prior to its destruction in the 2020 fires.[citation needed]
Save the Redwoods League purchased a 564-acre (228 ha) parcel known as Cascade Creek in 2020 that links Big Basin withAño Nuevo State Park.[6]
TheCZU Lightning Complex fires started on August 16, 2020 and burned 86,509 acres across Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties.[7] The fire spread quickly, and the area was evacuated on August 18.[8] On August 20, it was reported that the park's historic headquarters building had been completely destroyed, and the campgrounds around the park were extensively damaged.[9] After actively burning for 37 days, the fires were contained on September 22.[7] Over 97% of Big Basin was burned and nearly every structure was destroyed.[10]
This was the first major wildfire in Big Basin in over 100 years, which had previously burned in 1904.[11] This led to a greater intensity of the CZU fires, causing severe damage to the majority of the old growth trees.[12] While some of the trees fell during and after the fires, the majority of the ancient redwoods remain standing.[13][14][15] However, studies have shown that only 24% of the forest in Big Basin is still alive and regrowing due to the intensity of the fires and drought in the following years, and the old growth forest may never fully recover.[12]
An April 2021 backcountry tour revealed the scorched landscape and the hundred structures destroyed, and the park superintendent estimated it might be up to a year before the public will be allowed safe access to park trails.[16] The burnt wreckage of 1,490 structures and 15,000 charred trees, mainly Douglas fir, had fallen or were in danger of falling onto the hiking trails.[17] One year after the fire, the clean up and rebuilding process began. The park remained closed to the public until July 22, 2022.[18] Almost two years after the fire, Big Basin partially reopened 8 hiking trails for day use.[10]
Although redwoods dominate the landscape, many other plant species are common in Big Basin. One will certainly seecoast Douglas-fir,tan oak,Pacific madrone, andPacific wax myrtle trees in the park. Competing for sunshine are also manyshrubs such asred huckleberries,western azalea, and many varieties offerns. Spring and summer bring thewildflowers:redwood sorrel,salal,redwood violets,trillium,star lily andmountain iris. The rains of fall and winter deliver hundreds of kinds offungi in a startling variety of shapes, sizes and colors.[citation needed]
Upon climbing to higher elevations, one will find the forest growing thinner, as redwoods are replaced by more drought-tolerant species. The higher, drier ridges and slopes of Big Basin are typically full ofchaparral vegetation:knobcone pines,chinquapin andbuckeye create the canopy, withceanothus,manzanita,chamise, andchaparral pea growing dense and low. Adding a splash of color are wildflowers such asIndian paintbrush,monkey flower,bush poppies andyerba santa.[citation needed]
Near the mouth of Waddell Creek is theTheodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a rare relatively undisturbed freshwater marsh. This special place provides habitat for a wide variety ofbirds,reptiles andamphibians. The nearbyRancho Del Oso Nature and History Center interprets the cultural and natural history of the area.[citation needed]
Mammals such asblack-tailed deer,western gray squirrels,chipmunks andraccoons are common, butfoxes,coyotes,bobcats, andopossums are also present.Cougars are known to live in the park but are rarely sighted.Grizzly bears areextinct in California, but were numerous in the past. The last known human to die in California due to a grizzly attack in the wild occurred in Big Basin when, in 1875, William Waddell, a lumber mill owner, was killed near Waddell Creek.[citation needed]
Bird life is abundant throughout the park.Steller's jays andacorn woodpeckers are both seen and heard, and thedark-eyed junco is widespread. Less obvious are thebrown creeper,Anna's hummingbird,northern flicker,olive-sided flycatcher andsharp-shinned hawk. The firstmarbled murrelet nest ever sighted was located in Big Basin not far from the park headquarters. These robin-sizedseabirds nest high in the oldestcoast Douglas-firs and redwoods to feed their young. They can be seen or heard at dawn and dusk, high above the forest canopy.[citation needed]
Manyreptiles are also present, but aside from the ubiquitous Coast Range subspecies of thewestern fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii), most are rarely seen due to their shy behavior. The only dangerous reptile in the park is the Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus), found almost exclusively in the high, dry chaparral.[citation needed]
The damp, shady woodland floor is home to a variety ofamphibians. Commonly seen species include theCalifornia newt (Taricha torosa torosa),Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla), andarboreal salamander (Aneides lugubris). Less commonly seen are theblack salamander (Aneides flavipunctatus) andCalifornia giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) and the threatenedCalifornia red-legged frog (Rana draytonii). Particularly intriguing arebanana slugs (Ariolimax spp.), which can reach 6 inches long.[citation needed]
The butterfly,California sisters (Adelpha bredowii), flutter high in the tree canopies.[citation needed]
Big Basin Redwoods State Park previously had many options for camping, including cabins, developed campsites, and trail camps. Within the park, there were 146 individual campsites, 36 cabins, and five trail camps. The 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires destroyed many campgrounds; as of Summer 2024, none have re-opened.
Each campground at Big Basin Redwoods State Park was open on a different schedule during the year. The Huckleberry and Sequoia Campgrounds were open year round while Blooms Creek, Sempervirens, Watashi and Sky Meadow Campgrounds were seasonal.[19]
The park is about two hours south ofSan Francisco, or seven hours north ofLos Angeles.[citation needed]
Big Basin can be approached from the east, through redwood forest and coastal mountains, or from the coast, alongState Route 1. The eastern route, overState Route 9 throughSaratoga and smaller towns likeBoulder Creek is more popular because of the famous trees. This route passesCastle Rock State Park (California) on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz range.[citation needed]
From SR 1, Gazos Creek road offers a pleasant fire-road route for mountain bikes (road closed to motor vehicles), which can then descend into the headquarters area or turn off on Johansen fire road to join China Grade above its intersection withState Route 236.
After reopening the park after theCZU Lightning Complex fires, theSanta Cruz Metropolitan Transit District expanded its bus route 35 service to run four trips to and from the park on weekends only.[18][20]
The park stands in for the fictional "Bolderoc National Park" inGeorge Marshall'sThe Forest Rangers,Muir Woods inAlfred Hitchcock'sVertigo, andRedwood National Park in theDisney filmThe Gnome-Mobile.[21][22]
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Big Basin Redwoods State Park travel guide from Wikivoyage
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