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Big Basin is known worldwide for its large Redwoods

Park Location
21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, Ca, 95006-9064
Established
1902
Size
80 Miles of Hiking Trails
Website
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=540
Phone
(831) 338-8860
Features
Hiking, Biking, Horseriding, Camping, Picnic Tables
Nature Center, Campfire Center
Points of Interest
Sempervirens Falls, Berry Creek Falls, Silver Falls
Golden Cascades, China Grade
Buzzard's Roost, Little Basin, Eagle Rock
Mt Mcabe Overlook, Chalk Mountain
Skyline to the Sea Trail, Rancho del Oso State Park
Waddell Beach, Woodwardia Falls

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is the original redwood park - the original California state park, in fact. The largest state park in Santa Cruz County, Big Basin is also home to the tallest redwoods south of San Francisco.  The park's best-known attractions include the half-mile Redwood Trail, home to the park's biggest trees; Berry Creek Falls, a large waterfall in the midst of mosses, ferns, and forest; and the Skyline-to-the-Sea trail which, when hiked from beginning to end, takes backpackers through two state parks and a wide range of ecosystems.

History

  In 1902, in response to public outcry over the destruction of California's unique old-growth redwood forest, the state of California began purchasing parcels of land, consisting of both ancient and recently logged forest, on which to establish California's first state park.  Originally dubbed Redwood State Park, the new reserve attracted thousands of visitors each year after it opened to the public in 1904.

A plaque at Big Basin says this:

                           THE FIRST STATE PARK
A GROUP OF CONSERVATIONISTS LED BY ANDREW P HILL
CAMPED AT THE BASE OF SLIPPERY ROCK ON MAY 15,
1900 AND FORMED THE SEMPERVIREANS CLUB TO PRE-
SERVE THE REDWOODS OF BIG BASIN.  THEIR EFFORTS
RESULTED IN DEEDING 3500 ACRES OF PRIMEVAL FOR-
EST TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.  ON SEPTEMBER
20, 1902.  THIS MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE CALI-
FORNIA STATE PARK SYSTEM.


CALIFORNIA REGISTERED HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 827
PLAQUE PLACED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS
AND RECREATION IN COOPERATION WITH THE CONSER-
VATION ASSOCIATES SEPTEMBER 22, 1968.

 This California Historical Landmark (#829) can be found where Shadow Brook Trail crosses Slippery Rock near Sky Meadow Road.

Ecology

Big Basin is home to several redwood trees notable for their enormity.  The tallest, known as the Mother of the Forest, recently reached 329 feet high1.  Its top was blown off by a storm, however, and it now measures about 270 feet.  

Berry Creek Falls The Fog Creeps in From the Coast The marsh in Rancho Del Oso State Park

Buzzard's Roost

Books About Big Basin

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