Only small areas in the park's western coastal region have re-opened to the public. The majority of the park remains closed during the 2022 season. This quintessential hike leads to inspiring redwoods, like the towering "Father and Mother of the Forest."Įditor's Note: The 2020 CZU Lightning Fire Complex severely damaged Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The universally accessible and half-mile Redwood Trail at Big Basin is another nearly required hike at the park. Mother of the Forest | Photo Copyright: Brad Lane The trail follows a road for half of the loop, exploring along the edge of an ancient redwood forest, with a level and well-maintained trail throughout.Īt the halfway point of the hike, a short descent takes hikers down to see Sempervirens Falls, a roughly 20-foot waterfall plunging into a forest grotto. Over 80 miles of trails span this century-old state park, including the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail that connects to other state parks in the area.įor a nice introduction to the park, the Sequoia Trail is a family-friendly, four-mile loop starting from the park's Sequoia Campground. The ancient redwoods within Big Basin, the oldest State Park in California, are attributed to jumpstarting the California State Park system. Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues. Enjoy all the landscapes of the area with our list of the top hiking trails near Santa Cruz, California. And spots like Wilder Ranch State Park showcase some of the most beautiful coastal panoramas on this side of the country. Many other hiking trails near Santa Cruz offer views of the ocean. It features family-friendly hikes through ancient redwood groves and one of the best campgrounds near Santa Cruz. These millennia-old trees, some rivaling the height of the Statue of Liberty, are world-famous and credited with kickstarting the California State Park system.Ī great first place to head for hiking trails near Santa Cruz is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, less than 10 miles from downtown. They span 2,000-foot elevations in the Santa Cruz Mountains down to the ocean shore, leading to plunging waterfalls and stunning ocean vistas.īut magnificent redwood groves are perhaps the biggest attraction of hiking trails near Santa Cruz. Hiking trails near Santa Cruz traverse a wide range of environments.