Big Basin Redwoods State Park, State forest preserve in San Mateo County, United States
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a large protected area in Santa Cruz County with coast redwoods thousands of years old that grow taller than 300 feet (90 meters). The forest spreads over gentle slopes with narrow valleys where streams flow between ferns and moss-covered stones.
The forest became California's first state park in 1902 after citizens wanted to save it from logging. Fires in 2020 changed large parts of the area, but the trees are now growing back.
The name comes from a deep basin surrounded by forested ridges where cool water gathers and shadows fall between the red trunks. Hikers move quietly under the tall trees today, seeking the silence that was here centuries ago.
Reservations are necessary to visit certain areas, and parking fees are collected at the entrance. Some trails are now open again while others remain closed, so check current conditions before you go.
Researchers found the first documented nest of a marbled murrelet here, a small seabird that normally breeds hidden in the highest branches of old trees. This discovery helped confirm that the species needs ancient forests to survive.
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