Big Basin Redwoods State Park, State park in Santa Cruz County, California, United States

Big Basin Redwoods State Park covers over 18,000 acres in Santa Cruz County, from sea level to ridges above 600 m. Its bowl-shaped basin holds 10,800 acres of old-growth coast redwoods, the largest continuous stand south of San Francisco, plus recovering redwood forest, oaks, chaparral and riparian habitat. Over 130 km of trails include the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail along Waddell Creek.

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 Ohlone tribes Quiroste, Achistaca, Cotoni and Sayante lived along the watercourses rising in the park, using its redwoods for basketry material, acorns and bulbs. In October 1769 the Portola expedition camped at the mouth of Waddell Creek; after scurvy-stricken members recovered by eating berries, the valley was named Cañada de la Salud, Canyon of Health.

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.