You can see some of the Santa Cruz Mountains’ most impressive redwood trees along the Redwood Loop Trail in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The trail passes remarkable old-growth redwoods, including the Mother, Father, and Santa Clara Trees that inspired the movement to protect coast redwoods. That movement led to the founding of Sempervirens Club (now Sempervirens Fund) which helped create Big Basin, California’s oldest state park, to permanently protect these stunning giants in 1902. Since then, Sempervirens Fund has continued working with California State Parks to protect most of the park’s 18,376 acres. That includes over 15,000 more acres added since 1902, and most recently, the 153-acre NoraBella property.

In August and September 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned more than 86,000 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, including Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Big Basin began a limited reopening in July 2022, and access has continued to evolve as additional roads and trails reopen following both the fire and the severe storms of 2023. Today, some portions of the park, including the Redwood Loop Trail, are open for limited day use. Visitor access remains limited and trail conditions continue to change, so visitors should check the current park map, access information, and reservation guidance before visiting. You can read more about how we’re Reimagining Big Basin here.