Sites

Water

20 Amp

30 Amp

50 Amp

Sewer

WiFi

Cable TV

Facilities

Club House

Laundry Room

Swimming Pool

Hot Tub

Fitness Center

Game Room

Rec Hall

Pavilion

Exercise Room

Restroom/Shower

Restroom Only

Shower Only

Restaurant

Groceries

RV Supplies

ATM Machine

Dog Park

Cocktail Lounge

Dog Washing Station

Pit Toilet

Snack Bar

Play Ground

Services

Escort to Site

Self-Service RV Wash

Metered LP Gas

Firewood

Fishing Supplies

Pet Supplies

Onsite Rentals

Worship Services

Golf Carts

Fishing Guides

Onsite RV Service

Staffed RV Wash

Fishing Licenses

Complimentary Breakfast

Policies

RV Age Restrictions

Pets Welcome

Pet Restrictions

Pet Restriction on Quantity

Pet Restriction on Breed

Pet Restriction on Size

No Pets

Tent Camping Allowed

Folding Tent Campers Allowed

No Tents

No Overnight Guests

Recreational activities in or near the park

Recreational Activities

Archery Range

ATV Riding

Biking

Boating

Body Of Water

Casino

Climbing

Dock

Driving Range

Fishing

Golf

Heated Pool

Hiking

Horseback Riding

Horseshoes

Kayaking

Lawn Bowling

Mini Golf

Paddle Boats

Pickle Ball

Putting Green

Ramp

Sauna

Shuffleboard

Snow Sports

Splash Pad

Swimming

Tennis

Wading Pool

Water Slide

Water Sports

Water Umbrella

Whitewater Rafting

<h2>Overview</h2><p>Big Basin Redwoods State Park stands as California’s oldest state park, offering a unique opportunity to witness the resilience of nature. Located in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the park is currently in a phase of <strong>limited reopening</strong> following the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire. While the landscape has changed, the majestic <strong>old-growth redwoods</strong> continue to draw travelers who appreciate a quiet, reflective atmosphere amidst a regenerating forest ecosystem.</p><h2>Location & Surroundings</h2><p>Situated near Boulder Creek, the park is tucked into a rugged stretch of the <strong>Santa Cruz Mountains</strong>. The journey to the park involves navigating narrow, winding roads lined with towering trees and dense foliage. This remote setting provides a complete escape from the bustle of Silicon Valley and the coast. Visitors are surrounded by a <strong>coastal mountain microclimate</strong> that often brings cool morning mists, providing a refreshing break from the California sun.</p><h2>Amenities & Park Features</h2><p>Camping here is a rustic, back-to-basics experience. There are currently <strong>no hookups</strong> available, making it essential for RVers to arrive with full tanks and charged batteries. The sites are generally smaller and better suited for <strong>camper vans and short trailers</strong>, as the mountain roads can be quite tight. Standard amenities include picnic tables and fire rings, but the primary draw is the direct access to the recovering wilderness right outside your cabin or rig door.</p><h2>Nearby Attractions & Things to Do</h2><p>While many trails are still undergoing restoration, several routes allow visitors to view the iconic <strong>Redwood Loop</strong> and various waterfalls. A short drive away, the charming town of Boulder Creek offers local shops and dining. For those wanting a change of pace, the <strong>Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk</strong> is less than an hour away, providing classic seaside fun. Hikers also frequent nearby <strong>Castle Rock State Park</strong> for its unique geological formations and climbing opportunities.</p><h2>Who This Park Is Best For</h2><p>This destination is ideal for <strong>adventurous dry campers</strong> and nature lovers who prioritize scenery over luxury. Because of the size limitations and technical driving required, it is best suited for those with <strong>compact RVs or van builds</strong>. If you seek a quiet, unplugged experience where the focus is on hiking and environmental recovery, Big Basin provides a profound and educational stay unlike any other in California.</p>



Big Basin Redwoods State Park is located in Boulder Creek, California, and is the oldest state park in California. It is home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. The park is filled with lush forests, cascading waterfalls, and miles of hiking trails. Visitors can explore the park's many trails, camp in the redwood groves, and take in the breathtaking views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a great place to explore nature and experience the beauty of the redwood forest.

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Big Basin Redwoods

Visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder Creek, CA. Experience rustic RV camping among old-growth redwoods and scenic mountain trails. No hookups.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Boulder Creek, CA

Beautiful place to visit. We went on a Monday and it wasn’t crowded at all. The trails are not very trafficked right now. We saw a lot of restoration efforts after the fire of 2020. We also saw abandoned campgrounds/sites. We heard a tree falling in one of our trails. Kinda scary/cool at the same time. There was only one park ranger in the entrance of the park and the visitor center. He was really friendly and answered all our questions. There is a lot of shade and so much beauty. It’s amazing to see the regrowth of the park. Take some water and snacks. No food or drinks for sale. We didn’t notice any mosquitoes there in early June. The weather was perfect. Such a fun place for my toddler too.

Make a car reservation before you go.

Big basin is a beautiful park that is not too crowded. Great trails with tall trees and mountains as far as you can see. Easy parking with a small picnic area for lunch or a snack. The Ocean view hike is a great, not too difficult, half day hike. I would recommend.

I love this park! It's very tranquil, mostly all you hear is the beautiful sound of nature surrounding you!
The trails are well groomed, very well delineated, the natural beauty is overwhelming! I would love to visit it more often and experience every trail, I will soon!

Spring break turned into an unforgettable adventure, surrounded by some of the most peaceful and refreshing natural beauty. The moment we arrived, we were struck by the lush greenery—tall trees standing like guardians, with water gently flowing around them. Everything felt alive and untouched.

What truly stood out was the purity of the landscape. Rocks and fallen wooden logs were blanketed in soft green moss, adding to the magical, almost storybook-like setting. And when the sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of leaves, it created a breathtaking play of light and shadows—an aura that’s hard to put into words.

Spring is undoubtedly the best time to explore this place, when nature is at its vibrant peak. That said, it’s important to plan ahead—there’s little to no network connectivity, so mapping your routes and trekking spots in advance is essential. Parking can also be a bit tricky, as the narrow uphill roads offer limited space, so be prepared to find spots along the roadside.

Make sure to carry proper trekking gear and comfortable shoes to fully enjoy the terrain. Overall, it’s a serene escape into nature—perfect for anyone looking to disconnect, recharge, and soak in raw, untouched beauty.

Amazing park with giant redwoods and peaceful walking trails. The board says no dogs allowed, but we went with our pup and saw many other people with dogs too, so it doesn’t seem very strict. The trail was clean and easy to walk, but the path had a lot of yellow snails everywhere, so walk carefully.

Good place for a quiet walk.

Visiting Big Basin was an unforgettable experience! Despite the visible scars from the 2020 lightning fires, the park is slowly and beautifully coming back to life. It was inspiring to witness nature’s resilience firsthand. The towering redwoods still offer an incredible sense of awe, and I learned a lot about the ecosystem through the interpretive signs on the trail — a meaningful and educational visit!

The Redwood Loop Trail was easy and mostly shaded, making it perfect for a relaxing stroll while still enjoying those iconic redwood views. Many other trails are currently partially closed, so I recommend checking ahead online or at the visitor center — it would’ve been helpful if closures were posted more clearly at the entrance.

Getting to the park is an adventure in itself. The road includes several narrow, one-lane sections and steel plates that act almost like surprise speed bumps — so definitely drive cautiously and take your time. Once you’re in, though, it’s worth every turn.

The park has a mix of sunny and shaded areas, so come prepared for both. Overall, Big Basin is a place of quiet beauty, powerful renewal, and majestic trees, perfect for anyone looking to reconnect with nature.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is absolutely beautiful. The trails are moderate and easy to enjoy even if you’re not a pro hiker. Not too crowded, and parking is easy to find. The redwoods are stunning — massive and full of quiet power. It’s sad to see how much was lost after the fire, but what’s left still takes your breath away.

The park is mostly driving through it with one parking lot with hikes. The bathrooms were ok kinda porta potty like near the trails. They make you write down which trails you are going, just in case you get lost, they know what direction to start looking. Luckily we opted for the smaller loop which is pretty well marked. We got here around 8am  Saturday with no reservations and we got lucky to get in! Although there wasn’t many people around until after we left maybe about a hour later people started to show up

A great park for a walk and stroll. Not the most ideal to experience redwood trees, but it stand as testament to the what first fires can do to such a great space.

You can experience a unique sight of green trees completely charred on the surface from the last fire!

This is a lovely area to explore. I would recommend spending a whole day or overnight to explore. There is plenty of woods, Forrest, hikes, and recreation to wander through.
Be sure to plan ahead so you know where to go and what you are doing as well as how much gas you have. Once arrived, you will do more driving to reach either the basin or lake or pull off spots.
Also, the weather is a bit cooler in the woods, so wear layers.

Glad the park is back open and a testament to how resilient our forests are. Beautiful to see the new growth and recovery. Volunteers weren’t available for the weekend guided tours when we went but hope to catch an expert opinion from one of our forest caretakers in the future.

I’m fortunate enough to have visited this park several times since I moved to the Bay Area but I still feel I can go there anytime.
The loop trail is a great way to get introduced to the park and it’s beauty.
For full experience, try to camp here (though reservations are hard to come by).
It’s a “must visit” for anybody coming to the Bay Area.

Amazing walk through the woods. It's covered with the shade of trees so a hot day is pleasant too. Take a guided trip. The drive up to the Big Basin is nauseous_ a cautious for ones prone to motion sickness.  The woods are worth the ride for a short day trip.

This is an beautiful park! We did the short trail, about a mile, which is a perfect jaunt for anyone. The terrain was flat and did not require exertion. We were able to see many redwood trees, which are simply awe inspiring. The gift shop was really nice. They even sell redwood starter trees! The staff was very knowledgeable and gave us suggestions on other wildlife preserves to visit in the area. There are options available for longer hikes. This is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon amongst some of the oldest trees in the country.

Being from the Northeast we have a lot of beautiful lakes, forests and meadows however we don't have anything to compare to the mighty Redwoods!  We had a magical afternoon wandering through the park with great company, ended with a picnic lunch; a sandwich never tasted so good

Love love this park. Camping is serene. GOD BLESS these places. May they soon recover from fire damages. BLESS the fire fighters!!

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Big Basin Redwoods

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