Reviews

leigh hardy

Nice little park. Well, it is probably bigger than what I saw. We walked the 1 mile loop. Such beautiful big old majestic trees. I took my shoes off and grounded myself Walked barefoot!! I felt so connected to Mother Earth. We had the trail practically to ourselves Clean restrooms and water available

Ali C

May 2025 This park participates in the CA State Library Parks Pass. Shady trails along a creek, plenty of trees and picnic benches with BBQ grills. Small parking lots hidden around corners or down driveways. Firewood sold on site. I had plenty of bug spray all over and still managed to get bitten by swarming mosquitoes in the parking lot, before heading out to the trails. On the Big Tree trail, I saw a couple banana slugs! It was a good park with bathrooms and an informative visitor center. I'm glad I visited but probably wouldn't attempt the trip again. If the goal was to see redwoods, I would prefer visiting Henry Cowell Redwoods SP on 17 instead. The approx 1 hr driving on nonstop windy 84 road in a small sedan is not worth the trip. Minus stars for the route and overall trip, not for the park itself.

Bob

The road to get here was very sketchy, lots of curves and turns and just a few inches off the mountain! Sometimes there were railings, but most of the time their wasn’t, the road was also very narrow so if two cars came, you would have to be very careful, not recommended for new drivers, but the place is pretty awesome, at office where you buy tickets to park, their is melona ice cream you can buy too! It’s very good, but the main reason I came here is to collect stuff for my lamp. Also the more you explore, the more wasps there is, for some reason it kept circling my brother and had red eyes.

Daniel Romero

Great park! So many redwoods and beautiful views. Nice place to get away from the city and just enjoy nature. Hikes are excellent and not too hard. The only cons are that there is no cell phone service up there and be careful of the mosquitoes, Make sure to bring mosquito repellent.

Helm Zinser-Watkins

A wonderful campground. Very family friendly. The dishwash stations were a pleasant surprise. Several hikes of great beauty, cute lil museum in the visitor center. Didn't feel crowded even when full, but did have some issues finding somewhere flat. Absolutely zero service, exactly what I needed. I prefer the wood from the visitor center to the wood from the camp hosts, but I didn't mind it.

SWAZ

Hands down the most secluded park around the area. The most well preserved along with the most mushroom varieties spotted. Highly recommend this place and would recommend it to anyone who dislikes huge crowds on trails .. Only reason I’m giving 4 stars is due to the fact that it’s a far drive from Santa Cruz, along with the dangers of the one lane road during a short end of the drive. Drive safe !

Venu

Silicon Valley gem. Redwoods forest right in the heart of Bay Area. Hidden in full view. Half an hour on a winding road from Palo Alto. Always 10 to 15 degrees colder than Palo Alto. Great in summer and hot days. Superb camping spots. Great hikes by flowing water. Heavenly part of Bay Area.

Backyard Bob

Entrance fee to get in, was expecting huge trees but felt let down because redwoods didn't live up to the hype. The parking lots seemed small so there's not many people here. There is a visitor building with a ranger within. There is no cellular reception here, no social media or live streaming possible. Your bill collector won't be able to reach you here. Truly off the grid. There are plenty of trails to walk if you like walking around in the woods. Some places have felled trees so take caution. Was hoping to see some wildlife but didn't see any wild animals. There was a place near the entrance that looked like something out of Bohemian Grove. The air felt different there and I dared not linger for I felt a sense of dread of which I have seldomly experienced before. Don't come after sunset.

TY Y

Appreciate the park not being overcrowded with people. This park is further out than many options, which is why I chose it. Wanted peace, quiet, solitude in forest. There are short (less than hour) and longer (4-5hours) trails available. Trails are well maintained. You will see signs of fire on trees on some trails Also would be a great spot for families with children. This time of year the crossing bridge was out so must be comfortable going across the water (rock walking anyone)if going to Tiptoe Falls. Bring a rain jacket if you mind the rain. There was ample parking. Rangers onsite at the visitor center if you need assistance. Bring cash for parking. Near the visitor center are flush toilets (luxury 😱) and portie potties. It's $10. Pack lunch, bring water, and make sure your tank is not on empty upon arrival. There are no close (less than 5 miles) gas stations or grocery stores. Drive aware as the road into Portola is long, windy, and often narrow. It is also shared with open preserve spots and residents. There are some beautiful views and eye catching trees on way in. You also may catch the wild turkeys.

Gala Gala

Portola Redwoods State Park has many nice hikes. The more peaceful and pretty ones are along the creek. We completing a 10+ mile loop with up to 2,000 ft elevation. What I like about this park that despite its proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area, the park remains quiet and peaceful due to its long, winding approach to the forest canyon.