Big Basin Redwoods

Sirisha Aisola

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.

SK HD

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.

Valdemar

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.

Andrea A

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

Roopak

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!

Samantha Allen

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.

Jerry F

This is a great park for nature lovers. Absolutely fantastic and wildfire did not change a thing. I would say that there is a lot of mysticism in this park. Some trails are stunning, plenty of privacy so you can admire the creation in silence. Rangers are very friendly and informative. This park needs you. There is plenty of work to rebuild, but still enjoyed every minute there. One trail is spectacular. Ask the ranger :)

Shashank Maurya

Scenic 17 miles drive with lots of view points. Photos include the pictures from multiple stops . It was very windy and deceivingly cold, so definitely check the weather before you go.

Bruce Liu

I’ve wandered through many redwood groves in Northern California, but never had I seen them blackened by fire—until today. The sight struck me deeply. Though the 2020 wildfires scorched countless trunks and limbs, the ancient redwoods stood resilient. Remarkably, most survived, cloaked in char but still full of life.

Paloma R

Did the Skyline to the Sea and Meteor Trail Loop. According to AllTrails app., it’s closed. Not exactly true. Since CZU Lightning Complex Fire of 2020, there are some detours. A couple examples, we didn’t see the waterfall. However, we came across many brooks and dams. 4.8 mi Distance, 2 hr 20 min Estimated time, 912ft Elevation, Loop. Our ETA was more like 5hours. BE SURE TO BRING ADEQUATE WATER AND SNACKS! According to staff, the fire melted away their water pipes so, no water stops. CLEAN porta potties at the entrance. Make parking reservations, otherwise you’ll be given a ticket number and you will have to wait to be called. We waited about 20min. Wear comfy hike shoes at least a half size larger- YOU WILL SWELL (my daughter and I learned the hard way 🤦🏽‍♀️). I attached current pic of map and scenery. Was definitely worth it for us.