大盆 Redwoods State Park, a remarkable preserve that is also California’s oldest state park, is an emerald gem in the 圣克鲁斯 Mountains, less than 20 miles north of the city of 圣克鲁斯. With more than 80 miles of trails winding through redwood groves 和 other lush habitats, 大盆 makes an appealing weekend getaway for people in the Silicon Valley, about an hour’s drive west. Moms 和 dads love letting the kids loose to dunk their toes in clear streams or watching them gather up enough courage to kiss a banana slug (ask a local; it’s a belt-notch experience for many a Northern Californian).
大盆 Redwoods State Park Fire
In the fall of 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex fires destroyed all facilities at 大盆 Redwoods State Park, including the historic visitor center 和 park store. Check the park’s official 网站 对于一个 map 和 most up-to-date information regarding what’s currently closed 和 what’s open now.
Camping at 大盆 Redwoods State Park
大盆 offers a variety of camp网站s, including 38 walk-in 网站s—a short walk lets you pitch your tent in ultimate peace 和 quiet. Other camp网站s can accommodate horses (Rancho del Oso),提供 帐篷小屋, 和 some have cabins in additions to camp网站s (Little Basin Group Campground). (Ed. note: 大盆 帐篷小屋 和 Little Basin Group Campground remain closed as of June 2023 due to the CZU fires.)
Things to Do at 大盆 Redwoods State Park
Hike, mountain bike, or ride horses on designated routes. Trekkers love the 10.5英里 Skyline to the Sea Trail, which runs along Waddell Creek to the ocean 和 nearby Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve. There are also plenty of gentle, scenic rambles, such as the 4-mile Sequoia Loop Trail (complete with a small waterfall), 和 .5英里 Redwood Loop Trail that takes visitors to some of the park’s tallest trees. 捡起 地图 和 hiking tips from rangers at park headquarters, 和 ask about guided twilight hikes 和 campfire programs.
Places to Visit Near 大盆 Redwoods State Park
Despite its transportive back-to-nature vibe, 大盆 is hardly remote—several deserving destinations are within a 90-minute drive. 圣克鲁斯 is a good contender to top the list; the laid-back 冲浪 和 college town offers eclectic 餐厅, a historic, family-friendly 木板路, whale watching, 和 圣克鲁斯 County even has its own celebrated wine country. Added bonus: the county’s green initiatives earned it a spot on The New York Times' list of 52 places to visit in the world in 2022 (it’s one of the few U.S. locations to make an appearance). For more ideas on things to do check out 5 Amazing Things to Do in 圣克鲁斯.
Also nearby is the internationally recognized tech hub of 圣荷西, which has world-class museums such as the Children’s Discovery Museum 和 圣荷西 Museum of Art, plus a fascinating 历史 the city does a good job of sharing with visitors, 和 great 餐厅 to keep you going while taking it all in.
Drive north 45 miles 和 you’ll be pulling into Half Moon Bay, where in addition to the free-spirited 冲浪 culture spawned by legendary big-wave mecca Mavericks, there’s world-class luxury at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay.
Know before you go: The 大盆 State Park has a day-use fee of $6/day plus a $2 reservation fee for regular-size autos (day-use parking is by reservation only); camp网站s are $35/night, with a $10 fee 对于一个dditional vehicles. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
