Can you drive through Big Basin Redwoods State Park?
All roads into Big Basin are curvy. From Hwy 9 in the town of Boulder Creek, turn north onto Hwy 236 and the park entrance kiosk is 9 miles down the highway. The Rancho Del Oso coastal unit of Big Basin is accessible via Highway 1, about 20 miles north of the city of Santa Cruz.
Why is Big Basin closed?
Due to ongoing safety concerns following the devastating CZU Fire in August 2020, the majority of Big Basin remains closed to the public.
Which is better Big Basin or Muir Woods?
Muir Woods is quicker to access, attracts the tour buses, smaller, flat trail--a fine, but small and well used federal site. Big Basin is more your typical state park--a little harder to get to (but lovely drive), larger, more families in cars with coolers, other park areas besides the redwoods, more trails.
What city is Big Basin Redwoods State Park?
Big Basin Redwoods State ParkNearest citySanta Cruz, CaliforniaCoordinates37°10′21″N 122°13′21″WArea18,000 acres (73 km2)Established190210 more rows
Can I drive through Big Basin?
Yes, you can drive through Big Basin Redwoods State Park, but it's not recommended. The reason driving is discouraged—especially for larger vehicles—is because California State Route 236 is extremely narrow.
Did Big Basin Redwoods State Park burn down?
A historic California redwood park will soon welcome visitors, two years after devastating fire. A wildfire burned roughly 97% of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in August 2020.
Where are the closest redwoods to San Francisco?
Muir Woods1. Muir Woods. In the Bay Area, Muir Woods National Monument is widely considered the best place to see Redwoods near San Francisco. Muir Woods is the closest Redwoods to San Francisco, just a 35-minute drive from the city.
What is there to see between redwood National Park and San Francisco?
Overview of Route from San Francisco to Redwoods National ParkStart: San Francisco.Stop #1: Marin Headlands & Mount Tamalpais State Park.Stop #2: Point Reyes National Seashore.Stop #3: Bodega Bay.Stop #4: Jenner.Stop #5: Mendocino.Stop #6: Fort Bragg.Stop #7: Humboldt Redwoods State Park.More items...•
Where is the best place to see the redwood trees?
The 6 best places to see the largest redwoods in CaliforniaSanta Cruz Mountains. The Santa Cruz Mountains offer a few different noteworthy options. ... Muir Woods National Monument. ... Humboldt Redwoods State Park. ... Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. ... Calaveras Big Trees State Park. ... Carbon Canyon Regional Park.
Is Big Basin a national park?
Great Basin National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
What is the largest California state park?
Anza-Borrego Desert State ParkAnza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. Five hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and many miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert.
What is in Big Basin?
Nestled in the deep folds of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Big Basin is the oldest state park in California. It includes more than 18,000 acres of redwood forest, including the largest ancient stand south of San Francisco. About 10% of the park won protection with the help of Save the Redwoods League.
San Francisco to the Redwoods Road Trip FAQ
You can cover a lot of ground in 4 nights / 5 days. This itinerary is primarily focused on the northern most redwood parks. But if you want to add on more time for the coast or Sonoma wine country, then you can do a longer 6 night / 7 day trip.
California Redwood Forest Map
This map includes all of CA’s redwood forests, including the ones mentioned in this itinerary.
Whacky Roadside Attractions in the Redwoods
Definitely make time on your redwoods road trip for at least one kooky roadside attraction. Some are as simple as a drive-through tree and others have elevated walkways and tree sculptures. And yet others celebrate Bigfoot. These are listed south to north:
San Francisco Redwoods Road Trip Itinerary
What follows is a five day, four night itinerary that goes from San Francisco to Redwood National Park. But it’s all about the journey and not that particular destination, because this itinerary includes 13 state parks and scenic drives that all feature Coast Redwoods. This itinerary actually lists more things than you will likely have time for.
Renting a Car for Your Redwoods Road Trip
If you are flying into SFO, there is a large rental car center, which you can easily get to via the Air Train. Find your best pricing by comparing all of the different rental car providers on Rentalcars.com.
Things to Pack for the Trip
As we mentioned above, these parks have rotten cell reception. This is one of those times when an old school map will serve you well. We love the Benchmark California Road Atlas. It has a lot of detail, showing state parks and campsites as well as both paved and dirt roads.
Things to Do in San Francisco
If you are spending time in SF before or after the trip, here are some of our tips for having a great stay.
Overview of Route from San Francisco to Redwoods National Park
This road trip starts and ends in San Francisco, taking you up the coast to the Redwoods along the way. You’ll pass plenty of scenic coastal towns, redwood forests, and even stop in wine country on your return trip!
How Long is the Drive from Redwoods to San Francisco?
This San Francisco to Redwoods road trip could take you anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how much time you want to spend exploring the destinations along the route.
Getting From San Francisco to the Redwoods
If you’re flying into San Francisco to start your road trip, you’ll have two airports to choose from. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located about 20 minutes south of San Francisco. Oakland International Airport (OAK) is located across the bay, about 30 minutes from San Francisco.
Where to Stay on the Road Trip to Northern California
There’s no shortage of excellent places to stay between San Francisco and Redwood National Park. Depending on how many days you’re taking on your road trip, you can pick from a wide array of hotels, cabins, or campgrounds along the way. Here are a few of my favorite picks.
Packing List for Northern California Road Trips
This coastal trip provides cool temperatures and epic views, but much of the drive is remote and outside of cell coverage. Stay prepared to road trip north California by packing layers and essential safety gear for your road trip:
Best Time to Visit San Francisco Redwoods & Road Trip Northern California
Thanks to the nearby Pacific Ocean, this entire road trip route stays pretty mild all year long. You can expect daytime temperatures between 50 to 70 degrees most days of the year.
Road Trip Stops from San Francisco to Redwood Forest
Ready to head out on your ultimate Northern California road trip adventure? This route follows Highway 1 up the coast, a slower, but more scenic route compared to Highway 101.
Where are the redwoods in San Francisco?
My favorite of all of the parks with redwoods near San Francisco is Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It's home to the largest forest of old growth Coastal Redwoods which is called Rockefeller Forest. This old growth forest covers about 17,000 acres or about one-third of this state park (out of a total 53,000 acres).
How far is Portola Redwoods State Park from San Francisco?
Portola Redwoods State Park. Distance from SF: 1 hour and 20 minutes south. Just to the north of Big Basin Redwoods State Park is the Portola Redwoods State Park. This park is about 2,800-acres and offers a great look at some of the best redwoods near San Francisco. ID 6673405 © Gavril Margittai | Dreamstime.com.
How long is the Redwood Loop Trail?
If you just want to do a short hike and check out the trees, then take the Redwood Loop Trail. It's a 0.6-mile loop that is mostly flat and you will stroll by some of the best redwoods in the park. If you have a bit more time and want to do a little more hiking, then check out the Sequoia and Skyline to the Sea trails.
What is the difference between a pine cone and a redwood?
One other difference between the two is that the pinecones of the Sequoias are nearly three times the size of the pine cones from Coastal Redwoods. Many people mix and match these two types of trees as they both have a red coloring. However, Coastal Redwoods are taller and thinner, and Sequoias are wider and shorter.
Where are redwoods found?
Coastal Redwoods are only found near the coast in California between the northern border of the state and then south to the Big Sur area. They are the tallest trees in the world and live to be several hundred years old.
Where is the chandelier tree in San Francisco?
The Chandelier Tree is located in Leggett in Mendocino County which is just over three hours north of San Francisco. The tree is part of a privately owned redwood forest.
Where is the largest redwood forest in the world?
A bit over 200 miles north of San Francisco is Humboldt Redwoods State Park, home to Rockefeller Forest, the world’s largest remaining continuous old-growth forest of coastal redwoods. Situated along a former stretch of the original Highway 101, the 32-mile Avenue of the Giants winds through dark redwood forests.
How deep do redwood trees grow?
One of the most shocking features of these giants’ anatomy is that a redwood tree’s roots go just 6 feet deep (before fanning out over 100 feet). These behemoths gather in groves, their roots intertwining to support their height and girth in the face of sometimes gale force winds coming off the Pacific Ocean.
Why do redwood trees have leaves?
This is because a redwood tree’s leafy foliage expands over its long lifespan. The leaves produce more sugars through photosynthesis which adds wood and bark to the tree’s girth. At the other end of the age range, baby redwoods often sprout at their parents’ base, latching onto their roots for nutrients.
How big can a giant Sequoia tree grow?
While not as tall, Giant Sequoias win the prize for “largest” trees. Giant Sequoias can grow to be more than 30 feet in diameter and over 200 feet tall. The biggest of these monsters is General Sherman, in Sequoia National Park.
What is the name of the highway connecting Sequoia and Kings Canyon?
Connecting the adjacent parks, and two celebrated Giant Sequoia groves, is the Generals Highway . The new Majestic Mountain Loop is another way to experience the highlights of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, as well as Yosemite National Park.
Where are redwoods found?
Coast redwoods (as their name suggests) are found in a narrow 50-mile band along the California, Oregon and Washington coasts. The other redwoods, called Giant Sequoias, grow naturally along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains, between 5,000 and 7,000 feet above sea level.
Where is the oldest state park in California?
Located in the Santa Cruz mountains, Big Basin Redwoods is California’s oldest state park. It is home to the largest continuous stand of ancient Coastal Redwoods south of San Francisco. It’s much less crowded than Muir Woods, and you can spend the night in the middle of the redwood forest in one of their tent cabins.