This checked all my boxes for a great hike: woodsy, water, scenic, peaceful, moderate, posted…read moresigns, and free parking was a bonus. We arrived around 10:15 am on a Thursday, and there were still a few parking spots in their smallish parking lot. I'm sure you'd have to come much earlier on the weekend. There's a map of the various trails. We decided to do a loop of: Fall Creek - S-cape - Ridge trail - back to parking lot. The Fall Creek section was very easy, and you're walking along the creek with a few small waterfalls to admire. A couple of times you cross over the creek, but there are planks to walk on. I couldn't stop taking pictures during this section. There's a bit of elevation when you get to the Ridge trail section, but nothing too bad. The only thing to be cautious of is the abundance of poison oak. There are some narrow paths where the poison oak was spilling over from both sides of the path. TIP: wear long pants. This is a hike that I'd come back to.

#641 #1/25 A very…read moreBeLated review of '23 summer hike... til next visit to a Lusher forest :) Started from Big Ben near Bonny Doon airport to Fall Creek and return. Climb Dry rebirth after the fire Me n this Forest Scenery is an old growth forest with little ground cover other than Redwood sorrels after the fire. Entirely canopied, easy and well kept but a steep trail. Heard owls at the top near Big Ben, a squirrel, few birds and some grasshoppers. Otherwise pretty quiet. Fall Creek had steady water flowing and a tiny waterfall at the time of my visit. Pups are NOT allowed here. Less visited old growth forest as the trail is continuous elevation down to Fall Creek and back up to Big Ben. A couple of crossing to HC Lime Kilns where the lime was used to rebuild SFO post 1906 earthquake and to Lost Empire. Signals were virtually nonexistent and the BBT is NOT marked! I took pictures of the Trail descriptions and maps prior to and that was helpful. Go with someone who is familiar with these trails or download descriptions and good trail mapS. Felton Empire Rd runs through it. There is NO parking lot or any signs to per se. Once you find the trail, you can park on the shoulder. Pro tip: It's MUCH easier to find and start from Bennet Creek to Fall Creek Trailhead as there is a parking lot off Felton Road. About 3 to 8.4 miles hike depending on the trails (partial loop) you choose with little to ~1500 ft elevation if you hike to Big Ben and entire loop (8.4 miles). Recommend water, protein bars and comfortable shoes.

We had fun watching our first baseball games of the season. It was fun watching the kids play…read more This park also has a good skateboard area. There are places for barbecues and picnics. There is green grass area. Its a fun park to go to.

Before I start, this review is about the skatepark. Highland skate park is really fun, there's a…read morereally nice bowl wit some street. id give it a vert rating of 7/10 and a street rating of 2/10. it has a really nice section for beginner's and for people learning to grind, but it has very good ramps for vert as well. it is not a big park, its quite small. but it is always so much fun to ride. the community there is always nice and I would rate it a 9/10. overall this park is a 7.5/10 because it is really fun but it isn't higher because its not very big. hope this helps.

This place is awesome. I encourage all families, especially if you have Littles to come up here…read more Wear your water shoes bring some chairs cause it does have some Rockies down by the water so definitely bring your chair for everybody. You'll have a blast. and don't forget some foodies treats.

We stopped by here for a Spartan picnic on the way to Santa Cruz for skating. Costco is great for…read morethis. A roast chicken ($5.00) , bag of Mediterranean Salad $4.50) Farmer bread or rolls for starch ($5-$6). And a nice Beaujolais for the adults. The park was clean and deserted. It was a bit late and cold for us to swim. The swimming hole looks quite low. We could not find the rope to swing off of, however we did find a tire swing. We definitely want to return mid week when it's earlier and spend a few hours here. The drive is really winding and narrow. There were three spots where we had to stop, let traffic come from the other side, then take our turn. One 3 milestretch was really slow as the road was not wide enough for 2-way traffic. A little fear/excitement for kids not knowing if an oncoming car was heading toward us. I admit I did a bit 'speed-racer' to heighten the rush.

The park itself is small and has a small uncovered playground. The real winner is the covered…read morebridge. It has historical significance as well as beauty and grandiosity. It is impossible to walk through this bridge and not pull out your phone to snap a few photos! There is a parking lot in front of the park, and it's close to a bunch of outdoor shopping areas, so the location is convenient and easy to get to. It is worth a stopover but don't expect this county park to be an adventure destination. It's pretty small, but it is cool!

My husband and I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon. The scenery was beautiful and calm. We crossed…read morethe bridge and imagined what it was like in its prime and all the people who have crossed it before us. Definitely a must see.

Beautiful Park! Multiple trail options and it felt awesome to be out in nature taking in the sights…read moreand sounds. We were there early in the day and it was very harmonious and beautiful. We did not see anyone until we left. Do watch out for the generous horse gifts on the trail!

Nice place to hike and walk about. Ponds, hiking trails. Little museum and some wild life.read more

Gorgeous trails, ample parking, a gift shop, clean restrooms, and some trails are even dog…read morefriendly! Henry Cowell State Park boasts some of the most spectacular Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. One can opt for a trail hike, or make a campground reservation to spend more time in nature! Take in some fresh forest air, get your steps in, and take in the natural beauty around you. You surely will not be disappointed. $10 entry fee for the entire day. Such a deal!

This is a beautiful scenic hike surrounded by nature. The river runs alongside the trail for most…read moreof the way, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere as you make your way toward the overlook deck. The views are breathtaking and the sound of the flowing water makes the experience even more enjoyable. If you're planning a picnic, head down to the river area -- the water is not very deep, making it a great spot for families and kids to enjoy. The steam engine train ride adds a special charm to the visit, offering a beautiful way to take in the scenery. There are also BBQ options available where you can purchase food, along with items from the general store. You can also bring your own food and spend the day soaking in the peaceful surroundings. A wonderful place to hike, relax, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Love this park! It is so huge, seems so clean...and so much to do…read more There are bocce ball courts, playgrounds, a dog park, what looked like a skate park but was closed, a big field that we definitely saw a coyote running rampant on, picnic tables for birthdays, trails... So much in one park!

We were on our way to Santa Cruz, when we needed to make a pit stop for our dogs. We had stopped by…read morenext door at the dog park,but didn't even bother getting out. This park was a much better option. A paved trail to walk on. Water stations that worked and a very clean bathroom. There's also a huge green grassy field. We saw plenty of people walking their dogs on the lawn. Almost everyone had their dogs on leash. A much better option than the dog park

This is a beautiful nature walk with a relaxing swim hole to swim in. It does get crazy crowded and…read moreparking is limited, so plan ahead for that. There is no bathrooms, cell service, or trash cans, so keep that in mind when coming.

I used to come here 50 yrs when it wasn't many people there, only locals and you could really relax…read moreand breathe in the tree air. It's a gravelly walk so DO NOT BRING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6 at least. It's not Disneyland! Even the JrHigh to Highschoolers were acting overly careless. I went there the other day and it was a moronic madhouse. You used to go there to be in lovely nature and the smell of the trees. Now It was overrun with kids from god knows where with aftershave and perfume on. I think a bunch of university students and tourists saw it now on social media unfortunately. Some were spraying awful smelling spray on sunscreen, many acting as if they were at a waterpark as if the rocks were really made of rubber. Reports of accidents, weeding out stupid but maybe someone was an innocent bystander accidentally pushed by stupid. It was NOT FOR KIDS! Selfish entitled parents bringing their children tired, whiney and crying! (Don't make excuses) ruining for everyone else. There was even a stroller parked nearby. No bathrooms for kids or anyone else so that can't be good for the environment. you need to be somewhat fit ! I've seen so many lovely places closed to the public because it got ruined by the public. So help make it nice again, don't wear anything perfumey, wear unscented deodorant only. NO SUNSCREEN. wear a hat and tshirt. Don't bring kids unless they are older and well behaved. Thank you and you will thank yourselves.

Greyhound Rock is one of my favorite stops along Highway 1. There's lots of parking, the beach…read moreitself is massive, and it's easy to spread out and explore. The tide pools are fantastic, and there's so much marine life to find -- I even saw my first octopus here, which was incredibly exciting. The beach is full of different little areas to wander, and it's a great spot if you enjoy exploring and looking for critters. That said, the access is a real problem. The trail down is very steep and not elderly-friendly at all. The main path has collapsed toward the end, and while there's an alternative route, it's not well set in or particularly safe. The trail is also very overgrown, which makes the descent even more difficult. The park service really needs to address the access issues, because the beach itself deserves better infrastructure.

To me and my BF Joe K, there is nothing better than visiting a coastal town or city along the…read morePacific Ocean. Santa Cruz is one of our favorite vacation spots. And what is even better, we can visit a marine conservation area. While we were visiting a friend who lives in said city, he gave us a site seeing tour of a few of his favorite public beaches that were actually somewhat secluded. Davenport is a nearby town outside of Santa Cruz, where you will find some nice accessible beaches, like Greyhound Rock. It doesn't look like a Greyhound to me, but it is grey. It almost seems like a private beach, because there are less tourists who are aware of this location. There is plenty of parking in the lot with restrooms nearby. It is government protected and mostly the locals seem to make use of the area, because it is a bit out of the way from the more touristy places of Santa Cruz. We spent some relaxing and leisurely time gazing from the look outs and listening to the crashing waves of the ocean. I never get tired of the scenic views, and contemplating and appreciating what Mother Earth has created. I just wish that all human beings were aware of how important protecting this planet is for our survival....