Berry Creek Falls is absolutely stunning! If you're coming to Big Basin Redwoods State Park and…read moreyou've never hiked to the falls, you MUST do it. Don't come all the way out here and miss out on this gorgeous waterfall. We did an 8 mile out and back hike to the falls via the Skyline to Sea Trail. The hike is moderate and begins on a downhill slope into the forest. Going down is always the easiest part for me, especially when a trail starts off descending. The real challenge is going back up once you reach the falls. It's nothing too strenuous but I'd definitely bring plenty of water and bug spray because there are lots of bugs on the trail. The trail itself is mostly shaded and features an abundance of beautiful redwoods, vibrantly green foliage, and scenic viewpoints. The waterfall is definitely the highlight of the hike! The falls were still flourishing in mid-July which worked out for us because we were able to take full advantage of the scene. When you make it up to the falls, there's a small deck area with two benches where you can sit and enjoy the picturesque views of the falls. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded on a Saturday afternoon in mid July. You may have to wait your turn to take a picture next to the falls. People were really courteous and didn't spend too much time which allowed for others to capture the moment. Bring your lunch and take a break here before continuing on your hike back. The scenery is so amazing here. Definitely recommend a hike to Berry Creek Falls is you're visiting Big Basin Redwood State Park.

AMAZING PLACE…read more Beautiful views and scenery. We did the Redwood Trail to the Skyline to the Sea to the Berry Creek Falls to the Sunset back to the parking lot. There are so many beautiful waterfalls along the trail. Some parts of the trail near the falls are muddy so wear good hiking shoes Note: This is a long trail (11 miles). Pack water and lunch and stay on the trail. You pay for parking with the rangers (10$ cash or card). Bathrooms at the park entrance are nice!

Considered a hidden gem by cognizant locals. The public entrance is somewhat obscured by a…read morebusiness at the end of Green Hills Road (parking in their lot should be a non-issue on weekends; this is expected as there is really no alternative). Occasional mountain lions in the area; they are generally invisible, but to be safe ... do not hike after dark. You can just do the loop trail, or add some hiking distance using the (nearly) intersecting maintenance road at the top of the loop. I say "nearly" as there is a short connecting trail (less than 20 yds long). There is a giant green cell tower on a short spur road (keep turning right and you'll get there). For the curious, the maintenance road is an easement off private property (locked gate!) that is used by park people, SVWD, fire, police, and so forth.

So going into this hike we had high spirits and a positive attitude. Leaving however I felt like…read moreSatan him self came down and stung my ass from how many wasp attacked me and my friends, which btw gave me a free eyebrow piercing I never asked for. If u want to take someone u despise I would recommend taking them there and leaving them. P.s tell them to wear full black.

Beautiful trail in the Santa Cruz mountains to experience true natural beauty of walking among…read moreredwoods. Compared to Muir Woods it's not a very doctrinated environment with boardwalks etc, lot of redwoods are fallen over the river which are supposed to enhance the ecology. The lime kiln hike is good for beginners. Good place to bring kids and pets - saw some kids look very happy that they were crossing mini bridges over running water here and there. The ending point of the trail is at the historic Lime Kilns and it's very interesting and hard to imagine that there was a full lime making facility during the Gold Rush there, plus an ecosystem of burning redwood to power kilns for melting lime rock, and a rail road to transport the lime away

This is large open space in the hills of Santa Cruz near the UC. It is not really a public park in…read moreterms of there aren't a whole lot of public benches, picnic tables, garbage receptacles, playgrounds etc... What it does have are numerous trails, most if not all are unpaved that weave into this raw open space. Some parts of the hills are open grass lands thus no shade. Some trails go into a forested area where lots of trees are some being smaller redwoods, thus lots of shade there. I picked a route/loop that was about 4 miles that had a little incline and mostly through the forested area. It was mostly on the Spring Trail. There's an old Limestone Kiln on this trail that used to extract limestone from rocks, which was then used for mortar and plaster to help build California in the 1900s. So a little piece of history here. Not crowded at all (which I love) during a Monday afternoon. More joggers than hikers for some reason, no bikers that I saw and lots of leashed dogs strolling with their owners. Santa Cruz is a very dog friendly town. I'm assuming most if not all users here are from the surrounding neighborhoods/university. I ran into lots of colorful plant life along with the birds those tow, small lizards basking in the sun and even a 3 foot snake right on the trail. Startled me at first as it is well camouflaged on the dirt and shade from the trees. I could tell by the shape of the head that it wasn't a rattle snake, so I just carefully stepped around it as not startle it. Unlike many people I don't freak out on these occurrences, so this was more exciting to me than worrisome. But glad I found this open space as I often like to exercise/hike while I'm visiting an area and now I can pair this with some beach relaxation afterwards. Santa Cruz score!

Redwoods hike in the rain. We were in a cabin in the area and went out in a short window when the…read morerain wasn't so bad. The good thing about coming in the rain is no one else is around, we were the only ones on the windy roads and the only ones here. We did the bridge trail since the Tarwater trail was closed, wanted the kids to see the natural tar in the water and know why you shouldn't drink too much of the water from this area. The stream is full and alive during the rain and even the drive to here and back was epic. We came for redwoods and water but if you go on certain trails you can see the abandoned cabin and an old industrial water tank. There are amazing views of clouds and trees mixed together during this season. We stopped many times to take pictures of all this. We didn't see any animals because of the rain but the kids enjoyed seeing the different mushrooms, ferns along the creek, and looking for four leaf clovers.

Love this park! So glad San Mateo county parks used Pescadero Creek as part of the 2024 Take a…read morehike challenge. We've been back twice since going for the first time in February or March. Beautiful redwoods throughout the park. We tried the Pomponio trail; unfortunately all bridges over the creek are washed out so we weren't able to complete the loop trail. Regardless, hiking here is wonderful. Lots of banana slugs, a few cool spider webs, but still no elusive newts although I know they're there. We'll try the Pomponio trail again later this year once the creek flow has significantly reduced. Park at Memorial park, use the bathroom before (and after) starting, then walk about 5 minutes to the Old Haul Road trailhead

The Buzzard's Roost offers one of the best payoffs in terms of hiking the trails at Big Basin…read moreRedwoods State Park. It is classified as "strenuous" by the park; however, it offers some of the best views to those who brave the trails. In terms of time, the hike is relatively short. If you're in shape, you can easily reach the top in less than two hours. You'll probably want to enjoy the stunning views for a half-hour and then make your way back on the same trail you came on. The hike isn't particularly difficult. The incline can be a bit steep at times. There are a few areas where you have to climb on rocky terrain. This can be slick on wet mornings or following rainfall. The trail itself is also a bit confusing. There are places in which one trail crosses, merges and/or diverges with another. There were a few places which weren't very clear in terms of direction. I recommend downloading an app for trails (before you arrive to Big Basin since you probably won't find cellular service at the park). If you don't have access to the app, you should pick up the free paper map at the park headquarters. Make a mental note of which trails you took in order to come back by the way that you came. The views on the hike are lovely. During much of the hike, you'll pass through old-growth redwoods. The most impressive redwoods are at lower elevation. They general become shorter as you go until you find yourself in dense pine forest. Much of the hike is spent "cliff-side." You'll definitely want to watch any younger children and make sure that they aren't meandering too close to the outer edges of the trail. Interestingly, this trail is generally less popular than other trails in Big Basin -- including the longer hike to Berry Creek Falls. During our recent hike to Buzzard's Roost, we never encountered another hiker even once. This was great to enjoy the Buzzard's Roost all for ourselves -- but it also made our uncertainty in terms of which trails to take a bit more perplexing. I recommend bringing the following with you: 1.) Water (and/or Gatorade) - It is a long uphill hike. You'll need to prepare to take one more bottle than you think that you might need. It is always "better to be safe than sorry." 2.) Food - Depending upon your trailblazing speed, you might want to consider bringing something to snack on. The Buzzard's Roost is a great place to have a nice picnic -- as long as you remember to keep it clean and "crumb free." 3.) Camera - The views are fantastic! It is located at a great elevation that allows you to take in much of Big Basin. PARKING: There are some lots near the park headquarters. Park entrance is $10 per vehicle (allowing you to park) unless you're camping at Big Basin Redwoods State Park or any of the adjacent state parks. In other words, you can camp at nearby Portola Redwoods State Park (or some of the other parks) which allows you to enter and park at Big Basin.

Such a beautiful hike. It's a little bit of a steep incline to get to the top if you're not in…read moreshape but it's totally worth it. The trail is shaded most of the way and is surrounded by redwood trees.

Ranch Out Opened in…read more2004, this ±5.7k-acre Preserve sits in the oak-covered foothills nestled at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's a short ±30-minute drive from Silicon Valley, but you'll feel like you're miles away from civilization, which is a really good thing these days. The Good: * Free to visit * Multiple parking lots with horse trailer parking available * Restroom in the main lot * Twelve miles of trails throughout the preserve (5.5 miles of which are designated as part of The Bay Area Ridge Trail) * If you're looking for a nice loop, there's a semi-moderate 4.5-mile loop available: Mayfair Ranch Trail to Longwall Canyon Trail to Baldy Ryan Creek Trail. * Horseback riding on certain trails (see map) * Biking allowed on certain trails (see map) The Meh: * No dogs allowed * Trails for the most part were in pretty decent shape, but there were a few areas where they need some TLC. The Ugly: * Much like the EBRPD, they use cows to try and control the non-native grasses, but there were no cows during our visit. :( Conclusion: Great place to escape from civilization and commune with Mother Earth.

Sat 4/17/21 hiked at Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP after already doing 4mi at Coyote Ridge OSP…read more Parking at the first lot was full, so had to park in the Overflow Lot that's further away. Went over the fence to get to the paved Llagas Creek Loop 0.6 miles, lots of lupines! Then did the Mayfield Ranch to Longwall Canyon, lots of climbing that's moderate. I felt really tired near the end because it got temperate Hot and I hate hiking in hot weather! There was a bunch of wildflowers and saw turkeys and 1 snake! Overall, good day for a Spring hike.

Beautiful and quiet park that is currently run by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Phleger…read moreEstate can be accessed via Huddart County park or by a roadside lot off Skyline Blvd. The benefit of parking at Huddart (albeit with a $6 parking fee) are clean restrooms and the fact you are doing most of the uphill at the start of your hike. Hiking in from Huddart, the crowds thinned and I only saw 3 other hiking groups the whole time-unusual for a beautiful Saturday in August. The park is well signed and I took the Miramontes trail which meanders along what is now a dry creek, gently uphill to a fork (again well signed) that points you to the Raymundo or Mt Redundo trails. I veered right to the Raymundo trail which is a steady but not too steep climb through mixed redwood forest and what is now a dry creek. Would love to do this trail again in rainier years to see the creek flowing and find newts and banana slugs. Still, despite a dry year, the trails were pretty green and lush. The Raymundo trail ends and another fork to the right can take you up to Skyline via the Lonely Trail or stay straight on the Mt Redundo trail which takes you back to the start of the loop and the Miramontes trail (which is out and back to Huddart County park). I headed back on Mt Redundo and it was a bit steep downhill with some roots and rocks making for uneven footing. It also has some steep ravines so mind your step. This part of the trail was eerily quiet and not as bright, so I was happy to get back to the Miramontes trail that led me back to the more well traveled Huddart County park. Really lovely park with some of the nicest redwood trails on the peninsula. Review #49 of 100 review goal in 2021

Fantastic hike next to the more well-known Purisma Creek. We took Lonely Trail, then Raymundo…read moreTrail, then Mt. Redondo trail and back up the Lonely Trail. It was about 6 miles. There's parking on Skyline Boulevard past Kings Mountain Fire Brigade -- just a handful of spots by the side of the road. It's downhill until you get to the juncture of Raymundo and Mt. Redondo, then straight back up again. My thighs were burning up and I had to stop and rest a bunch of times. Overall, the hike too about 3 hours and 15 minutes. My favorite part was the Raymundo Trail because you hike right next to a stream. There was plenty of water in the stream, probably because it has rained recently. Actually, most of the hike was next to a stream of some sort. You could hear water the whole time which was cool. Another great thing about this hike is that it's shady the whole way. Lots of pretty redwoods to look at. There were lots of very muddy parts on this trail. Also, the Miramontes trail, which connects Mt Redondo trail to Huddart County Park, was closed, due to the rain. We ran into three other couples on the trail during our hike. Very quiet trail! Really quite a hidden gem.

Tucked along the Santa Cruz County coast near Davenport, this 5,800-acre land of the California…read moreCoastal National Monument just opened to the public. It is quite magical and special! What you will find are wildly diverse landscapes of Redwood groves, coastal bluffs, grasslands, and wildflowers all in one hike. There is steelhead in the streams, mountain lions in the hills, hawks overhead, and yes, even grazing cows This places offer several trails which will fit almost for everyone. Easy loops like Hawk Trail and Tree Trail, and tougher trails for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. Permit required for horses and some certain bikes on some trails. There's a secret hidden gem as a way to access to undeveloped pocket beaches like Shark Fin Cove. Huge free parking lot! Dogs are welcome on leash. Cotoni Coast Daries is relatively new to the public alr iconic. If you love the California coast, this is a must-see. Don't sleep on it.

We were excited to explore a new trail in the area that is also dog friendly! We had prepared to do…read moreboth the Hawk (Káknu) and Tree (Huyya) trails but decided to stick to the Hawk (Káknu) only. It's exposed and quite dusty so plan accordingly -- primarily sun protection. There were friendly hikers and bikers on the trail and the views were quite beautiful! I also appreciated many of the bench's set up along the trails too. The restrooms were clean. The only thing I wished for was a sink or some way to wash hands at the restroom area.