The tallest tree is about 277 feet tall, 16 feet wide and over 1,500 years old. Upon reaching fall creek trail, go left onto fall creek trail to begin traveling upstream along the banks of fall creek. Things to do near henry cowell redwoods state park on tripadvisor. This unique hike explores the deep gorge of the lower san lorenzo river, which i. John boyd thacher state park trail map, saratoga region created date. Trail map below with dogfriendly hikes outlined by icons. The redwood grove is a 5minute drive or a 45minute hike from the campground. The ben lomond fault runs along the base of the mountain, exposing huge.
Routes include pipeline road, rincon fire road, ridge fire road, and powder mill fire road. Take ridge fire road and pipeline road back to the main park. Henry cowell redwoods state park mountain bike trail map. Yes, big basin is probably the better known of the two, but henry cowell is literally a 5 minute w. For more information, phone 831 4382396 to reach the campground or 831 3354598 the reach the day use area. Visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, swimming, camping and fishing on more than 4,650 acres of forested and open land in the santa cruz mountains. Henry cowell redwoods state park mountain biking trails. Save on popular hotels near henry cowell redwoods state park, santa cruz. Considering the diversity of the park its not at all crowded and for the most part the more challenging trails had little traffic. Shortly after starting down this trail you will cross the entrance to the henry cowell redwoods campground.
Henry cowells campgroundcampfire center entrance is located on graham hill road 3. You can download a park brochure and trail map from. Alltrails has 33 great hiking trails, running trails, views trails and more, with handcurated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed. Coe state park trail and camping map 20 edition the park map is printed at 1. Henry cowell redwoods is centered around a 40acre oldgrowth redwood grove. Henry cowell redwoods state park campground is in a pine and oak forest 5 miles from santa cruz on graham hill road. South of the grove is a larger area of secondgrowth parkland situated along the san lorenzo river, with hiking trails and a state owned campground.
Hikes in henry cowell redwoods state park fall creek unit. Widens existing path for use by bikes and pedestrians. But what many dont realize is that theres a second half to the park the fall creek unit, one which is a lot less crowded and which you might consider to actually be a little. Find cheap deals and discount rates among them that best fit your budget. Many of you have probably been to henry cowell redwoods state park, a nice shady. Fall creek and henry cowell fall creek unit, the northern section of henry cowell redwoods state park, is located about. Henry cowell redwoods state park topo map in santa cruz.
From this, the parks highest elevation, there are some views, but at only 800 feet. Best wild flowers trails in henry cowell redwoods state park. Once the home of ohlone indians, the park is now home to a fascinating variety of plants and animals, including the elusive. Henry cowell redwoods state park felton 2020 all you. Moderate, singletrack trail connecting pogonip to henry cowell redwoods state park, no dogs ucon trail 0. We help make these forests yours, by guiding and providing learning opportunities to ensure the ongoing stewardship of your redwood forests. Henry cowell state park features 15 miles of hiking and riding trails through a variety of forested areas including redwoods, mixed evergreens, riparian, ponderosa pine, as well as rare ancient marine deposits called santa cruz sandhills.
Henry cowell redwoods state park is a state park in california. Within the confines of cowell, trails range from tiny footpaths to wide fire. Henry cowell our mission redwoods t california state parks. Towering oldgrowth coast redwoods, some of them 1800 years old, soar nearly 300 feet, blocking out the sun so virtually the only understory is. The terrain of the park is rugged, varied, and beautiful, with lofty ridges and steep canyons. Browse expedias selection of 406 hotels and places to stay closest to henry cowell redwoods state park. Henry cowell redwoods state park is a 1,750 acre park near santa cruz, california is known for its oldgrowth redwoods, scenic views, good hiking, and steelhead fishing in the winter. Click map to show all trails part of the henry cowell, wilder ranch, and nisene marks trail map from redwood hikes press 2014.
Observation deck hike santa cruz welcome to santa cruz. The 40acre oldgrowth redwood grove is a 5 minute drive or a short hike from the campground. Fall creek henry cowell redwoods state park 159 photos. An insiders guide to the bay areas best parks, recreation and. Coe park is the largest state park in northern california, with over 87,000 acres of wild open spaces. Henry cowell redwoods state park is a state park of california, usa, preserving mainly forest and riparian areas in the watershed of the san lorenzo river, including a grove of oldgrowth coast redwood. Henry cowell redwoods state park campground is in a pine and oak forest five miles from santa cruz on graham hill road. Moderate, singletrack trail connecting pogonip to ucsc, no dogs. The nature center and picnic area are at a separate park entrance on highway 9 in felton, about 3 miles from the campground.
Henry cowell redwoods state park wilder ranch state park watsonville santa cruz davenport cotonicoast dairies coming soon. Big basin, santa cruz map national geographic maps. The nature center and picnic area are have separate park entrance on highway 9 in felton, about 3 miles from the campground. Parking lot is closed due to covid19 but you can park on the side of the road. About a mile from the parking area, there is a sturdy bridge that crosses the south fork of fall creek.
At henry cowell redwoods state park, theres a gorgeous walk amid the trees. Trails are fairly well maintained throughout henry cowell sate park but please keep in mind with recent rainstorms there may be downed trees to climb overunderaround, and a couple river or creeks to cross that may require walking over logs, rocks, and through water. All official hiking trails were drawn by hiking the trails with a gps unit. Remnant buildings and farm equipment transport us back to a middleclass farm around the turn of the 20th century. A hiking guide to henry cowell redwoods state park, with photos and trail maps. Everyone in santa cruz knows the redwood grove loop trail in henry cowell redwoods state park. Visitors camped at henry cowell redwoods state park campground can take advantage of all these attractions.
Henry cowell redwoods state park features 15 miles of hiking and riding trails through a forest that looks much the same as it did 200 years ago. We fund educational and enrichment programs at henry cowell and big basin redwoods state parks to inspire the next generation of park visitors to become stewards of our redwood forests. At some point the trail seems to end but you must cross a few logs and a few trees. Follow river trail until it meets up with eagle trail, just as the river bends away. Henry cowell redwoods state park includes 4,650 acres of beautiful forest and open land. What you need to know before you go to cowell redwoods state park henry cowell is a favorite place for many santa cruz and san francisco bay area residents and the only serious complaint they have is about the poison oak. Henry cowell redwoods state park, felton, california. Henry cowell redwoods park fall creek unit mit mitcnc. Best trails in henry cowell redwoods state park california. Only ten minutes from nearby santa cruz and five minutes from felton, the henry cowell redwoods state park campground offers you a chance to get away from it all, while still being close to amenities in town. Henry cowell is a gem of a park in felton, a few miles north of santa cruz. The northern area of the park is shown on one side of the map and the southern area on the other side, with generous overlap in the middle.
Cosponsored by california state parks and mountain parks foundation. Alltrails has 33 great hiking trails, running trails, views trails and more, with hand curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed. Dogs are allowed onleash in the picnic area, the campground, on pipeline road, graham hill trail, powder mill fire road, and meadow trail best time to visit. Requires a free download of the avenza pdf maps app. The longest trail in henry cowell redwoods state park is rincon trail a wellknown trail measuring 66 miles in total length. Many of you have probably been to henry cowell redwoods state park, a nice shady redwoodsandcreeks kinda park down near santa cruz perfect for a hot summer day. Henry cowell redwoods state park inspires calm reflection, while its historical significance and spectacular scenery draw travelers from around the world. The 2,390acre area contains nearly the entire fall creek watershed, extending southeast from ben lomond mountain. Visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, swimming, camping and fishing on more than 4,650 acres of forested and open land in the santa cruz. The nature center and picnic area are have separate park entrance on highway 9 in felton, about 3. Henry cowell redwoods state park california state parks.
Hiking, fishing depending on season, seasonal camping including rv. Fall creek valley from the parking area at the trailhead sign, one immediately enters a dense redwood forest. It is less developed, has fewer visitors and feels more pristine than the southern section. This is the official facebook page for henry cowell redwoods state park, located in the. The campground is shaded by the surrounding pine and oak. It is located in santa cruz county, primarily in the area between the cities of santa cruz and scotts valley, near the community of felton and the university of california at santa cruz. Henry cowell redwoods sp fall creek unit the trail center.
Best trails near henry cowell redwoods state park ca. The nearby fall creek unit of the park contains an additional 2,400 acres of redwood forest. The campground is situated among redwood trees that are estimated to be between 1,400 1,800 years, with abundant hiking among these massive trees. The 10 best things to do near henry cowell redwoods state park. The forest of nisene marks state park contains over 40 miles of trails that are a 5050 mix of old logging roads and singletrack. Moderate, unpaved service road, closed to bicycles and horses south of ucon trail 0. Henry cowells day usevisitor center entrance is located 1 mile south of felton on hwy 9. Henry cowell redwoods state park map, ca natural atlas. This trail map shows the hills above santa cruz, including henry cowell redwoods state park, the university of california at santa cruz, wilder ranch state park, and pogonip.
The two closest state parks that have an rv dump and water fill station are big basin state park and new brighton state beach. Henry cowell redwoods state park is a state park of california, usa, preserving mainly forest. Henry cowell redwoods state park faces summer floods of tourists like the other. Top 10 hotels closest to henry cowell redwoods state park. County park portola redwoods sp henry cowell redwoods sp pescadero creek county park big basin redwoods state park this park receives support in part through two nonprofit organizations. Henry cowell redwoods state park has 207 trails in the vicinity, including 160 hiking trails, 149 for trail running and 199 for other activities. It is located off route 9 in felton at 101 north big trees park road. From the northeast corner of henry cowell redwoods state park, graham hill trail starts via pine trail. The mission of california state parks is to provide for. Henry cowell redwoods state park offers more than 4,600 acres of towering redwoods, hiking trails, creeks, and visitor amenities. The fall creek unit is the northern section of the park. Henry cowell redwoods state park trail map trailforks. Best camping in and near henry cowell redwoods state park.
Looking for a great trail in henry cowell redwoods state park, california. Henry cowell redwoods sp fall creek unit author jvolino published on february 3, 2017 a few miles north of the main portion of henry cowell redwoods state park lies the fall creek unit, a secondgrowth redwood forest with a fernlined river canyon and remnants of a successful limeprocessing industry. Trails of santa cruz, by pease press order from pease press shows henry cowell trails in great detail. Dave baselts san lorenzo valley map is an excellent guide to henry cowell and surrounding parklands order from redwood hikes. At henry cowell redwoods state park, the payoffs include a gorgeous walk amid the redwoods near the san lorenzo river, hiking up to a viewing platform or biking a network of fire roads. Wilder ranch and nisene marks trail map from redwood hikes press 2016 hike description. Trails in santa cruz mountain bikers of santa cruz. A few miles north is the fall creek unit, 2nd growth redwood forest and river. Bicycles are allowed on fire roads only at henry cowell state park and are prohibited on singletrack trails. Its where you take outoftown guests for a short, easy santa cruz nature walk guaranteed to amaze. Follow eagle trail across pipeline road and up to pine trail. To the north is the fall creek unit, another sizable park dominated by secondgrowth redwoods.
353 218 1061 373 613 14 1176 327 1034 787 495 1471 1069 708 455 1502 557 985 1138 751 1092 1127 1158 1144 1379 1036 715 1189 244 952 118 995 1386