Walking the Redwood Loop Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Walking among giants? It sounds like something that could only be possible in a fairytale…but then again, here in the heart of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, it does feel like a fairytale…

Forested, mountainous regions have always been my happy place, and the Santa Cruz Mountain range—located right in my own Bay Area backyard—has become one of the nearest and dearest places to my heart.

Here, under-the-radar parks and protected open spaces await visitors who venture to this foggy, quiet and peaceful mountain region. This includes California’s oldest state park: Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

Visiting Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Yes, that’s right—established in 1902, Big Basin Redwoods is the oldest state park in California. It spans more than 18,000 acres in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains (including 10,800 acres of old-growth forest), and has more than 81 miles of trails.

Countless species of trees, ferns, flowers and fungi can be found in abundance in these forests, but it’s the ancient coast redwoods that dominate the landscape, and that have enticed visitors to the region for more than 100 years.

California coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are the tallest species of trees on the planet, making them true giants of the forest.

Many of the redwoods in Big Basin range from 1,000 to 2,500 years old, meaning they’re also ancient giants. (Note that giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are the widest tree species.)

Fortunately, there’s no need to be an experienced hiker or hardcore outdoor enthusiast in order to experience this awe-inspiring redwood forest. Big Basin is home to one of the area’s most scenic and accessible redwood hikes: the 0.6-mile Redwood Loop Trail.

The Redwood Loop Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park was one of the first activities Derek and I enjoyed after moving to the Bay Area in May 2017. After visiting again with my sister in November 2019, I felt inspired to share this little slice of forest magic with my readers.

Walking the Redwood Loop Trail at Big Basin

The Redwood Loop Trail is a classic forest walk that highlights some of Big Basin’s largest, oldest, and most impressive redwood trees. While strolling along the flat, compact 0.6-mile loop, visitors will pass sights like the Animal Tree, which features dramatic burls that resemble various wild animals.

A bit further down the path you’ll stumble across the unmistakable Chimney Tree, whose core has been completely hollowed out by fire. This tree is so MASSIVE that you can actually step inside and look all the way up through the top, where you can see the forest canopy above!

Continue walking, and the Redwood Loop Trail will lead you to the Father of the Forest—believed to be more than 2,000 years old!!—and the Mother of the Forest, which is the tallest tree in the entire park.

These two trees absolutely enchanted me, and not just because of their incredible size. It’s surreal to imagine that the Father of the Forest has been standing for two thousand years. This tree is living, breathing ancient history!

“The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe. It’s not only their unbelievable stature, nor the color which seems to shift and vary under your eyes, no, they are not like any trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time.” – John Steinbeck

As you near the end of the Redwood Loop Trail, you’ll pass a wide open meadow which once served as the site of a swimming pool, during the park’s early days. Officials made the decision to return the space to nature, and it is now in the process of recovering and regrowing.

Whether you’re a Bay Area local or are visiting from out of town, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is well worth a detour. Even if you’re an avid hiker who is comfortable with more strenuous treks, I highly recommend a quick stroll along the Redwood Loop Trail to see some of the park’s most iconic sights.

Essential Info for the Redwood Loop Trail at Big Basin

• Entry Fee: $10 vehicle day-use fee
• Length: 0.6 mile loop
• Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour
• Trailhead: Across the street from Park Headquarters
• Dogs and bicycles are NOT allowed on the Redwood Loop Trail (or any trails in Big Basin)
• The Redwood Loop Trail is stroller- and wheelchair-accessible
• No fishing is allowed in the park
• Feeding wildlife is prohibited by law
• All natural and cultural features in the park are protected by law and may not be disturbed or removed. Collecting is prohibited, including downed wood.

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Have you ever seen the California coast redwoods in person? If you were to visit the Bay Area one day, would you add the Redwood Loop Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park to your bucket list?