BIG BASIN REDWOOD STATE PARK (East)

BOULDER CREEK, CA - One of the best places to see some large redwoods trees within an easy drive of San Francisco is Big Basin Redwoods State Park.  In addition to great redwoods, the park has the added benefit of some great waterfalls and lots of banana slugs to boot!  It's a big park with a couple ways to access it, this post is for people coming from the San Jose (east) side of the park.

My favorite hike in the east side of the park is to Berry Creek Falls, aptly named Berry Creek Falls Loop. From the park headquarters take the Skyline to the Sea Trail and the junction with Berry Creek Falls Trail. Take Berry Creek Falls Trail north to the Sunset Trail and back to the park headquarters. The total hike is about 11 miles, has several hundred feet of elevation change, and takes 5 to 6 hours. You pass several waterfalls and a lot of old growth redwoods along the way. Here's the park brochure with trail map.

For your broader trip to Big Basin, there are plenty of camping opportunities. One of my favorites are the Huckleberry Tent Cabins. The tent cabins aren't as cheap as a tent site (I've paid $79 a night), but they are quite a step up, a wood stove, indoor table, no tent to setup, and most importantly mattresses. Much easier to make and break camp. You can reserve tent cabins online.

There's a camp store at the park headquarters that has all the essentials, including beer, and souvenirs, however the hours are limited (10am to 4pm outside of peak season) and the prices reflect the remoteness.

There are two ways into the park, both via state highways 9 and 236.  From the North is theoretically the most direct route, however long, winding and narrow road.  From the south you go down Highway 17 to Scott's Valley and then head back north on highways 9 and 236, this route looks longer, but the roads are far better, so it ends up being 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.  Both routes are a 1.5 to 2 hour drive from San Francisco.  On the plus side for the southern route, you go through the small town of Boulder Creek, CA, which has a surprisingly good selection of bars, restaurants and giant neon signs.

The as mentioned earlier the west side of the park has a fairly different feel, and much different access.  Check out a trip to the west side of Big Basin Redwood State Park.

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