| Big Basin Redwoods State Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 Lush coast redwood forest of Big Basin | |
   | |
| Location | Santa Cruz County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Santa Cruz, California |
| Coordinates | 37°10′21″N 122°13′21″W / 37.17250°N 122.22250°W |
| Area | 18,000 acres (73 km2) |
| Established | 1902 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | parks |
| Reference no. | 827[1] |
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of California, located in Santa Cruz County, about 36 km (22 mi) northwest of Santa Cruz. The park contains almost all of the Waddell Creek watershed, which was formed by the seismic uplift of its rim, and the erosion of its center by the many streams in its bowl-shaped depression.
Big Basin is California's oldest State Park, established in 1902, earning its designation as a California Historical Landmark.[1] Its original 3,800 acres (15 km2) have been increased over the years to over 18,000 acres (73 km2). It is part of the Northern California coastal forests ecoregion and is home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. It contains 10,800 acres (44 km2) of old-growth forest[2] as well as recovering redwood forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral and riparian habitats. Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 600 m (2,000 ft). The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops.
The park has over 130 km (81 mi) of trails. Some of these trails link Big Basin to Castle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of the Santa Cruz range. The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail threads its way through the park along Waddell Creek to Waddell Beach, and the adjacent Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwater marsh.[3]
The park has many waterfalls, a wide variety of environments (from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes), many species of mammals (deer, raccoons, an occasional bobcat) and abundant bird life – including Steller's jays, egrets, herons and acorn woodpeckers.
The CZU Lightning Complex fires in August 2020 burned over 97% of Big Basin and destroyed the park headquarters, closing the park for 2 years during rebuilding efforts before it reopened in Summer 2022.
- ^ a b "Big Basin". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ Bolsinger, Charles L.; Waddell, Karen L. (1993). "Area of old-growth forests in California, Oregon, and Washington" (PDF). United States Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Resource Bulletin PNW-RB-197.
- ^ Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary page