Sempervirens Fund has purchased redwood lands throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains bioregion. The most important purchases are typically transferred to the state of California in order to expand the boundaries and protected ecosystems of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park, Portola State Park and Butano State Park. Miles of trails meander through and between these parks. One of the most famous such trails is the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail.

Big Basin Redwoods
State Park

Big Basin is California's oldest State Park, established in 1902. Home to the largest continuous stand of Ancient Coast Redwoods south of San Francisco, the park consists of over 18,000 acres of Old Growth and recovering Redwood Forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitats. Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 2,000 feet. The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops.

The park has over 80 miles of trails. Be sure and pick up a map at park headquarters before your hike and take a look at the multimedia kiosk in the Sempervirens Room (next to park headquarters). There you will find great information, photos, and video of some of the most popular 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 the beach and adjacent Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwater marsh.

The park has a surprising number of waterfalls, a wide variety of environments from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes, many animals (deer, raccoons, an occasional bobcat) and lots of bird life-- including Stellar's jays, egrets, herons and several species of California woodpeckers.

Location: Big Basin State Park is in the Santa Cruz Mountains, 25 miles northwest of Santa Cruz, California, and about 65 miles south of San Francisco. It is accessed by way of Highways 9 and 236. [SEE MAP]

Click www.parks.ca.gov/allpages/default.asp?page_id=540 for more information from the official California State Parks web site, including descriptions of trails in the park. Sempervirens Fund has produced beautifully detailed trail maps of Big Basin which can be ordered at the Sempervirens Store.

Castle Rock
State Park

Along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Castle Rock State Park embraces 5,000 acres of coast redwood, Douglas-fir, and madrone forest, most of which has been left in its wild, natural state. Steep canyons are sprinkled with unusual rock formations that are popular with rock climbers. The forest here is lush and mossy, crisscrossed by 32 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. These trails are part of an even more extensive trail system that links the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo valleys with Castle Rock State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and the Pacific Coast.

Primitive campsites for backpackers are the only overnight facilities. Equestrians are urged to call ahead for current trail information, and smokers are advised that, due to high fire hazard, smoking is prohibited on the trails within Castle Rock State Park.

Location: Santa Cruz Mountains, about 60 miles south of San Francisco. The park entrance is on Highway 35, just 2 1/2 miles southeast of the junction with Highway 9. [SEE MAP]

Click www.parks.ca.gov/allpages/default.asp?page_id=538 for more information from the official California State Parks web site. Sempervirens Fund has produced beautifully detailed trail maps of Castle Rock State Park which can be ordered at the Sempervirens Store.

Portola Redwoods
State Park

This park is situated in a rugged, natural basin forested with coast redwoods, Douglas fir and live oak. Eighteen miles of trails crisscross the canyon and its two streams, Peters Creek and Pescadero Creek. A short nature trail along Pescadero Creek introduces visitors to the natural history of the area. Visitors can see clam shells and other marine deposits from the time when the area was once covered by the ocean. The park has one of the tallest redwoods (300 feet high) in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Location: Santa Cruz Mountains, about 50 miles south of San Francisco. The Portola State Park Road is accessed via Highway 35 and Alpine Road. [SEE MAP]

Click www.parks.ca.gov/allpages/default.asp?page_id=539 for more information from the official California State Parks web site. Sempervirens Fund has produced beautifully detailed trail maps of Portola Redwoods State Park which can be ordered at the Sempervirens Store.

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Butano
State Park

Butano State Park's 2,200 acres lie in a secluded redwood-filled canyon that is drained by Little Butano Creek. This park beautifully conveys the character of a coastal redwood forest. There are miles of popular hiking trails including the Little Butano Creek Loop, the Jackson Flats-Six Bridges Hike, and the Mill Ox Trail.

Location: Santa Cruz Mountains, along the San Mateo County Coast, off Highway One near the small agricultural town of Pescadero. Reach the park by traveling three miles northeast of the Gazos Creek Coastal Access Point by way of Gazos Creek Road, or go about 4.5 miles southeast of Pescadero by way of the Pescadero and Cloverdale Roads. [SEE MAP]

Click www.parks.ca.gov/allpages/default.asp?page_id=536 for more information from the official California State Parks web site. Sempervirens Fund has produced beautifully detailed trail maps of Butano State Park which can be ordered at the Sempervirens Store.

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