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Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Best Hiking Trails in Big Basin Redwoods State Park

37 reviews


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Overview

The battle to save this ancient grove of redwoods began over 100 years ago by concerned citizens, resulting in California's first-ever state park and ensuring the protection of these 1,000 to 2,500 year old coastal redwoods for future generations. With 80 miles of trails and roads to explore, Big Basin Redwoods offers plenty of routes to get you up close and personal with some of the oldest and tallest trees in the world.

Getting Started

Make backcountry camping reservations in advance to make sure you get a spot. If you're unable to make a reservation, try the first-come, first-served campsite at Castle Rock Trail Camp not too far away (open year-round with 20 sites).

Enjoy the 5.5 mile Oceanview Summit Loop, or ramp up the difficulty on the 10.4 mile trail to Silver Falls. If you're looking for a bigger hiking adventure, connect Big Basin and Castle Rock State Park to the ocean on the 24.7 mile Skyline to the Sea Trail.

Keep an eye out for bobcats, birds, and deer, and make sure to keep food protected from snoopy raccoons. Food lockers are provided at campgrounds.

When to Go

Visit Big Basin year-round, but be prepared for crowds and mosquitoes in the summer months.

Permits

Vehicle day-use fees apply. Note that backcountry camping requires reservations at all trail camps, and no dispersed camping is allowed within the park.

Dog Info

Dogs are welcome on-leash at campgrounds, picnic areas, and on paved roads, but are not permitted on trails or fire roads. The only exception is the campground connector trail running from Sempervirens and Blooms Creek campgrounds to the park's headquarters. Those with pups may want to explore the verdant (though paved) 5-mile round-trip North Escape road, which is closed to most vehicle traffic.


  • Hiking Trails (27)
  • Reviews (37)
  1. 1
    Berry Creek Falls via Skyline To The Sea Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 24.7 mi
  2. 2
    Berry Creek Falls viewpoint Loop via Sunset Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 11.7 mi
  3. 3
    Sempervirens Falls Loop via Sequoia Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 4.8 mi
  4. 4
    Buzzards Roost via Pine Mountain Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 5.0 mi
  5. 5
    Kalkhoven Overlook Loop
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 20.1 mi
  6. 6
    Alder Trail Camp via Skyline to the Sea Bypass Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 1.5 mi
  7. 7
    Gazos Creek Road Loop
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 1.8 mi
  8. 8
    Sunset Trail Camp Loop via Sunset Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 9.0 mi
  9. 9
    Slippery Falls via Skyline To The Sea Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 11.0 mi
  10. 10
    Ocean View Summit Loop via Skyline To The Sea Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 4.6 mi
    user_profile
    abigail.porter95 1 year, 9 months ago
    Track (8/16/20, 1:15:56PM)
    Set out to do berry creek falls trail which was unfortunately closed due to storm and fire damage, played it off the cuff and this is what I ended up doing.
    ★ ★ ★

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    mrsmb 1 year, 9 months ago
    Sea to Skyline/Meteor/Door - Big Basin (8/10/20, 12:48:36PM)
    Absolutely gorgeous - would rate as moderate with some steep climbs on the Meteor Trail. Peaceful - I was alone a majority of the hike. The silence was extraordinary.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    mrsmb 1 year, 9 months ago
    Sequoia Trail - Big Basin State Park
    This was a one-way loop with more people on it than the other hike I did today. The first 2 miles were close to a road, hence the 4-star rating. The second half of the hike was spectacular - one of the prettiest wooded hikes I’ve ever done.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ericarishel 1 year, 11 months ago
    Big Basin, OAC
    Skyline to sea to Berry Creek Falls to Sunset. Perfect temp low 70’s and sunny. Trail was mostly covered (redwoods). Ideal conditions and company!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    philfr212 3 years ago
    Track (5/11/19, 2:07:42PM)
    Hard and beautiful hike to lower vista, upper vista, and chalk mountain. Steep climb, redwood forest, coastal vistas and open space toward top.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    mow77us 1 month, 1 week ago
    Buzzards Roost via Pine Mountain Trail
    ★ ★ ★

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    Yao 2 months, 4 weeks ago
    Silver Falls via Sunset Trail
    ★ ★

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    zjs506 9 months, 1 week ago
    Berry Creek Falls viewpoint Loop via Sunset Trail
    ★

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    jrinnorcal 10 months, 2 weeks ago
    Big Basin Berry Falls
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    cristina_herrera 11 months, 3 weeks ago
    Berry Creek Falls viewpoint Loop via Sunset Trail
    ★ ★

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    Freyja 1 year, 1 month ago
    Waterman Gap Post Fire
    ★ ★ ★

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    Freyja 1 year, 1 month ago
    Waterman Gap Post Fire
    ★ ★ ★

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    tsachy.weissman 1 year, 7 months ago
    Berry Creek Falls via Skyline To The Sea Trail
    ★ ★ ★

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    Patricia 1 year, 8 months ago
    Berry Creek Falls viewpoint Loop via Sunset Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    manny.d.barros 1 year, 8 months ago
    Big Basin
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    sarinariviera 1 year, 9 months ago
    Track (8/6/20, 2:05:21PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    erin 1 year, 9 months ago
    Berry Creek Falls via Skyline To The Sea Trail
    ★

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    Anonymous User 1 year, 9 months ago
    Track (01/08/2020, 07:20:44)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    maribel.arellano 1 year, 9 months ago
    Chalk Mountain via Chalks Truck Trail and Whitehouse Ridge Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    David 1 year, 9 months ago
    Berry Creek Falls via Skyline To The Sea Trail
    ★ ★ ★

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    arrazola23 1 year, 9 months ago
    Berry Creek Falls viewpoint Loop via Sunset Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Vilen 1 year, 9 months ago
    Berry Creek Falls viewpoint Loop via Sunset Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    colbymorrison 1 year, 10 months ago
    Backpacking training
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jwheeler924 2 years ago
    Sunset Trail Camp 2019 day 1
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    2wls4ever 2 years, 2 months ago
    Berry Creek Falls via Skyline To The Sea Trail
    ★ ★

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    danrigsby 2 years, 2 months ago
    Skyline to Sea Yoyo Wind
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Jacob 2 years, 2 months ago
    Chalk Mountain via Westridge Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    buchman001 2 years, 5 months ago
    Berry creek circle 11.25.19
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    e.blood 2 years, 6 months ago
    Track (11/10/19, 11:54:07AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jkauth 2 years, 6 months ago
    Track (10/19/19, 3:02:27PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    mjones 2 years, 7 months ago
    Track (9/23/19, 1:12:16PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    kshitijmpatil 2 years, 8 months ago
    Berry Creek Falls viewpoint Loop via Sunset Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    sdhilton 2 years, 9 months ago
    Track (8/9/19, 10:58:34AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    hs00678 2 years, 10 months ago
    GCF (7/14/19, 9:24:29AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    akvalle26 2 years, 10 months ago
    Track (6/30/19, 10:12:07AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    5SeaZin 2 years, 11 months ago
    Big basin with Agnes
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    Kumar 3 years ago
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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