Accessible Trail: Yes (compacted earth) Mileage: 0.6 mile loop
Just North of Santa Cruz lies California's oldest state park: Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The park is home to the largest continuous stand of old growth Redwoods South of San Francisco. Some of the oldest and tallest Redwoods in the world have called the area home for more than 1,500 years.
The Redwood forest once extended from Central California to Southern Oregon, and inland as far as the eye could see. They were so impressive, the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola noted their expanse during his 1769 voyage up the Pacific Coast of North America. Less than a century later, however, demand for logging during the gold rush massively depleted the Redwoods. By the time the park was established in 1902, less than 5% of the once-huge forest remained.
Today the Redwoods are recovering, with second-growth trees filling in the gaps left by the logging activities within the old-growth forest. The best way to experience these humbling giants is from the Redwood Loop Trail, a wide, accessible trail that winds alongside the aptly named Opal Creek. Interpretive brochures are available at the beginning the trail; a great way to learn more about the Redwoods and the park.
As its name suggests, the trail is full of old-growth giants, many of which have been appropriately titled with names like the "Animal Tree" and the "Chimney Tree." The main attractions, however, are the Mother and Father of the Forest, the two largest trees in the park. The Mother of the Forest was once the tallest tree in the park, but lost some height in a recent storm. Not to be outdone, the Father of the Forest is the oldest tree in the park, thought to be more than 2,000 years old.
The majesty of the Redwoods will be sure to keep your head tilted upward. Don't forget to look down, however, as some of the most colorful residents of the park can be found on the forest floor: banana slugs. These brightly colored, slow-moving natives of the Redwood forest are North America's largest land mollusk, and perhaps more famously, the mascot of the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Before you know it you'll find yourself back at the beginning of the loop trail, having seen first-hand one of the few remaining groves of ancient giants.
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