Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Also known as Big Basin Redwoods SP
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(831) 338-8860
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
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Covering about 18,916 acres, Big Basin Redwoods State Park lies in Santa Cruz County, about 13 miles southwest of Saratoga.
Popular activities here are surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, swimming, and ranger programs.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8 am - Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: any portion of the rancho del oso area.
Are dogs allowed? DOGS are allowed in the parking lot area and for two miles along the North Escape Road which is a park road closed to cars. Dogs must be on leash at all times. As paved roads are repaired, dog access will increase. Dogs are not allowed in any portion of the Rancho del Oso area, or on Waddell State Beach. For a list of more locations that you can take your dog to in Santa Cruz County, view Where Can I Take My Dog?
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursRanger and interpretive programsSwimmingWildlife viewing and birdingSurfingHikingBikingHorseback riding
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Big Basin is open for limited day-use access. Reservations for parking are not required but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available. Visit Big Basin Parking to reserve a parking space. No reservations are needed for visitors arriving by foot, bike, or bus.
Read the Big Basin Redwoods State Park FAQs for more information on the reservation system and visiting Big Basin, or phone (831) 338-8860.
Camping
The Horse Camp at the Rancho Del Oso Unit on the coast side of Big Basin has been rehabilitated and is open for interim walk-in and bike-in, non-equestrian camping. Five reservable campsites are available. Campsites #2 and #4 are designated as generally accessible; they are on flat ground and have ample clear ground space available between campsite furnishings. Accessible parking and vault restrooms are available approximately 200 feet from the campsites. The route between the campsites and parking/restrooms is a mixture of asphalt and compacted soil.
Read more from the park
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks manages the reservations for these campsites. Please use their website to check campsite availability and to make a reservation. The calendar is refreshed a few times daily and may not show the latest availability. For more information or assistance call (831) 338-8867 or email trailcamps@thatsmypark.org.
Picnic Area
An accessible picnic area with several tables is available adjacent to the roadway between the Rancho Del Oso Welcome Center and the Horse Camp. Accessible parking and vault restrooms are available.
Exhibits/Programs
The Rancho Del Oso Welcome Center has been renovated and now includes interactive and virtual interpretive exhibits, hand-painted murals of the local coastal ecosystem, and ocean views. The welcome center interior is accessible, including the interactive exhibits, which feature touchscreen technology, tactile controls, and audio description. Accessible parking is available adjacent to the welcome center. Additional accessible parking and vault restrooms are available approximately 100 feet past the welcome center at the nearby picnic area.
Other Information
Near the Former Headquarters Area, the parking lot and temporary visitor center are wheelchair accessible, with plans to restore accessibility on the Redwood Loop Trail in the future.
In the Rancho Del Oso Unit, West of Highway 1, there is an ocean overlook parking area with accessible parking and restroom.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 21600 Big Basin Way
Boulder Creek, CA 95006 - Nearest town
- Saratoga — about 13 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.1716, -122.2220
- Phone
- (831) 338-8860
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is 25 miles northwest of Santa Cruz via Highways 9 and 236 and about 65 miles south of San Francisco. All roads into Big Basin are curvy. From Hwy 9 in the town of Boulder Creek, turn north onto Hwy 236 and the park entrance kiosk is 9 miles down the highway. The Rancho Del Oso coastal unit of Big Basin is accessible via Highway 1, about 20 miles north of the city of Santa Cruz. Be advised: Ride sharing and car sharing apps such as Uber and Zip Car are not a great way to get to Big Basin. There is no cell phone service near park entrance kiosk and many people have used ride sharing and car sharing apps to get to Big Basin only to find that they are not able to activate their Zip Car or get a ride back home. No oversized vehicles or trailers can be accommodated for day-use parking currently. Take the Bus!: Santa Cruz Metro is now offering weekend service during summer months to the park on Bus Route 35. View bus schedule and more details.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Boulder Creek, United States (Unsplash kzNaj5LrXug).jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), Jeremy Bishop tidesinourveins
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology