Big Basin Redwoods State Park is the oldest state park in California. It was acquired in 1902. The park has miles of trails, which serve hikers and equestrians, links 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 such as egrets, herons and woodpeckers. The park is also home to stately redwood groves. A watchable wildlife station, the park is 20 miles north of
Santa Cruz via highways 9 and 236.
