When it comes to hiking, I like the idea but not so much the execution. I love to be in nature, but the 6+ hour itineraries aren’t for me. The Sequoia Redwood Hike, located in the Big Basin Redwood National Park is the solution. It’s ideal for those that want to experience the beauty of the Northern California Redwoods, breathe some fresh air, but be done in a few hours.
About Big Basin Redwood National Park
Fun Fact: this national park is California’s oldest and was founded in 1902. Some of the trees are over 1000 years old and surround the 80+ miles of hiking trails.
Getting to the Redwood Hike there from:
- San Jose: ~1 hour
- San Francisco: ~ 1 hour 40 min
- Santa Cruz: ~40 min
The drive to the redwood hike is an event in itself. You’ll drive through windy roads of trees, and feel like you’re in the Pacific Northwest. The windy road can lead to carsick passengers, so be sure to crack the windows!
About the Sequoia Trail
The hike starts at the Big Basin headquarters where you’ll need to get an all day parking pass ($10 per standard car). Note: it is CASH only.
- Hike length: 4.4 miles
- Duration: ~2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
Tips: A few tips for having a successful hike.
- Bring Cash – the parking pass is cash only.
- Get there early – we arrived at about 9:30 AM on a Sunday and easily found a parking spot. By the end of our hike (~11 AM) it was packed! Get there early to beat the crowds.
Photo Spots: there are a few photo spots you’ll want to pay attention to while on the hike.
- Take a photo in the hollow of a redwood – there is a ginormous redwood located next to the headquarters
- Sempervirens Falls – The falls are the key attraction of this hike. There is a small look out point when you reach the falls
Great story and tips. If you have a little extra time, the drive farther north to Redwood National Park is worth considering. It has the real giants, including the world’s tallest tree. This local site has some good insider info: https://redwoodcoastparks.com
hanks for reading Ted! Will need to check that out next time. Thanks!