This was California’s first state park (1902) and the site of the first Marbled Murrelet nest discovered in North America (1974). It has grown now to more than 20,000 acres, and preserves the largest remaining area of old growth forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Nearly 100 miles of trails offer ambitious hikers access to redwood, mixed evergreen, and chaparral communities. Facilities include campgrounds, four trail camps for backpackers, a picnic area, and a nature center. A small store, snack bar, and gift shop are open seasonally. There are day-use and overnight fees. Overnight stays are recommended, as the campgrounds are birdy (Blooms Creek and Huckleberry are best), and camping also makes it easier to turn out early for the dawn murrelet flight. Spaces are often available on weekdays (but reserve ahead for weekends), and there are few campers outside of the busy summer season.
Note: for the coastal portions of the park, including Waddell Beach and Rancho del Oso, which are most easily reached via Hwy 1, see this guide’s North Coast section.
Directions. From Hwy 9 in “downtown” Boulder Creek (14 miles from Santa Cruz via Hwy 9) take Hwy 236 for 9.2 miles to the park headquarters (the building on the right with a flagpole in front).
Birds. The endangered Marbled Murrelet is the most renowned avian inhabitant of this park. Big Basin has traditionally been considered a “hot spot” for nesting murrelets in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Recent studies have documented declining activity, but they can still be reliably found in the park. The best chance to see murrelets (or their fast-moving silhouettes) is at dawn from mid-April through July, and they can be conveniently found near park headquarters. A good view of the sky is essential. Try especially the meadow near the beginning of the Redwood Trail (opposite park headquarters, take the left fork of the loop), or the main parking lot itself. Murrelets occur in other old-growth areas of the park, too, but they are usually most active near the Redwood Trail. Plan to be there 45 minutes before sunrise, when the first calling murrelets may be heard, and then wait as daylight increases and the dawn flight unfolds. It is thrilling to watch these seabirds fly through and over the forest as sunrise approaches, and for up to an hour afterwards, and to listen to their loud gull-like calls. Flight activity is prolonged on foggy mornings, and reaches a seasonal peak in mid-July. Murrelets visit the forest at dusk, too, but activity levels are lower and sightings will be few.
Pileated Woodpeckers occur throughout the park and in impressive numbers. They are easy enough to hear (sometimes up to six from one spot!) but not to see, although persistence will pay off. Try the Redwood Trail and vicinity of park headquarters, the various campgrounds (especially Blooms Creek and Huckleberry), and Opal Creek Picnic Area. Nesting and migrant Vaux’s Swifts are present from mid-April through summer. Try the areas mentioned above for Pileated Woodpecker, as well as Sempervirens Campground and Slippery Rock. Black Swift has nested at Berry Creek Falls, a 6-mile hike one way from the headquarters, but hasn’t been seen in recent years.
American Dipper occurs along Berry Creek and the West and East Forks of Waddell Creek, and has nested at Berry Creek Falls. Closer to park headquarters, it turns up along Opal Creek and Blooms Creek, especially from late winter through May. Common Merganser and Wood Duck frequent Opal Creek in spring. Nesting Hermit Warblers, widespread but generally uncommon, favor ridgeline forest with a prominent fir component. Listen for their song along Middle Ridge Fire Rd, Gazos Creek Rd east of Middle Ridge Rd, and along the upper part of Sunset Trail. Recently, Wild Turkeys have appeared regularly at Sky Meadow Group Campground and vicinity.
Other nesting species in the vicinity of park headquarters and the campgrounds include Acorn Woodpecker (impressively abundant), Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Wilson’s Warbler, Swainson’s and Hermit thrushes, Spotted Towhee, Purple Finch, Allen’s Hummingbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet (may abound in winter), Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned hawks, and Northern Pygmy-Owl. Varied Thrush is often common in the fall and winter and a few recently have begun to nest. Red Crossbill may be numerous in the park during invasions.
From park headquarters go north on Hwy 236 for a 3.4 miles to its northern intersection with China Grade. Stop enroute at pullouts amid chaparral and knobcone pines beginning 2.5 miles from headquarters. The upper portion of China Grade (left turn, also signed prominently “Cutter Scout Reservation”) offers fine panoramic views of a large part of the park (stop especially at 0.15 mile from the junction with Hwy 236 and walk over the low berm on the left) and interesting montane birding. It is best to park at intervals and walk along the road. Be sure to check the area from one to two miles above the Hwy 236 junction. It is reliable in spring and summer for Band-tailed Pigeon, Vaux’s Swift, Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds, Pileated Woodpecker, Olive-sided and Ash-throated flycatchers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, California Thrasher, Hutton’s Vireo, Wrentit, Black-throated Gray Warbler (in canyon live oaks), and Purple Finch. Mountain Quail is sometimes found here. Head south down China Grade for 3.4 miles to reconnect with the lower portion of Hwy 236, 4.0 miles from Boulder Creek.
Big Basin has plenty of opportunities for owling. Western Screech-Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl are the most abundant species in the park. You can use the park headquarters parking lot as a base and walk the Redwood Trail, or up North Escape Rd (beginning at the entrance kiosk beside the headquarters). The campgrounds are good for owls when campers are few, such as in winter and spring. A walk for a mile or so up Hihn-Hammond Rd, beginning at the west end of Blooms Creek Campground, has also been productive. Hwy 236 leading north from park headquarters is also good, but be sure to park all the way off the road.