Off the Marks…read more 10k-acre State Park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains and is named after the mother of the family who donated the land to the state, and was a passionate nature lover. The Good: *Over forty(!) miles of hiking trails, that range from easy to strenuous. *Bikes ok (check maps & signage for appropriate trails) *Picnic tables in the parking lot and along certain trails (check map) *Restrooms in parking lot *Camping (reservations required check website) *Leashed dogs allowed along certain trails (check website, maps, and/or signage) *Another great place to see Redwoods *This park was at the epicenter of the 6.9 (cackle) '89 Loma Prieta earthquake *Waterfalls! The Meh: *$8 entry fee The Ugly: *While there's a lot of Redwoods here, they're mostly second- and third-growth, with only a scant few old-growth. Which isn't a knock on the park but a realization of how badly this area was forested at one time. Conclusion: Great place for a hike and see some Redwoods!

What a beautiful and wonderful day! Very peaceful trail. The redwoods are incredible. Definitely…read morerecommend. Nothing beats nature!

Back in the mid-80's, my younger brother and I had a bit of cabin fever, and decided to walk from…read moreour grandparents' central Watsonville home, up to Mount Madonna park. We made it about 2/3rds of the way up the winding, two lane road before a passing motorist stopped for us. The driver told us to pile into the bed of his pickup truck, then shortly after dropped us off at the park. My brother and I briefly explored the park, but dusk was approaching. Back in the days when there were public pay phones aplenty, we used a dime (or perhaps a quarter) to telephone our grandparents to ask for a car ride back down the mountain. In our youthful minds, it was just a little adventure, but our grandparents spoke of it for years afterwards.

On a warm Sat at the end of Feb, I hiked with 2 friends on an 8 miles, 700 ft elevation gain,…read moreSprig, Merry-Go-Round, and Tan Oak Loop. Paid $6, parked at the Amphitheater at 9am. Headed over to the ruins of Miller's Mansion. The forest grove sure was pretty and tranquil. The lake was nice but far away. Saw some benches carved out of huge logs, very cute. Too bad we missed the white deer pen. We completed the hike exactly at noon, 3 hours hike.

Berry Creek Falls is absolutely stunning! If you're coming to Big Basin Redwoods State Park and…read moreyou've never hiked to the falls, you MUST do it. Don't come all the way out here and miss out on this gorgeous waterfall. We did an 8 mile out and back hike to the falls via the Skyline to Sea Trail. The hike is moderate and begins on a downhill slope into the forest. Going down is always the easiest part for me, especially when a trail starts off descending. The real challenge is going back up once you reach the falls. It's nothing too strenuous but I'd definitely bring plenty of water and bug spray because there are lots of bugs on the trail. The trail itself is mostly shaded and features an abundance of beautiful redwoods, vibrantly green foliage, and scenic viewpoints. The waterfall is definitely the highlight of the hike! The falls were still flourishing in mid-July which worked out for us because we were able to take full advantage of the scene. When you make it up to the falls, there's a small deck area with two benches where you can sit and enjoy the picturesque views of the falls. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded on a Saturday afternoon in mid July. You may have to wait your turn to take a picture next to the falls. People were really courteous and didn't spend too much time which allowed for others to capture the moment. Bring your lunch and take a break here before continuing on your hike back. The scenery is so amazing here. Definitely recommend a hike to Berry Creek Falls is you're visiting Big Basin Redwood State Park.

AMAZING PLACE…read more Beautiful views and scenery. We did the Redwood Trail to the Skyline to the Sea to the Berry Creek Falls to the Sunset back to the parking lot. There are so many beautiful waterfalls along the trail. Some parts of the trail near the falls are muddy so wear good hiking shoes Note: This is a long trail (11 miles). Pack water and lunch and stay on the trail. You pay for parking with the rangers (10$ cash or card). Bathrooms at the park entrance are nice!

This review is specifically for the Waterfall Loop Nature Trail within Uvas Canyon Park, one of the…read moreBay Area's many "hidden gems." Nothing like a relaxing hike along a pristine nature trail to clear the mind and nourish the soul. I noticed that one recent review calls this hike "easy" but as we were climbing the stairs from the parking lot, we encountered two young women who looked to be in their 20s who were going in the opposite direction, returning to the parking lot. "It's beautiful," one of them volunteered to us, "but it's really HARD!" And indeed, on the trail we encountered young people who were visibly panting, even though the Waterfall Loop trail is shorter and easier than others in the park. So you might want to take that into account, FWIW, as the expression goes. It might also be helpful to mention the following: * The rules of this park call for purchasing an entry pass/parking permit online BEFORE you arrive. The reason is the limited number of spaces. Your permit is good for entry during a ONE-HOUR WINDOW for which you make your reservation. The person in the car ahead of us hadn't purchased a permit in advance and was able to use a credit card to purchase it at the entry gate but that might only be done when ample space in the lot is available. * To access the park, you must drive through a private 110-acre resort (Sveadal, meaning Swedish Valley), owned and operated by the Swedish American Patriotic League since 1926. It's a SINGLE-LANE road that is NOT LEVEL (quite rocky). You will want to make sure that your vehicle is in reasonably good shape for this drive. The only really scary part of this road for us was that at a couple of points, the incline is steep enough that you can't see ahead of you on this single-lane road. So you have to trust that no other vehicle is going faster than it should be coming toward you, in the opposite direction. * One more point ("muy importante"/very important): If you're coming for the waterfalls, use your preferred AI platform to check to make sure that the water will be flowing at the time of your visit. That's because the falls are generally seasonal and dependent on the amount of rain during preceding months. The falls are not large and thundering but they are nonetheless quite beautiful and soothing. PS: For those who don't know Spanish but may be interested: The Park is named after the Spanish word for grapes (uvas), referring to the abundance of wild grapes (Vitis californica) that early settlers found growing along the creek and throughout the canyon.

The best hike I've ever been on! Great views with multiple waterfalls throughout the trail and a…read morehuge plus that the park is completely dog-friendly. Easy parking but you have to reserve a spot ($6) ahead of time. We only booked a day before and there were still a lot of availabilities. The reserved hour is only a time frame of when you have to arrive to the park but you can stay for as long as you would like. My printer ended up not working the day of so I called the park and they were so nice in offering that I just write my reservation number on paper and place it on my dash. The weather was so nice when we went (mid March) and almost all of the trail was beautifully shaded. We did the Waterfall Loop trail which was about 3 miles and lasted about 1 hr & 40 min. Moderately challenging and such a fun workout with absolutely amazing views. I loved everything about this park!

Love love love this place, it's beautiful and serene for stunning trails and streams. It feels like…read moreevery tree has a story to tell, these giants with some as tall as 180 feet have been standing here for centuries. Must visit with your kids, friends and family for a breathtaking experience.

My family and i love this place! It's our first time to check it out and we are so amazed!!…read more We will come back to spend longer time soon and will explore more trail routes... Thank you for the people who keep this place manageable and accessible for all the hikers and visitors..You are all awesome!! See you next time!!

Some friends from work asked me to organize a short hike. We…read morehad 9 people, carpooled into 2 cars to Pueblo Day Use Area. Started SouthWest ward on Mine Trail, passed restrooms, continued to Rocky Ridge Trail, left to Coyote Peak Trail, left to Hidden Spring trail to parking lot. 3.8 mile with 700 ft elevation gain, about 2 hours time at slow pace. It was a nice easy hike on a Sunday. I got to chat with friends while we walked in beautiful weather in mid Oct. Hardly anyone else on the trail - there were a few bikers, one trail runner, very few other hikers. Views of South San Jose were cool.

beautiful view. and it's quite a hike so be prepared and also get some water with snacksread more

Too Big to Trail The…read moreHalf Moon Bay Coastal Trail is an amalgam of several trails that run thru HMB and goes for 11.5-miles one-way from start to finish. The southerly end is at the Cowell Ranch Trail in HMB and runs all the way north to Dardanelle Trail in Moss Beach. The Good: *Great views *Easy flat to moderate trails *Trails are mostly AC with some compact dirt, as well, and they are mostly in good to great shape. *Bike, dog, & horse friendly *Multiple beach access *Lots of different (free) parking lots up and down the coast The Meh: *Little to no shade for most of the trail. This isn't really a big deal, as HMB is almost always cloudy, foggy, and cold--but there's always a few days a year where it can get into the 80s and low 90s. The Ugly: *Some of the lots do require payment, so be sure to check signage before parking. Oh, and in case you're wondering, they most definitely *DO* enforce parking. Conclusion: One of my all-time favorite trails in The Bay.

This trail is long and there are a ton of parking locations that I discovered as I walked along…read morethis trail. I parked in a spot for $10 and there seemed to be some free parking spots along the trails, but anyway, it was a nice trail! Very flat! Easy access to the beach. But there is no shade at all on the trail, so don't forget to bring a hat, sunglasses and/or sunscreen. We saw a lot of walkers, bikers, campers, and people on horses along the walk. There are a few benches throughout the trail to sit, relax, and enjoy. I would come back if I live closer to HMB!

It CAN got hot in Santa Cruz and when it does, you're gonna want to find a shaded trail like a…read moreLadato loop to keep from overheating. I'm down here at Glenwood open space preserve, fully exposed to the sun and sweatin' like a crawdad in a gumbo eat'n contest. That's what Im at Lodato and I aint going back to Glenwood it cools down ovah there.

Hidden trail that is visited by locals. We came here on the way to Mystery Spot. It is a short…read more1-1.5 mile loop. Air is excellent, and short enough that you won't need to really prepare water. Great for groups with kids or dogs!

#641 #1/25 A very…read moreBeLated review of '23 summer hike... til next visit to a Lusher forest :) Started from Big Ben near Bonny Doon airport to Fall Creek and return. Climb Dry rebirth after the fire Me n this Forest Scenery is an old growth forest with little ground cover other than Redwood sorrels after the fire. Entirely canopied, easy and well kept but a steep trail. Heard owls at the top near Big Ben, a squirrel, few birds and some grasshoppers. Otherwise pretty quiet. Fall Creek had steady water flowing and a tiny waterfall at the time of my visit. Pups are NOT allowed here. Less visited old growth forest as the trail is continuous elevation down to Fall Creek and back up to Big Ben. A couple of crossing to HC Lime Kilns where the lime was used to rebuild SFO post 1906 earthquake and to Lost Empire. Signals were virtually nonexistent and the BBT is NOT marked! I took pictures of the Trail descriptions and maps prior to and that was helpful. Go with someone who is familiar with these trails or download descriptions and good trail mapS. Felton Empire Rd runs through it. There is NO parking lot or any signs to per se. Once you find the trail, you can park on the shoulder. Pro tip: It's MUCH easier to find and start from Bennet Creek to Fall Creek Trailhead as there is a parking lot off Felton Road. About 3 to 8.4 miles hike depending on the trails (partial loop) you choose with little to ~1500 ft elevation if you hike to Big Ben and entire loop (8.4 miles). Recommend water, protein bars and comfortable shoes.

What an Amazing place. The water is so clear and the foliage looks like something out of a movie…read more Just Beautiful.