Byrne-Milliron Forest

(231 reviews)

6.2 mi

Go on a weekday; the parking areas fill up quickly on weekends. It's $8 to park, and it's best to…read morebring exact change. The redwoods are not as magestic as the ones at Henry Cowell, but it's just as relaxing. There are a lot of loop trails around the ranger station. You can hike next to the stream going north, and cross at various points. You will find bridges, as well as clusters of rocks that are crossable. There is poison ivy that intrudes into the pathway; take precautions. Also treat your shoes with tick-repellent.

Beautiful forest with creeks, huge trees and banana slugs. Cool and shady. Many trails are…read morerelatively easy even if you're tired like I was. We've actually been here twice and enjoyed both times.

Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

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Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Mount Madonna County Park

(150 reviews)

4.8 mi

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.

Mount Madonna County Park

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Mount Madonna County Park

Berry Creek Falls

4.8

25.9 mi

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!

Berry Creek Falls from the view point

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Uvas Canyon County Park

(284 reviews)

4.0 mi

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!

Lower waterfalls with my crush

Greater Periwinkle

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Lower Falls trail

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

(650 reviews)

15.0 mi

This is a beautiful scenic hike surrounded by nature. The river runs alongside the trail for most…read moreof the way, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere as you make your way toward the overlook deck. The views are breathtaking and the sound of the flowing water makes the experience even more enjoyable. If you're planning a picnic, head down to the river area -- the water is not very deep, making it a great spot for families and kids to enjoy. The steam engine train ride adds a special charm to the visit, offering a beautiful way to take in the scenery. There are also BBQ options available where you can purchase food, along with items from the general store. You can also bring your own food and spend the day soaking in the peaceful surroundings. A wonderful place to hike, relax, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Amazing 0.8 mile reasonably level trail through a dense grove of majestic redwood giants. There was…read morealmost no one in the parking lot when I arrived at 9am on a Wednesday but the parking lot was full by noon when I left. There is a California state park gift shop that opens at 10am. Parking is $10 ($9 for seniors over 62). There is also a walkway from the parking lot to the Roaring Camp train station next to the state park.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

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Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Coyote Peak at Santa Teresa County Park

4.8

13.8 mi

Great experience..! It was nice and the view is amazing. We absolutely come back and spend more…read moretime.

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.

Views from Coyote Peak

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Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail

4.4

(64 reviews)

45.5 mi

The trail is really a collection of trails all over the Half Moon Bay area. You can jump on the…read moretrail quit and find it again miles from your last location. Most of the trail is paved and level making it a highly enjoyable family walk.

Lovely walk, with amazing views of the coast, would thoroughly recommend to others, great for kids,read more

Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail

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Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail

Lodato Park Trail

4.2

(6 reviews)

12.0 mi

So going into this hike we had high spirits and a positive attitude. Leaving however I felt like…read moreSatan him self came down and stung my ass from how many wasp attacked me and my friends, which btw gave me a free eyebrow piercing I never asked for. If u want to take someone u despise I would recommend taking them there and leaving them. P.s tell them to wear full black.

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.

Look, free forest puppies !

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Bodhi must be announcing his run for presidency because he is out on the stump!

Fall Creek - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

(97 reviews)

16.1 mi

This checked all my boxes for a great hike: woodsy, water, scenic, peaceful, moderate, posted…read moresigns, and free parking was a bonus. We arrived around 10:15 am on a Thursday, and there were still a few parking spots in their smallish parking lot. I'm sure you'd have to come much earlier on the weekend. There's a map of the various trails. We decided to do a loop of: Fall Creek - S-cape - Ridge trail - back to parking lot. The Fall Creek section was very easy, and you're walking along the creek with a few small waterfalls to admire. A couple of times you cross over the creek, but there are planks to walk on. I couldn't stop taking pictures during this section. There's a bit of elevation when you get to the Ridge trail section, but nothing too bad. The only thing to be cautious of is the abundance of poison oak. There are some narrow paths where the poison oak was spilling over from both sides of the path. TIP: wear long pants. This is a hike that I'd come back to.

#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.

8/23 BBT - dry dusty wide trail

8/23 about 7 feet in diameter & could not see the top

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Carlos and Bear at Fall Creek

Manresa State Beach

(120 reviews)

7.2 mi

$10 entrance fee to relax on the beach with a clean bathroom. Bring blankets, chairs, and cooler to…read morespread out, this beach is not crowded. We listened to the quiet of the ocean waves and enjoyed lunch and drinks.

Beach was great and they had lifeguards out while we were visiting. It was way less crowded…read morecompared to the Boardwalk beach, and others closer to Santa Cruz. Only leave a star out because they charge $10 day fee and there's no water to rinse off after getting sandy.

Manresa State Beach

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Manresa State Beach

Mystery Spot

4.2

(1.6k reviews)

11.5 mi

Went on a tour Saturday. P.S. *get your tickets online* it gets busy!…read more I arrived late and was fortunate enough to get added to the next available tour! The staff is so friendly and helpful throughout my time there. Tour Guide Nora was Amazing! Super funny and informative, it was first time visiting the mystery spot And she went above and beyond for the entire group tour! Highly recommend this place to anyone looking to explore and experience something so unique,exciting & unbelievable to say the least. S/O Nora for taking a great photo for me !

Super great tours! Bridger was hilarious and the entire experience was so much fun for the whole…read morefamily. Make sure you make a reservation or go early in the morning as it gets busy fast! Can't recommend enough

Are you slanted or is everything else slanted?

Say cheese

It's a mystery to me

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Byrne-Milliron Forest - hiking - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Byrne-Milliron Forest also viewed

Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

(231 reviews)

Go on a weekday; the parking areas fill up quickly on weekends. It's $8 to park, and it's best to…read morebring exact change. The redwoods are not as magestic as the ones at Henry Cowell, but it's just as relaxing. There are a lot of loop trails around the ranger station. You can hike next to the stream going north, and cross at various points. You will find bridges, as well as clusters of rocks that are crossable. There is poison ivy that intrudes into the pathway; take precautions. Also treat your shoes with tick-repellent.

Beautiful forest with creeks, huge trees and banana slugs. Cool and shady. Many trails are…read morerelatively easy even if you're tired like I was. We've actually been here twice and enjoyed both times.

Polo Grounds County Park

3.8

(5 reviews)

It's awesome to have available space for dogs to play off leash. I brought my pups for the first…read moretime. Other dog owners were very welcoming. It was a great morning!

Review is for the BMX pump track. Track is good for all levels, but ideal for advanced riders. A…read morelittle tight for the intermediate riders, but still fun. No crowds. A plethora of parking. Cell service is spotty. I would come here, then head to Harvey West to ride. I would say the 3rd best pump track in Santa Cruz for the intermediate rider. Take your dog since the dog park looks killer and is just a across the parking lot. Bathrooms to the South near the baseball fields.

Pogonip

4.0

(44 reviews)

Beautiful trail in the Santa Cruz mountains to experience true natural beauty of walking among…read moreredwoods. Compared to Muir Woods it's not a very doctrinated environment with boardwalks etc, lot of redwoods are fallen over the river which are supposed to enhance the ecology. The lime kiln hike is good for beginners. Good place to bring kids and pets - saw some kids look very happy that they were crossing mini bridges over running water here and there. The ending point of the trail is at the historic Lime Kilns and it's very interesting and hard to imagine that there was a full lime making facility during the Gold Rush there, plus an ecosystem of burning redwood to power kilns for melting lime rock, and a rail road to transport the lime away

This is large open space in the hills of Santa Cruz near the UC. It is not really a public park in…read moreterms of there aren't a whole lot of public benches, picnic tables, garbage receptacles, playgrounds etc... What it does have are numerous trails, most if not all are unpaved that weave into this raw open space. Some parts of the hills are open grass lands thus no shade. Some trails go into a forested area where lots of trees are some being smaller redwoods, thus lots of shade there. I picked a route/loop that was about 4 miles that had a little incline and mostly through the forested area. It was mostly on the Spring Trail. There's an old Limestone Kiln on this trail that used to extract limestone from rocks, which was then used for mortar and plaster to help build California in the 1900s. So a little piece of history here. Not crowded at all (which I love) during a Monday afternoon. More joggers than hikers for some reason, no bikers that I saw and lots of leashed dogs strolling with their owners. Santa Cruz is a very dog friendly town. I'm assuming most if not all users here are from the surrounding neighborhoods/university. I ran into lots of colorful plant life along with the birds those tow, small lizards basking in the sun and even a 3 foot snake right on the trail. Startled me at first as it is well camouflaged on the dirt and shade from the trees. I could tell by the shape of the head that it wasn't a rattle snake, so I just carefully stepped around it as not startle it. Unlike many people I don't freak out on these occurrences, so this was more exciting to me than worrisome. But glad I found this open space as I often like to exercise/hike while I'm visiting an area and now I can pair this with some beach relaxation afterwards. Santa Cruz score!

Moore Creek Preserve

4.3

(4 reviews)

Seems like brown dry grassland for 1st. 1/2 mile. Then the creek is an overgrown trickle of water…read more I'd recommend staying on other side of highway & hiking along the cliffs & beaches.

When in Santa Cruz come to Moore Creek Preserve. Local Meetup groups frequent this and t's a fun…read morewalk when in a group

Pinto Lake County Dog Park

3.8

This is a beautiful dog-friendly park with picturesque trails for walking your dog. We did not have…read morea lot of time to spend here, and our older dog cannot walk very far these days, but If I lived near here, I would come to this park often. It's a great place for people as well as dogs!

Pinto Lake County Park is a my favorite park since it's so close by and a nice spot to relax and…read moreenjoy nature. The lake is beautiful and great for fishing, or just taking a walk. There are playgrounds for kids and plenty of space to spread out. The staff is friendly, and I like how clean the area is. Perfect place for a family outing or some quiet time outdoors. I'll definitely visit again!

Wilder Ranch State Park

(308 reviews)

Came here for a short stroll along the coast on a day trip to Santa Cruz... I was impressed!…read moreExpansive and well maintained trails matched with beautiful views and wildlife! You can even go down to beaches, although the water doesn't look the best for swimming. Many birds and seals, and I believe the trail is pet friendly as well!

I often stop here for a picnic on my ride on the rail trail from Santa Cruz. The new trail…read moreextension to Davenport is almost complete!! Wilder ranch is such a great place. I bought a patch last weekend. Can't wait to eat another picnic lunch here while biking between Santa Cruz and Davenport!

Mount Madonna County Park

(150 reviews)

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.

Hollister Hills SVRA

(80 reviews)

This hidden gem is a must visit for novice off road enthusiasts! We visited the 4x4 off road area…read morefor the first time. To start off, the park ranger at the entrance was very welcoming and super knowledgeable. We went on the upper ranch, explored the easy and medium terrain as well as the adventure park. What a great experience! Would definitely recommend if you're looking for some outdoor fun with your vehicle. Well maintained park, clean restrooms - 4 Knowledgeable and friendly park ranges - 5 Outdoor fun - 5

This area is beautiful and what a deal for $10/a night. The last few days there was a lot of rain…read moreso the riding and roads in general were very muddy but still such a great place to go. The store is open every day and you're close enough to town if you forgot anything the store doesn't carry. Whether you're riding a motorcycle, ATV or 4-wheelin' it's a great location to get away to. The down side is public restrooms are not kept up, missing faucets, plugged drains in sinks and showers, no toilet paper - definitely needs attention.

Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument

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