We stopped by here for a Spartan picnic on the way to Santa Cruz for skating. Costco is great for…read morethis. A roast chicken ($5.00) , bag of Mediterranean Salad $4.50) Farmer bread or rolls for starch ($5-$6). And a nice Beaujolais for the adults. The park was clean and deserted. It was a bit late and cold for us to swim. The swimming hole looks quite low. We could not find the rope to swing off of, however we did find a tire swing. We definitely want to return mid week when it's earlier and spend a few hours here. The drive is really winding and narrow. There were three spots where we had to stop, let traffic come from the other side, then take our turn. One 3 milestretch was really slow as the road was not wide enough for 2-way traffic. A little fear/excitement for kids not knowing if an oncoming car was heading toward us. I admit I did a bit 'speed-racer' to heighten the rush.

Best little swimming hole for families with young children! Clean and always some "new" little…read morefriend to play with. Has a sandy beach and a few picnic tables for lunch. Is dog friendly just as long as they aren't left to roam and take a dump while you aren't there to take care of that to throw away like responsible pet caregivers do so nobody will step in the hot steamy load while barefooted cause ya'know... beach/water/park bbq's umm yeah Oh there's typically some beautiful ducks taking a swim in the afternoon.

Just a little park in downtown Ben Lomond. The playground equipment is really new - my daughter…read moreloves to come here and play on the swings. Lots of dads on Saturday mornings with the kids. There's also a basketball court. And I heard in the summer they used to dam the river and kids could go swimming. Not sure if they still do that.

I like this park and I used to have my lunch there enjoy kids playing and enjoy under the tree…read morelooking at the small river just an anti stress . But why is closed??! Anybody know why?

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!

Getting there and having to pay for limited parking is the worst, but if you can stomach that,…read moreyou'll be rewarded with a nice serene lake! It's still pretty much a secret and for pretty good reason.. The road to there is rough and windy. There's also not much at the park. The prices for boat and water stuff rental is pretty reasonable.

Great Lake and superb fishing for Bass friendly and clean. I caught a 5 pound Bass so I had a great…read moretime with my two sons!

Great find! Was looking for a nice strenuous hike with beauty and comfort. Scored on all accounts…read more Wonderful docent provided advice and cautions (and a clean bathroom inside). Did a loop that was about 2 1/4 miles up, across the summit and back down - Woodrat Trail - Sunset Trail - Lower Chapparal Trail. Hint - Take a picture of the map at the sign. Caution - not all intersections are marked with signs. To get to the start of the Woodrat trail, you need to walk the Discovery Trail a bit (even through the sign "all other trails" seems to indicate otherwise). Lots of flora.....on June 1, lots in bloom. Bring bug spray (didn't see bugs, but be ready). Lots of wood shade which is a welcome break from the sun. Saw plenty of other hikers of all ages, so difficulty was only my being out of shape. Go check it out!

All I need to say is that this is the birth place of Sunset Magazine. I cannot believe this place…read moreis 2 miles from my house. Gorgeous for day hikes and watching wildlife. I've seen so many different bird species here it's unbelievable. Oh, and plenty of foxes, deer, and of course pumas.

Wow! What a beautiful trail…read more My boyfriend and I did this trail as well as part of the skyline to the sea trail. There were a few detours that allowed us to complete a nice, lengthy 3.4 mile round trip to relax in the afternoon. The Redwood Loop Nature Trail is an easy and very short trail featuring the father of the forest and the mother of the forest. There are railings protecting the large redwoods, but even so, it's a very beautiful site. There isn't a lot of difficulty on this loop, as it's very flat and there isn't much incline. It's also the first trail you can do upon entering the park, as well as having the option to do much more difficult neighboring trails! This one in particular is great for kids. It can get muddy and there are a lot of mosquitoes! Definitely bring bug spray.

We went to Big Basin Redwood State Park and walked the nature trail. It is called the Redwood Loop…read moreNature Trail. There is a brochure one can pick up to read about the trail. There are interesting photos one can take with the redwood trees. There is on the route the Mother Tree of the Forest and also the Father Tree of the Forest to see.

Bear and I always have a blast at Highlands. Thanks County Park Staff. Awesome Job…read more Thanks for everything

We had fun watching our first baseball games of the season. It was fun watching the kids play…read more This park also has a good skateboard area. There are places for barbecues and picnics. There is green grass area. Its a fun park to go to.

Great option for mountain biking, walking, or hiking. The trail starts off easy, but gets steeper…read moreas you make your way up. I completed the trail on a mountain bike with minimal stops, and the entire round trip took about three hours. The trail is well maintained, and I did not notice any trash or debris along the way. Hydration is important for this trail, so make sure to hydrate the day before, during, and after your adventure. I brought about 3 liters of water in a camel-bak and was completely out by the time I made it back down. It is also important to be mindful of mountain bikers descending the trail, as some ride fast and may be wearing headphones, making them less aware of those who are ascending. There is no designated parking lot at the main entrance, but there are a few parking spots located along the side of the road.

One of my favorite hiking trails in the area! I love that it is very wooded and has a lot of shade…read moreand away from the madding crowds. The trail itself is pretty easy and flat. Great walk to take in the nature sights and get amazing views of the mountains. Watch out for the speeding bikers. Parking is very limited along the windy street, so be prepared for that.

The Buzzard's Roost offers one of the best payoffs in terms of hiking the trails at Big Basin…read moreRedwoods State Park. It is classified as "strenuous" by the park; however, it offers some of the best views to those who brave the trails. In terms of time, the hike is relatively short. If you're in shape, you can easily reach the top in less than two hours. You'll probably want to enjoy the stunning views for a half-hour and then make your way back on the same trail you came on. The hike isn't particularly difficult. The incline can be a bit steep at times. There are a few areas where you have to climb on rocky terrain. This can be slick on wet mornings or following rainfall. The trail itself is also a bit confusing. There are places in which one trail crosses, merges and/or diverges with another. There were a few places which weren't very clear in terms of direction. I recommend downloading an app for trails (before you arrive to Big Basin since you probably won't find cellular service at the park). If you don't have access to the app, you should pick up the free paper map at the park headquarters. Make a mental note of which trails you took in order to come back by the way that you came. The views on the hike are lovely. During much of the hike, you'll pass through old-growth redwoods. The most impressive redwoods are at lower elevation. They general become shorter as you go until you find yourself in dense pine forest. Much of the hike is spent "cliff-side." You'll definitely want to watch any younger children and make sure that they aren't meandering too close to the outer edges of the trail. Interestingly, this trail is generally less popular than other trails in Big Basin -- including the longer hike to Berry Creek Falls. During our recent hike to Buzzard's Roost, we never encountered another hiker even once. This was great to enjoy the Buzzard's Roost all for ourselves -- but it also made our uncertainty in terms of which trails to take a bit more perplexing. I recommend bringing the following with you: 1.) Water (and/or Gatorade) - It is a long uphill hike. You'll need to prepare to take one more bottle than you think that you might need. It is always "better to be safe than sorry." 2.) Food - Depending upon your trailblazing speed, you might want to consider bringing something to snack on. The Buzzard's Roost is a great place to have a nice picnic -- as long as you remember to keep it clean and "crumb free." 3.) Camera - The views are fantastic! It is located at a great elevation that allows you to take in much of Big Basin. PARKING: There are some lots near the park headquarters. Park entrance is $10 per vehicle (allowing you to park) unless you're camping at Big Basin Redwoods State Park or any of the adjacent state parks. In other words, you can camp at nearby Portola Redwoods State Park (or some of the other parks) which allows you to enter and park at Big Basin.

Such a beautiful hike. It's a little bit of a steep incline to get to the top if you're not in…read moreshape but it's totally worth it. The trail is shaded most of the way and is surrounded by redwood trees.