I love this park. Especially in the spring time, when things are green and the wildlife is out and…read moreabout feasting on new growth. It is peaceful here and not a far drive from residential areas. A nice escape for a day or even an hour.

This is a great 2 mile loop walk. There is plenty of FREE parking…read more The trail has a tiny bit of incline for those walking with strollers or wheelchairs. The trail has minimal shade so make sure to wear a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. There are portable toilets. If you are a hiker, there are different trails to choose from. The popular one is the steep one that leads you to the top and has a beautiful view. The hike has no shade so definitely wear sunscreen and a hat. Dogs, horses, carriers, strollers, wheelchairs, bikes are all welcome. There's a sign at the entrance that lets you know what time they are closing.

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!

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.

This was such a fun park. A little out of the way but way worth the trip!…read more A small fee to enter. It's worth it because it goes to take care of upkeep and in the summer, there's a lot of people so this little bit helps. You will want to have a flashlight on hand to go through the caves here as there are long spots you are in the dark climbing up and down stairs or down or up through boulders. Headlamps are best but a flashlight will work too. I started out day 1 on one side and had so much fun hiking through the park and crawling through the rock caves. I spent a little time talking to the Park Rangers to find the best place for me to hike that wasn't too long. Reaching the top of the mountain and walking back down with the amazing views, all the Turkey Vultures and other birds and wildlife was spectacular. The trails, though not necessarily well marked which way is which were well traveled so you knew you weren't going to get lost going off trail. The second day I hit the other side of the park to do Bear Gulch Caves. Excellent cave! Parking at the foot is limited even about 1/4 mile down next to info shop and restrooms is limited so be patient. You may have to park further down as summer comes. This is the only bathroom but very well maintained. There is water running down through this cave and when you reach the top, there a tight squeeze through the rocks and then an amazing payoff with the reservoir. Great spot to watch the birds, Dragon Flies, walk around some of the reservoir before hiking back out down along the very well traveled path past rock climbers to the parking lot again. I highly recommend this fantastic park not just for the excellent caves but for all the good hiking trails. There is some camping and even a pool further down towards the entrance on one side. The Rangers here are full of knowledge and very friendly and professional. Excellent experience!!

For the first time, we were able to hike at Pinnacles National Park--specifically the Bear Gulch…read morearea--and it was truly an amazing experience, definitely one for the books! We absolutely loved the variety this hike offers. The caves were such a fun and unique highlight, and the reservoir added a peaceful, scenic touch to the whole trail. The views of the rock walls and dramatic formations were stunning from start to finish. It felt like a perfect mix of adventure and nature. What made it even more special is that we did it together with our 3-year-old, and he absolutely loved it too! It's such a memorable family-friendly experience, though of course some parts require a bit of extra attention with little ones. One thing to keep in mind--parking can be quite challenging. During our visit on April 2, it was very hard to find a spot. We ended up parking quite far and had to walk about a mile just to reach the entrance to the Sycamore Trail. Next time, we'll definitely plan to arrive as early as possible to avoid that hassle. Overall, it was an unforgettable hike, and we're already looking forward to coming back and exploring more trails in the area!

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!!

Gilroy hot springs will plan to open summer 2021, they are still looking for volunteers and…read moredonations. You can donate at: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/reopen-gilroy-hot-springs-in-2021 They are currently closed to the public. Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs has a tea house and cabins. This is the only hot spring/ onsen in the Bay Area! Excited for the restoration and reopening of this mineral rich, history rich state treasure!

Gilroy Hot Springs has a long history in the Japanese American community. Article from Watsonville…read moreRegister-Pajaronian. September 8, 1945: HOSTEL SLATED FOR RETURNING JAPANESE AT GILROY SPRINGS "Hostel accommodations for servicemen and ex-servicemen and women of Japanese ancestry and their families will be made available through arrangements completed this week between the Presbyterian Home Missions board and the War Relocation authority for joint sponsorship of Gilroy Hot Springs, owned by Frank Sakata, formerly of the Pajaro valley and now of Oregon. The hostel will be taken over Sept. 15. ...The hostel will be available to Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara county Japanese." Only 3 stars because most sources say it's not presently open to the public, it is, however, part of Henry W Coe State Park.

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 camping spot with amazing views! One of my favorite places in the Monterey Bay Area!read more

5 stars for the views! But our plans to camp here at Valley View campground over Labor day weekend…read more2025 ended with us fleeing due to flies, mosquitos, and overgrown everything- including poison oak. The overgrown brush was also dry as could be and in the fierce heat, it seemed this place would spontaneously combust. I have backpacked and camped all over CA and have never fled before. If you do go, avoid Valley View site 11. Absolutely no shade and it's right by the stinky outhouse. We got permission to move to shady site 12 (the overflow site) but still couldn't find a reason to stay. Maybe this place is better in Springtime!