Gorgeous trails, ample parking, a gift shop, clean restrooms, and some trails are even dog…read morefriendly! Henry Cowell State Park boasts some of the most spectacular Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. One can opt for a trail hike, or make a campground reservation to spend more time in nature! Take in some fresh forest air, get your steps in, and take in the natural beauty around you. You surely will not be disappointed. $10 entry fee for the entire day. Such a deal!

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.

This is a beautiful nature walk with a relaxing swim hole to swim in. It does get crazy crowded and…read moreparking is limited, so plan ahead for that. There is no bathrooms, cell service, or trash cans, so keep that in mind when coming.

I used to come here 50 yrs when it wasn't many people there, only locals and you could really relax…read moreand breathe in the tree air. It's a gravelly walk so DO NOT BRING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6 at least. It's not Disneyland! Even the JrHigh to Highschoolers were acting overly careless. I went there the other day and it was a moronic madhouse. You used to go there to be in lovely nature and the smell of the trees. Now It was overrun with kids from god knows where with aftershave and perfume on. I think a bunch of university students and tourists saw it now on social media unfortunately. Some were spraying awful smelling spray on sunscreen, many acting as if they were at a waterpark as if the rocks were really made of rubber. Reports of accidents, weeding out stupid but maybe someone was an innocent bystander accidentally pushed by stupid. It was NOT FOR KIDS! Selfish entitled parents bringing their children tired, whiney and crying! (Don't make excuses) ruining for everyone else. There was even a stroller parked nearby. No bathrooms for kids or anyone else so that can't be good for the environment. you need to be somewhat fit ! I've seen so many lovely places closed to the public because it got ruined by the public. So help make it nice again, don't wear anything perfumey, wear unscented deodorant only. NO SUNSCREEN. wear a hat and tshirt. Don't bring kids unless they are older and well behaved. Thank you and you will thank yourselves.

Beautiful Park! Multiple trail options and it felt awesome to be out in nature taking in the sights…read moreand sounds. We were there early in the day and it was very harmonious and beautiful. We did not see anyone until we left. Do watch out for the generous horse gifts on the trail!

Nice place to hike and walk about. Ponds, hiking trails. Little museum and some wild life.read more

I had an amazing trip with the California State Parks Backpacking Adventure, Ridges to Redwoods!…read moreI'm glad I pushed myself and experienced the tremendous beauty, the support of community, and the highly capable and competent interpretive team. It was a meaningful experience with spectacular vistas and I garnered an even greater love of our local ecology. I highly suggest doing one of the California State Parks Backpacking Adventure trips. They team is supportive and helpful from outlining what to bring to helping with on the trail blister issues. It was an amazing experience. I can't wait to go again.

Trip exceeded expectations. I had a wonderful time and look forward to another adventure with…read moreCASBA. Trip leaders were knowledgeable, professional, and fun. Enjoyed other people who joined the trip.

Nice place and great location. Rather poor drainage. I was there several days after it rained and…read moreyou can see in the picture there are big pools of rainwater.

This park is workable but without grass it's less than ideal…read more But It's got a cool geometric shape like um, maybe, a rhombus? except THIS rhombus, is special because all sides have a corresponding parallel side!! but what does this nonstandard shape do in the dog park when that dog park also contains a vortex ? You don't have to be a Michelin 5 star shaman to know that a parallel rhombus introduces areas of stagnant chi! what happens when there's stagnant chi? That's right! a chi-nado !!! chin-up. we will get thru this!

Easy parking. Nice redwoods and can't go wrong with Henry Cowell. Give this park a visit. You won't…read moreregret.

I'm so glad I was able to participate in one of Mountain Sea Adventure's events. Caitlyn was an…read moreinclusive guide, who was very knowledgeable about the local trail and ecosystem that we visited. I'll definitely book another adventure again, soon!

We went on the short hike adventure. This hike is perfect for someone who is a beginner who hasn't…read morethought about foraging in a forest before. We all learned something new. The guide was very nice and informative. Meeting at one location, then meeting at another 5 minutes away seemed like a time filler. I would recommend just giving a meeting location and starting on time at the location. People should be able to handle going pee and getting coffee on their own before a hike. Seriously, I would consider dropping that part of the tour. For the price I would have hoped for a location that was a little more remote or wooded. We walked 0.5 miles and could see the parking lot the whole time. A great addition would be to make a little helpful hints guide for all of the participants so they can look back and remember the tips. That would make the price seem more worth it.

I did the sunrise special in May of 2021. Loved it! It was very organized, well planned and…read morebeautiful. I did the trip alone and felt completely safe and comfortable the entire time. Thank you Slow Adventure!

Fantastically organized and worth every penny! Walked from Santa Cruz to close to Monterey --…read morefollowed the guide's very detailed (but not overly so) book as we went and enjoyed many near deserted miles of lush and fabulous coastline -- so many of these beaches we probably wouldn't visit otherwise. Every detail was thought of and it was such a delight to not worry about luggage transfers and have our car nicely waiting for us at the end. Our guide (that we could call) was a big help, too. It was a very pleasant surprise that our accommodations were consistently quite luxurious, too. Love this company and can't wait to come back again next summer!

I took my first lesson with Eskape Sea Kayaking (ESK) back in 1999. I was hooked and have been…read moreexpanding my kayaking skills ever since, mainly under the tutelage of the instructors of ESK. Roger, the owner, is not only a great teacher, he is an amazing coach. He keeps his class sizes small so that he can give each person individual attention. Both in receiving lessons and watching him teach others, it always impresses me how much Roger tunes into the nuances and needs of each person in the class. The staff ESK brings in to help with the classes always mirrors that style as well. Roger, Tom, Bryan, Gregg and the rest are some of the best paddlers on the West Coast. Whether you want to just learn the basics or go out and take on the big waves, this is the place to go.

What Yoda is to The Force, Roger Schumann is to kayaking. If your future kayaking plans involve…read moreanything more then calm fair-weather kayaking on a pond, Roger's instruction will be invaluable. Roger will taylor classes to your skill level and comfort. We spent four consecutive days with Roger and left far more competent and safe than when we arrived. The classes are reasonably priced and you could not ask for a more beautiful location. We saw Sea Otters, dolphins and birds beyond count. We could not have been happier!!! http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33048-r317079943-Santa_Cruz_California.html#