The Basin Trail

Loop hike including Middle Ridge Fire Road and the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail

Length 12 miles • Climbing 1860 ft

California > San Francisco Bay Area > Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Looking south along Middle Ridge Fire Road from Ocean View Summit

This very enjoyable hike takes you along the rim of Big Basin's basin. The route passes through a variety of different woodlands, some scenic, some dull, plus some sunny coastal scrub. There are redwoods along almost the entire route, although the redwoods are sparse at the higher elevations and aren't as impressive as those on the Berry Creek Loop. The highlights of the hike are a series of superb views over the basin and a particularly nice descent into a redwood-filled canyon.

The woodlands are at their best in the spring and can get a bit dry-looking by the end of summer. This is an ideal loop for those fine sunny days when it's cloudy at the coast. Avoid this route when it's overcast, since the woods can get dismal and uninteresting. The trail is lightly used but is usually in great condition.

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Hike description

Start at park headquarters. Cross Opal Creek on the bridge across from the museum and snack shop to reach the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail. Turn right. After an all-too-short walk under the superb old-growth redwood lowlands along Opal Creek, turn left onto the Dool Trail. Continue straight at the next few intersections as the Dool Trail climbs through redwood forest that gets progressively less scenic.

The trail ends at Middle Ridge Fire Road. Turn right and continue climbing. The trail breaks out into a sunny clearing covered with sparse chaparral and a few pine trees. Look for a path to your right that leads a few yards to Ocean View Summit, a low rise with great views of the verdent redwood-carpeted hills.

After the summit, the fire road resumes climbing and soon enters a dense redwood grove. The redwoods here appear to be old growth, although in this upland environment there aren't any really big trees. Most of the trees are blackened and there's no groundcover, just dead leaves from the abundant tanoak trees.

The fire road undulates over several rises, climbing and falling but mostly climbing, sometimes steeply. Pass the Meteor Trail intersection, continue on to the Hollow Tree/Lane Trail Camp intersection, and turn right. From here to the first scenic viewpoint on the Basin Trail the route winds through rather dull forest for several miles. An alternative is to continue on the fire road to Lane Trail Camp, a route that's about the same length as the trail and equally dull.

Typical woodland along the Hollow Tree Trail

The connector trail starts off as a barely-visible track worn into the leaf litter. The trail descends through a switchback and passes a fallen tree. Further along, the trail is cut into a steep hillside, making it easier to follow.

Turn left at the first intersection, which is clearly marked with a trail sign. The trail climbs steeply past the Johansen Shingle Mill, which has been reduced to a collection of rusted-up equipment in a dismal, logged forest. The trail then levels off and winds around ravines in somewhat dull forest for quite a long time. Surprisingly, there are a few large and fire-blackened redwoods in this area.

At the Lane Trail Camp, turn right onto the Basin Trail and descend through the woods. The trail then climbs a bit before emerging into sunny chaparral. For a brief instant there's a superb view, partially screened by pine trees, down the entire length of the Opal Creek valley. This marks the end of the dull forest and the beginning of the most scenic stretch of the hike.

The trail curves right at a rock outcropping, then reaches a second, larger outcropping with a magnificent panoramic view of redwood-carpeted ridges cascading off into the blue distance. Amazingly, you're only about halfway into the hike at this point, although the rest of the hike is almost all downhill.

The first view from the Basin Trail signals the end of the dull part of the hike

The trail continues through mixed woods with a few tree-screened glimpses of the great views. Entering a second-growth redwood forest, the trail climbs slightly and crests a low ridge, then descends through chaparral to an intersection with the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail. Turn right and continue descending, passing several fine views. Throughout this stretch of the hike, cars and motorcycles can occasionally be heard on China Grade Road, which runs just above the Basin Trail, and Route 237, which is not visible but is only a few hundred yards below the trail.

The trail levels out and passes through sparse chaparral, crossing several rock outcroppings before beginning a steep descent into a redwood-filled canyon. The dark old-growth redwood grove, with its trees rising high on the hillsides above the burbling creek, is the finest in the upper Opal Creek area and makes a striking contrast with the bright, sunny chaparral and panoramic views from just a few minutes ago. The grove has a dense understory of tanoak but mostly lacks groundcover.

The trail climbs over a low ridge and crosses another creek before joining the Hollow Tree Trail. At this point the redwoods become less scenic, with a dry, disheveled appearance. On sunny days, however, the foliage may be lit up by the golden late-afternoon sunshine, making this stretch a lot more enjoyable.

The trail ends at the paved North Escape Road. Turn right and cross an auto bridge. The Skyline-to-the-Sea trail resumes to your right, but it's easier and more scenic to just stay on the road. The shady road, covered with redwood needles, alternates between old growth and second growth forest but is pleasant throughout. After the intersection with the Sequoia Trail, the woods improve and the road passes some now-closed campgrounds and day use areas. The redwoods get progressively more impressive as you approach the Visitor Center, culminating in the roadside Stanford Group.

Springtime on the Basin Trail