The Redwood Nature Trail

Big Basin's main attraction

Length 0.6 miles • Climbing 10 feet

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

Father of the Forest Tree

The Redwood Loop winds around an alluvial floodplain where two rivers join and the biggest trees in the park grow. A dense understory of huckleberry screens views of the grove, but above the shrubs the forest has a certain expansiveness, a hint of the cathedral-like look of the northern redwood flats. There's little groundcover, suggesting that the soil at the surface is dry and the trees get their water from deeper layers kept moist by the creek. From time to time, wild pigs tear up the ground, turning large patches of dirt over.

The trail passes the Animal Tree, a large tree with a dramatic burlwood growth at its base; the Chimney Tree, a tree that's hollow from top to bottom and that you can stand inside; and the Mother and Father of the Forest trees, which are the largest trees in the park. Near the end of the loop is an open meadow that's full of ladybugs in the spring. Across the meadow is a picturesque group of tall trees visible from top to bottom.

Mother of the Forest Tree

Hike Description

The trailhead is marked with a 12-foot-tall redwood post in the parking lot across from park headquarters. From this point, walk into the forest and take the second left. Follow the trail around and back to the parking lot.