Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

including Fall Creek

California > San Francisco Bay Area

Redwood Grove Loop Trail

Background

Henry Cowell Redwoods contains a single, 40-acre, old-growth redwood grove surrounded by other recreational facilities. To the south of the grove is three square miles of second-growth parkland situated along the San Lorenzo River, containing hiking trails and a state-owned campground. A half mile north, detached from the main body of the park and less publicized, is the Fall Creek unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods, an additional four square miles of second-growth parkland. Also to the north is a huge Christian conference center, while to the west are five privately-owned, redwood-themed campgrounds and resorts. Immediately to the east is the immensely popular Roaring Camp Railroad, complete with a kitschy Old West-themed visitor center, that offers steam train rides through the redwoods up to the top of a nearby hill or down to the Santa Cruz beach. All of these facilities are here, at least in part, because of those few acres of old-growth redwood.

The park is only eight miles from Santa Cruz, and all of these facilities are very popular although not unpleasantly so. In the summer, the park is much cooler than most other places in the Santa Cruz mountains, and the San Lorenzo River in particular is a popular family retreat. Near the old growth grove is one of the nicer gift shops to be found in a redwood park and ample parking.

Roaring Camp Railroad

Old-growth redwood hikes

** The Redwood Grove Loop Trail (0.8 mile)
A popular alluvial-flat grove in which big redwoods are mixed with a dense layer of smaller hardwood trees.

Other hikes

** Four Crossings (6.6 miles)
A hilly hike through attractive woodland with four fords of the San Lorenzo River. This route should only be attempted in late summer or early fall, when the river is at its lowest. At other times of year the river is too high to be crossed.

* The Truck Trail and Fall Creek (7.0 miles)
The Fall Creek unit of Henry Cowell State Park, just north of the main park, consists entirely of dense second-growth redwood forest. This loop climbs a ridge through pleasant forest and descends along lively Fall Creek. The lower portion of Fall Creek is particularly lush and attractive.

* Big Ben and Fall Creek (8.2 miles)
This loop is similar to the Truck Trail loop but starts with a more strenuous climb on the south side of Fall Creek.

More information

A printed map of the San Lorenzo Valley, including Henry Cowell Redwoods, Fall Creek, and several smaller area parks, is available from Redwood Hikes Press. The printed map is similar to the maps on this website, but without the greyed-out trails.