9 fun activities To Do At Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to escape the crowds and enjoy some peace, or if your ultimate goal is getting lost in nature’s beauty, this park will not disappoint!
You can experience incredible moments at this state park that will leave your jaw on the ground. The oldest and tallest redwood trees in North America are just an easy drive away from downtown Felton, so it’s no wonder people love coming here!
There’s a tall, old tree, especially one you can find in this State Park. It has some of the world’s tallest and oldest redwood trees! Thanks to its location on Hwy 101, right next door to The UPS Store (so they don’t miss out).
How To Access Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Here are some great places to stay near Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park!
The best option for you will depend on your family or group’s kind of traveler and visitor. Do you have any special needs? Or they don’t want another hotel room next week when their own home isn’t available because it’s booked solid with visitors from all over California.
Fern River Resort
The remote Fern River Resort was the perfect spot for our family vacation. It’s nestled in a wooded property off Highway 9 that connects many historic logging towns and surrounding redwood State Parks, with stunning views of lofty trees!
The Fern River Resort cabins provide all the comforts to make your stay in Whitefish enjoyable and comfortable.
Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort
The Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort provides a great place to spend the night. Suppose you’re looking for amenities and aren’t camping in one of State Park’s designated sites. The resort has electricity, running water (even though it isn’t potable), and internet access—everything that most people expect while traveling across California!
Overlooking the beautiful campgrounds of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, visitors can find this RV resort in a prime location to enjoy outdoor activities like fishing or hiking. With full hook-up sites and amenities like bathrooms with hot showers. It’s easy for you to bring your family on vacation without worrying about finding places nearby where they’ll be comfortable during their stay!
Hike The Redwood Grove Loop Trail
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a great place to get out and about on foot, but some trails will help warm up those chilly muscles if you’re a newbie. The redwood grove loop trail provides an accessible introduction to this incredible park while still challenging enough for more experienced hikers!
On a sunny day, nothing is more satisfying than taking in the view from one of California’s tallest trees.
The 0.8-mile loop doesn’t have steep hills, so even little ones can go independently without much help. The flat terrain also means less chance of getting tired before finishing your trip home – a bonus.
The Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a hidden gem in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The trailhead allows visitors to stop and scan their phones for QR codes that provide detailed information about this loop.
Created by scanning trees along one mile of trails highlighted within its boundaries – some can be over 300 feet tall! Soon you enter a historic old-growth forest with original giants preserved from the 1800s.
The Freemont Tree
Whether with your family or on a date, touring through the Redwood Grove Loop is an unforgettable experience. One awe-inspiring giant trunk, in particular, stands out. The Giant measures 270 feet tall and wide at 17FT thick, which makes it hard not to get intimidated by these giants when they stand over us.
Roam Around The Roaring Camp
If you are looking for an exciting place to take the kids, Roaring Camp is a must. This Western-style town has many historical buildings that will keep them active and learning all day!
If you get hungry, there’s no burger on offer, but don’t worry because everything else here sounds delicious-from hot dogs to pizza. You’ll find plenty more outdoor seating areas where families quickly enjoy lunch conversations among flowers.
The Roaring Camp Covered Bridge is one of the most famous attractions in this quaint little town. It not only provides an entrance into what has been called “the best-hidden gem” but also houses some fantastic views.
The bridge spans 36 feet across riverbeds filled with flowing water – making it shorter than many other bridges around America.
Ride A Historic Train
What’s more adventuresome than taking a train through old-growth redwood forests? The Roaring Camp Train is one of the top things to do in this area, and it only takes about an hour. This exciting ride travels across wooden trestles up steep switchbacks before dropping you off at Bear Mountain for incredible views! If going on these kinds of adventure has always been your dream but finding ways into remote parts unknown haven’t worked out so far, then look no further because here comes “the whistle stop” — meaning that soon enough, we’ll be able to see all those gorgeous trees from close quarters too 🙂
When you buy your tickets online in advance, the best times will be reserved for you, and there’s no need to worry about parking fees. The adult round trip cost is $33 with a reservation, while kids go down by another ten bucks!
Roaring Camp’s Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad is one of the most fantastic places. An authentic recreation of historic railway lines and trains used to haul logged trees out of the forests in 1858. The Train Depot at this park allows you to board one or more passenger cars on your journey into nature.
The informational guide was entertaining, telling fascinating how these giants grew over centuries.
Explore Wooden Railroad Trestles
If you take the Roaring Camp train ride, explore the stunning wooden trestles bordering the property afterward. It is such an attractive location if you have never seen them before!
Keep your eyes peeled for the best photo op spot once no one is around. Enjoying nature surrounded by trains all day long while taking advantage of sunny weather during golden hour feels very private.
Stop By The Redwood Tree Display
Near the visitor center of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, you can see an exhibit with one of our oldest known coastal redwood trees. This 2200-year-old Giant was cut down in 1934, and its rings also show how it changed throughout time!
Hike To Cathedral Redwoods
One of the least traveled trails at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a 4-mile out and back that we loved for its serene surroundings. The route begins in front of (the) Redwood Grove Trail. Which connects to other popular pathways like River Trial or Big Rock Hole; however, if you’re looking for more challenging, try starting from either end – take whichever. It brings your hiking experience closer!
Head to the Visitor Center before you go on any of those trails. They have a map showing off where all of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park’s highlights are located.
The journey through these ancient trees is spiritual, with trickling water filling your ears. You can stop by Cable Car Beach to cool off and relax in this serene summer setting!
As you hike up the steep incline, your heart will be in awe of the majestic old-growth redwood trees that tower above.
Looking at their height and complexity, you’ll feel like a tiny ant; they’re countless ages past. But just when it feels like no end is in sight – bam! Right ahead lies another circle made out of sturdy branches where sunlight collects throughout each day until evening brings on nighttime again
Hike To Old Lime Kiln Ruins
Hiking through the Fall Creek Unit’s Lime Kiln Trail is an experience. The journey begins with lush, green forests that give way gradually to more ancient-looking hillsides covered in redwoods. Before finally reaching old overgrown industrial ruins somewhere far beyond where you started! This 3-mile loop takes about 2 hours on average. Still, it can sometimes feel shorter if there aren’t too many steep areas or long distances between stops along your hike route (which does not include any time spent at sea level).
The best part? After seeing this scenery, I now know what colleagues mean when they say, “It feels good just being outside.”
The old lime kiln ruins are a popular spot for hiking and exploring nature in this forest. The main attraction is an abandoned mining complex between 1874-1919. It consists of kilns that produce calcium hydroxide (lye) from wood shavings. These barrel mills grind up rocks into powder before shipping offsite or using locally sourced materials like coal gas instead of fossil fuels due to their pollution control properties when burned.
Hiking through this second-growth forest is a great way to enjoy nature and fresh air! The Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park offers over 20 miles worth, so there’s always plenty for everyone who visits.
Camp At Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Camping in the forest is an experience like no other. Enjoying complete privacy and shade while camping among nature’s beauty.
The large campsites at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground provide luxuries. Visitors who want to escape bustling cities can enjoy some peace & tranquility under tall pine trees.
If you want to score a spot at one of the prime camping locations, look no further than Reserve California under Henry Cowell Redwoods.
Enjoy Views From Redwoods Observation Deck
Henry Cowell Redwoods Observation Deck is a great place to take it all in. You can see for miles and be surrounded by gorgeous trees! The 0.5-mile trail leading up here has some elevation changes so you might need your Map.
Once at this platform overlooking Monterey Bay with views like no other spot indoors or out – enjoy taking pictures from our observation deck while listening closely to what sounds may come drifting through from beyond these golden Gate Nieto.
The Observation Deck is 805 feet above sea level in a one-of-a-kind sandhills plant community that no other site possesses. The area has rare ecosystems, some not seen since humans existed. It is an excellent spot for nature lovers who want to get up close and personal without equipment damaged by the sun or inclement weather!
There is always something to see, whether at the top of a tower or near scenery. This place has everything from Acorn Woodpeckers making holes in trees for storing acorns during wintertime and sea creatures lurking just off-shore! Plus, with picnic tables spread across its grounds, how could anyone not want to stay awhile?
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park has some of California’s tallest and oldest coastal redwood trees! The trails are great for hiking, and you can also take a break from your journey to enjoy a fantastic view at various lookout points.
