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Big Basin Redwoods State Park is open
Two years after the CZU Fire, the park is open for limited day-use access. Make a reservation now.
What's New
More parking added! Big Basin Redwoods State Park is now open for limited day-use access. Reservations are required. Visitors also can arrive by bus or bike.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Shop State Parks! Visit the ParkStore at Natural Bridges, Wilder Ranch, Seacliff, Santa Cruz Mission, New Brighton or online for thoughtful gifts and souvenirs.
SHOP
Welcome Back Monarchs returns! Join us for a family-friendly celebration of our favorite butterfly at Natural Bridges State Beach.
LEARN MORE
Registration for State Parks field trips is now open! Both in-person and virtual options are available at 11 local state parks and beaches
REGISTERPlan Your Visit
Our Mission, Our Passion
Our local parks and beaches: thriving and available to all!
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends) is a vital partner with California State Parks, creatively working to ensure our cherished local parks and beaches are thriving and available to all. Friends’ innovative and collaborative community partnership provides support and investment for education, equity and inclusion, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation and cultural events.
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Show some love for the cutest marine mammal around with a Charley Harper Sea Otter T-shirt! 👕
Available in adult and kid sizes at the Seacliff and Natural Bridges ParkStores, and the ParkStore Online - link in our bio!
#ThatsMyPark #ThatsMyBeach #SeaOtter #Shirt #Otter #Marine #Nature #Sea #Ocean #Cute
What?? Who knew all this about tiny little Davenport? And….it was even once the headquarters for Odwalla! 🧃🍊
⚓️ In the mid-1800s, Davenport Landing was developed around a wharf built at the mouth of the Agua Puerca Creek to load lumber brought down from the Santa Cruz Mountains
⚓️ Unfortunately, the creek brought down a ton of mud which filled the harbor making the wharf essentially unusable to steamers (Agua Puerca actually means “Muddy Water” so…maybe should have seen that one coming 🤷🏼♀️)
🏭 In the 20th century, a cement manufacturing plant was constructed in town and the population expanded again. Davenport Landing became known simply as Davenport
😵The cement plant was operational until 2010 when it was shut down after high levels of mercury & chromium-6 were detected. You can still see the buildings today.
🌲In 2011, postlandtrust, along with several other organizations, worked to acquire the 8500-acre parcel of land in order to restore & preserve it - this area is now known as the San Vincente Redwoods.
🔥However, in 2020 the CZU Lightening Complex Fire burned most of this area setting back the restoration plans, but creating the opportunity to study how the forest recovers and transforms after such a devastating fire.
🌲🌲🌲Earlier this year, POST planted 23,000 redwood trees to aid in the restoration. I can’t wait until this area is open to the public and I can explore it! I’ll enjoy it even more knowing the history behind it. I’m extremely grateful to those who help to protect and restore California’s amazing open spaces.
** Photo taken at nearby Butano State Park which was also affected by the CZU fire
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." — Henry David Thoreau
#ThatsMyPark #Quote #henrydavidthoreu #Forest #Trees #Nature
It’s that time again! Guess….that…. track! 🐾
This critter is a common forest dweller at Big Basin, and may also reside in your backyard at home. Can you guess what it is? 🤔 If you need some clues, swipe to the second photo. The answer is listed below!
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Western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus)
A few things to look for when identifying squirrel and other rodent tracks:
🐿️ Number of toes: 4 (front), 5 (hind)
🐿️ Claws will often show
🐿️ Hind feet register in a unique 1-3-1 pattern with the middle three toes clumped together
🐿️ Gray squirrels leave huge tracks for their size, especially compared to Douglas or red squirrels
🐿️ You might find torn up cones where they’ve had their most recent meal!
⚠️Remember, reservations are required to park at Big Basin! Visitors without a reservation to park their vehicle will be turned away. Click the link in our bio to make your reservation today! ⚠️
Image 1: One Western gray squirrel track imprinted in the dirt with an adult human hand placed next to the track for scale (the squirrel track is about ½ the length of the pointer finger).
Image 2: The same picture with text added on top describing the characteristics to look for to help identify the track: number of toes (5 on hind foot), claw marks showing, 1-3-1 toe pattern, big tracks for its size, and trees/acorns nearby.
#WesternGraySquirrel #Squirrel #SciurusGriseus #Wildlife #WildlifeTracks #GuessThatTrack #BigBasin #CZULightningComplexFire #CZUFire #Resilience #BackToBigBasin #Wildfire #ThatsMyPark
🧑🎨 Enjoy a weekend of art with friends at artist John Flores' Open Studios this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 & 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 🎨
As part of the Open Studios Santa Cruz County tour, the event at Flores' home studio will feature a variety of art pieces for purchase including watercolors, tiles, note cards and prints. He will be donating 40% of the sale price of eight specific art pieces to @bigbasin_sp's recovery. 🌲
Flores' studio is located at 1214 King St. in Santa Cruz.
Learn more — Link in bio!
#art #artstudio #openstudios #watercolors #watercolor #BigBasin #BigBasinRedwoodsStatePark #castatepark #statepark #ThatsMyPark
