How to Get a Big Basin Day Permit
California's oldest state park, reopened for limited day-use after the CZU fire burned through 97% of it — and a parking reservation that is encouraged, not required.
Check Big Basin Day permit availability1 day
Duration
1.75 miles
Distance
140'
Elevation Gain
easy
Difficulty
About Big Basin Day
Big Basin Redwoods State Park preserves more than 18,000 acres and is open for limited day-use access following the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which swept through 97% of the park's property and destroyed all historic structures. The reservation situation is widely misunderstood. Reservations for parking are not required, but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available. Parking is $6 per vehicle plus a $2 reservation fee, or $10 per vehicle without a reservation — and it is booked through a Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks form, not through ReserveCalifornia. There are no fees or reservations required for visitors arriving by foot, bike or bus, and none at Rancho del Oso, the park's coastal subunit. Camping is not available: camping reservations are not available as all campgrounds are currently closed, and all trail camps in Big Basin remain closed due to extensive fire damage. Bring water — there is no drinking water in the park, and drinking water is available only by purchase at the parking kiosk. Elevations vary from sea level to over 2,000 feet.
Big Basin preserves more than 18,000 acres and holds the current end of the open Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail. Since the 2020 fire it has been a partial park: all campgrounds and trail camps closed, no drinking water, and access managed through a parking system that is not ReserveCalifornia.
The Experience
A recovering forest rather than a preserved one. Standing snags, sprouting basal crowns, and long open views where there used to be canopy.
Public access to Big Basin has been severely impacted by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire and ongoing fire recovery work, but the park is now open for limited day-use access. Reservations for parking are not required, but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available.
Open hikes with published distances include the level 0.6-mile Redwood Loop Trail, the 1.75-mile Dool Trail Loop with about 140 feet of gain, the 4.15-mile Ocean View Summit Loop with about 500 feet, and the 12.25-mile Gazos Creek Road Loop with about 700 feet. The majority of Big Basin remains unsafe for the public to return to, and burned areas remain closed for public safety and to allow fire recovery work to occur.
The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail is open from Castle Rock State Park to the Big Basin Redwoods State Park day use area, and no further — the coastal segment is gated 0.4 miles past the Highway 1 entrance, and trail access north from Rancho del Oso into Big Basin is not expected to be restored for several years.
What to Expect
A parking reservation that is encouraged but not required, booked outside ReserveCalifornia
No drinking water in the park — buy it at the kiosk or carry it
All campgrounds and trail camps closed
Burned areas closed for public safety while fire recovery work continues
Down trees across trails that you must climb over, around or under
No electricity or cell service in the park
Get Big Basin Day Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
All trails close at sunset. Plan ahead to complete your hike before sunset.
Dogs are not permitted on any trails or fire roads. Dogs on leash are allowed in paved areas only, including the parking lot area and part of the North Escape Road. Dogs are not allowed in any portion of the Rancho del Oso area or on Waddell State Beach.
No oversized vehicles or trailers can be accommodated for day-use parking currently.
Respect all park and trail closures while the forest recovers.
Camping reservations are not available as all campgrounds are currently closed.
Park hours are 8 am to sunset.
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •All your drinking water — there is none in the park
- •Sturdy footwear for trails with down trees to climb over, around or under
- •A map, since there is no cell service
- •Sun protection for a canopy that burned
- •Warm clothes and a flashlight in case you are caught out after dark
Recommended Gear
- •A parking reservation for summer and holiday weekends
- •A card for water at the kiosk — bottles are $3 and cash is not accepted
- •Long sleeves and long pants for regrowth-choked trail edges
- •A check of the park's trail status page before arriving
- •Arriving by bike or bus, which is free and needs no reservation
Hazards & Safety
Expect to find down trees. You will need to climb over, around, or under them. If you cannot get safely past, turn back.
Trail conditions are always changing; you may come across blocked trails the park does not know about.
No drinking water in the park.
No electricity or cell service in the park.
The majority of Big Basin remains unsafe for the public to return to; burned areas remain closed for public safety.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and autumn for mild temperatures and the best regrowth. Winter storms bring closures and tree fall. Reserve parking on summer and holiday weekends.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Big Basin Day permit?
+
Big Basin Day permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Big Basin Day?
+
Spring and autumn for mild temperatures and the best regrowth. Winter storms bring closures and tree fall. Reserve parking on summer and holiday weekends.
How difficult is Big Basin Day?
+
Day visitors who want to see California's oldest state park and understand what a stand-replacing fire does to a redwood forest and what recovery looks like five years on.
What gear do I need for Big Basin Day?
+
Essential gear includes: All your drinking water — there is none in the park, Sturdy footwear for trails with down trees to climb over, around or under, A map, since there is no cell service, Sun protection for a canopy that burned, Warm clothes and a flashlight in case you are caught out after dark.
Don't Miss Your Big Basin Day Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Big Basin Day availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
