Reservation6/10
Rancho del Oso Walk-In Sites cancellations
Walk-in campsites at the coast when available....
Walk-UpDay UseModerate Demand
Big Basin Day-Use Access Permit
Day-use parking reservations are encouraged but not required. Trail camps currently closed.
Other permits in Big Basin Redwoods State Park we can watch
“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.”
How to get Big Basin Day
Big Basin needs no permit to enter. California State Parks: "Reservations for parking are not required, but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available", and there is no fee or reservation at all for anyone arriving on foot, by bike or by bus. The optional parking reservation is taken on the park's own booking form rather than a reservation system we can read, so there is nothing here for us to watch.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
How to get Big Basin Day
Big Basin needs no permit to enter. California State Parks: "Reservations for parking are not required, but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available", and there is no fee or reservation at all for anyone arriving on foot, by bike or by bus. The optional parking reservation is taken on the park's own booking form rather than a reservation system we can read, so there is nothing here for us to watch.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
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Big Basin Day Quick Facts
Permit RequiredNo
Demand LevelModerate6/10
Cost$6 per vehicle plus a $2 reservation fee, or $10 per vehicle without a reservation
This permit is not bookable online
Big Basin needs no permit to enter. California State Parks: "Reservations for parking are not required, but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available", and there is no fee or reservation at all for anyone arriving on foot, by bike or by bus. The optional parking reservation is taken on the park's own booking form rather than a reservation system we can read, so there is nothing here for us to watch.
Official permit page →Key Information
Permit Details
TypeDay Use
Demand Level6/10
LocationSanta Cruz Mountains, CA
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
1.75 miles
Elevation Gain
140 ft
Route Type
Loop
Duration
1 day
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
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Backcountry Tips
- UV index 8. High altitude sun is intense—sunscreen and hat essential.
- UV index 9. High altitude sun is intense—sunscreen and hat essential.
Today
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View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand1/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment1/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
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.
Recommended Experience
None, but check the trail status page first. Closures here change and the park says you may find blocked trails it does not know about.
Not Recommended For
Anyone planning to camp — every campground and trail camp is closed. Anyone hoping to walk the Skyline-to-the-Sea through to the ocean. Anyone with an oversized vehicle or trailer.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
A recovering forest rather than a preserved one. Standing snags, sprouting basal crowns, and long open views where there used to be canopy.
Trailhead Information
Big Basin day-use area, Highway 236
The main day-use entry, and where the currently-open section of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail from Castle Rock ends.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Before you rely on this water
No potable water in the park. Pre-filled reusable water bottles are sold at the entrance kiosk for $3 each (no cash).
Parking
Parking reservations are not required but are encouraged. $6 per vehicle plus a $2 reservation fee, or $10 per vehicle without a reservation. Booked through a Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks online form, not ReserveCalifornia. No oversized vehicles or trailers. No fees or reservations for visitors arriving by foot, bike or bus.
Getting There
The park is 25 miles northwest of Santa Cruz via Highways 9 and 236 and about 65 miles south of San Francisco. All roads into Big Basin are curvy; from Highway 9 in Boulder Creek turn north onto Highway 236 and the entrance kiosk is 9 miles on. Open 8 am to sunset.
Nearest Services
Boulder Creek. The visitor center is at 20580 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Big Basin Day
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
Redwood Loop Trail
A level 0.6-mile loop taking 45 minutes to an hour, the park's core accessible walk.
Dool Trail Loop
1.75 miles with about 140 feet of gain.
Ocean View Summit Loop
4.15 miles with about 500 feet of gain.
Safety & Planning
🚨
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Big Basin Day.
🐻
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Big Basin Day FAQ
How do I get a Big Basin Day permit?
Big Basin Day is not sold online. Big Basin needs no permit to enter. California State Parks: "Reservations for parking are not required, but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available", and there is no fee or reservation at all for anyone arriving on foot, by bike or by bus. The optional parking reservation is taken on the park's own booking form rather than a reservation system we can read, so there is nothing here for us to watch. PermitSnag does not send alerts for it — check the official permit page for the current process.
When is the best time to visit Big Basin Day?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Big Basin Day permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Big Basin Day permit?
On this permit there is no cancellation queue and no alert to set, because nothing is re-released onto a calendar we could watch. Bring backup dates, and check the official permit page for the current process and any closures.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Late light through standing snags on the Ocean View Summit Loop, where the fire opened the canopy.
Best Light
Overcast mornings for the surviving old growth on the Redwood Loop.
Beat the Crowds
Parking is the limiting factor rather than trail capacity. Reservations are encouraged and guarantee access; a limited number of first-come, first-served spots are available daily.
Classic Shots
- 📍Basal sprouts rising from fire-scarred old-growth trunks
- 📍The level Redwood Loop through surviving giants
- 📍Long ridge views opened by the fire on the Ocean View Summit Loop
- 📍Standing snags against sky
- 📍Regenerating understory five years on
Can't Get a Big Basin Day Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Rancho del Oso Walk-In Sites
Same AreaFive reservable walk-in campsites at Big Basin's coastal subunit, the furthest about 200 feet from the parking area.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
The only overnight option in this park, and it needs no day-use fee or reservation. But there is no trail access north into Big Basin from there for several years.
Castle Rock Trail Camp
Similar ExperienceTwenty backcountry campsites 2.3 miles from the Castle Rock trail camp parking lot, on the section of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail that is still open.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
An actual overnight option on the open section of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail.
Slate Creek Trail Camp
Easier AlternativeSix sites 2.7 miles from Portola Redwoods headquarters, in second-growth and old-growth redwood, with Slate Creek about one-eighth of a mile from camp.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Intact old-growth redwood rather than a recovering burn, and creek water nearby to filter. But it books through a request form up to 60 days ahead, with payment by phone.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Big Basin Day trip
Trip planning
Articles that plan a trip around this permit.
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