Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Experience Old Growth Redwoods

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is one of the few remaining old-growth (undisturbed & centuries-old) Redwood Groves in the Bay Area. Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Henry Cowell is an hour and a half drive from San Francisco and a fifteen-minute drive from Santa Cruz. 

Why Visit Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park?

Muir Woods is the main park that comes to mind in the Bay Area for old-growth redwoods. As a local tip, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park provides the same great family-friendly experience for all levels of hikers without the crowds and per person admission. There is even a redwood tree you can walk into. The tallest tree in the park is approximately 280 ft (85m) and 1500 years old! To put that in perspective, that’s as tall as The Statue of Liberty or Big Ben!

Things To Do At Henry Cowell State Park

• Trails – Trails range from 0.80 miles to 7 miles
• Biking – Multiple trails that are separate from the hiking trails
• Picnic – picnic areas that are dog friendly (dogs prohibited elsewhere)
• Camping – Reserve Here
• Steam Train Railroad Rides (Redwoods Tour & Santa Cruz Beach)

Popular Hikes in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Redwood Grove Loop Trail

The Redwood Grove Loop Hike is the most popular 0.8-mile loop in the park. It’s a well maintained, wide, packed-dirt path with only 35 ft of elevation gain, which makes it suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The Redwood Grove Loop will traverse you through the redwood floor and through its different ecosystems. It also passes by the Fremont Tree which you can walk into to experience the vast width of these trees. 

Observation Deck Trail and River Trail

For a bit longer trail or a more strenuous hike, you can do River trail and Observation Deck Trail loop. This hike will bring you through dense redwoods and up to an observation deck overlooking the surrounding area. The trail is sandy near the last mile up to the observation deck.

There are copies of trail maps you can take with you at the start of the trail-head. You can create your own loop in length and desired elevation gain which makes for a flexible agenda.

Getting To The Park

There are multiple entrances to Henry Cowell State Park which is often confusing. The main entrance for day use, access to the trailheads, and Roaring Camp Railroad is the North Big Trees Park Rd Entrance on Highway 9.  It’s located between Redwood Drive and Oak Avenue.  After you turn in, it is about a two-mile road to reach the parking lot.  If you are camping, the other entrances lead you straight to the campgrounds.

Park Admissions and Fees

Henry Cowell is a California State Park.  As with all California State Parks, there is no fees for admission, but there is a parking fee that is charged per vehicle. You can check the parking fees at the CA State Parks site, but it should be around $10, with discounts for seniors. Most parks go by the honor system if there is no ranger present to collect the fees. There is usually a spot with a small yellow envelope in which you insert the parking fee amount and leave the tag on your windshield. 

Parking at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

The main parking lot on North Big Trees Park Road has a lot of paved spots. Weekend parking tends to fill up around 10 AM.  The parking lot is next to the Roaring Camp Railroad Station. There is also a dedicated parking lot if you are planning to just visit Roaring Camp Railroad located on Graham Hill Road.

Roaring Camp Railroad

The Roaring Camp Railroad is a tourist steam train operation that sits at the edge of Henry Cowell State Park.  The railroad runs through the park itself along some of the trails. There are two main rides offered: one that would give you a tour of the redwood forest (75 min) and the other popular ride that will take you to the Santa Cruz Beach (3 hours). I had walked up to the station window once to buy tickets around 2 PM, but they were sold out.  I’d recommend buying tickets beforehand online, or at least at the beginning of your hike if you do wish to take one of these rides.  The cost ranges from $24 to $35 depending on a child ticket versus an adult ticket and which train ride you would like to take.

Tips for Visiting

Henry Cowell State Park gets quite crowded during the summer months, especially during the afternoon hours. If you’re looking for redwood hikes closer to SF you can check out Purisima Creek Redwoods which is free.