Day-use parking reservations are encouraged but not required. Trail camps currently closed.
Other permits in Big Basin Redwoods State Park we can check
“California's oldest state park, reopened for limited day-use after the CZU fire burned through 97% of it. A parking reservation is encouraged, not required.”
Plan your Big Basin Redwoods State Park trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
How to get Big Basin Day
No permit needed. Parking reservations are optional and made on the park's own form.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we alert on.
When it opens
- 60 days
- First come, first served from 60 days before your entry dateYou book on the agency's site.
Source: parks.ca.gov
Big Basin Day permit season
- route distance, loop
- 1.75mi
- elevation gain
- 140ft
How to get a Big Basin Day permit
No permit needed.
- No oversized vehicles or trailers can be accommodated for day-use parking currently.
Big Basin trailheads and parking
- Big Basin day-use area, Highway 236
Big Basin trailhead in full
Primary
Big Basin day-use area, Highway 236The main day-use entry, and where the open section of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail from Castle Rock ends.
- Restrooms
- No water
- No signal
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.
As of September 2026, the managing agency does not require a permit for Big Basin Day in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California. Big Basin Day rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The Big Basin Day route covers 1.75 miles with 140 feet of elevation gain, rated easy.
- Permit required
- No
- Type
- Day Use
- Location
- Santa Cruz Mountains, CA
How this permit is issued
Official permit page →More on Big Basin Day: Live availability activity
How much a Big Basin Day permit costs
Big Basin Day permit fee: $6 per vehicle plus a $2 reservation fee, or $10 per vehicle without a reservation.
The Big Basin Day hike
- Distance
- 1.75 miles
- Elevation Gain
- 140 ft
- Route Type
- Loop
- Duration
- 1 day
- Difficulty
- Easy
Big Basin Day landmarks
- 1Redwood Loop Trail
A level 0.6-mile loop taking 45 minutes to an hour, the park's core accessible walk.
- 2Dool Trail Loop
1.75 miles with about 140 feet of gain.
- 3Ocean View Summit Loop
4.15 miles with about 500 feet of gain.
California's oldest state park, reopened for limited day-use after the CZU fire burned through 97% of it. A parking reservation is encouraged, not required.
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 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.
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 feeling
A recovering forest rather than a preserved one. Standing snags, sprouting basal crowns, and long open views where there used to be canopy.
Big Basin Day hike highlights
- 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
How hard the Big Basin Day hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required1/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route1/5
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.
When to hike Big Basin Day
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.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
60°
39°
Wed
57°
41°
Thu
60°
38°
Fri
63°
43°
Sat
54°
41°
Sun
61°
43°
Mon
69°
49°
Big Basin Day photography 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
Big Basin Day rules, gear and safety
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 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
Rules & regulations
- 01All trails close at sunset. Plan ahead to complete your hike before sunset.
- 02Dogs 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.
- 03No oversized vehicles or trailers can be accommodated for day-use parking currently.
- 04Respect all park and trail closures while the forest recovers.
- 05Camping reservations are not available as all campgrounds are currently closed.
- 06Park hours are 8 am to sunset.
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.
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.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Big Basin Day · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Big Basin Day FAQ
How do I get a Big Basin Day permit?
Big Basin Day is issued directly by the agency. No permit needed. Parking reservations are optional and made on the park's own form. Bring backup dates and check their page for the current process.
When is the best time to visit Big Basin Day?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays 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?
The agency awards this permit directly. Bring backup dates and check the official page for the current process and any closures.
Big Basin Day trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Big Basin Day.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Big Basin Day permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Rancho del Oso Walk-In Sites
Five reservable walk-in campsites at Big Basin's coastal subunit, the furthest about 200 feet from the parking area.
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.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Castle Rock Trail Camp
Twenty 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.
Tradeoffs
An actual overnight option on the open section of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Slate Creek Trail Camp
Six 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.
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.
Where to stay near Big Basin Day
- Hunter CampgroundBighorn National Forest
- Middle Fork campgroundBighorn National Forest
- Hettinger Group Area campgroundBighorn National Forest
- All California campgrounds
Trip planning
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