Big Basin Redwoods State Park by karenincalifornia
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is 45 minutes north of Santa Cruz, and covers 18,000 acres in the Santa Cruz mountains. It has a section that extends to the ocean. Plenty fo hiking can be found here - 80 miles of it. Most of the hiking is in a wilderness area.My husband and I took a shorter hike from the Park headquarters to the top of Buzzard's Roost for some views. The total mileage was 5.5 miles. The hike starts in an old growth redwood forest. As you climb, you will rise through forests of oaks, bay laurels, and eventually ponderosa pines. At the top you'll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the entire park. On a good day, you'll see the ocean. On a semi-good day (which means no water to be seen), you'll see a bank of fog sitting out on the coast line. Take the Pine Mountain trail, and near the top take the branch going left to Buzzard's Roost. You can't miss it. It looked like Park Officials were blocking off the trail to Pine Mountain.
