The Sequoia Trail to Sempervirens Falls reopened in May, giving Big Basin its best day-hike loop since the 2020 fire. Take the Santa Cruz METRO Route 35B on weekends and get in free — smarter than fighting for the limited parking.

The Sequoia Trail is back. California State Parks reopened the 2.9-mile path to Sempervirens Falls at Big Basin Redwoods State Park in May; linked with the Skyline-to-the-Sea trail, it makes a 4.3-mile loop through old-growth redwoods — trees up to 1,800 years old, most of which survived the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire. The park is at 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, open daily 8 a.m. to sunset.

Weekend parking at the main lot disappears fast. The smarter arrival: Santa Cruz METRO Route 35B runs seasonal weekend bus service directly to the park — bus riders pay no entry fee at all. Driving costs $6 plus a $2 reservation fee (reserve at bit.ly/BigBasinParking) or $10 walk-in without one. A free ADA shuttle also runs from the Saddle Mountain overflow lot to the main day-use area on weekends and holidays through Labor Day, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. — though the parking fee still applies if you drove there.

Free ranger-led Redwood Grove walks leave the visitor center at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (through 1 p.m.). Junior Rangers programming for ages 7–12 runs Saturdays at 2 p.m.

Before you go: no drinking water on-site, no cell service near the entrance kiosk — download your trail map before you leave home. Dogs are permitted only on paved areas and two miles of North Escape Road; none of the trails.