Our Mission Henry Cowell The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and his lush redwood education of the people of California by helping T Redwoods to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and forest, with sunlight cultural resources, and creating opportunities State Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. glimmering through trees along the San Lorenzo River,

California State Parks supports equal access. offers visitors a Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at peaceful retreat. (831) 335-4598. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected].

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Day Use: 101 North Big Trees Park Road Felton, CA 95018 (831) 335-4598 Campground: 2591 Graham Hill Road Scotts Valley, CA 95060 (831) 438-2396

© 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2017) H enry Cowell Redwoods State Park to exchange steelhead and salmon with inspires calm reflection among ancient neighboring tribes for acorns, obsidian, giant redwoods and sunny sandhill ridges. and other resources. The park’s historical significance and its Early Entrepreneurs spectacular scenery draw travelers from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is located around the world. on several former Mexican land grants known Visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, as Rancho Rincon, Rancho Zayante, and picnicking, swimming, camping, and fishing Rancho Carbonera. Ownership of the land on more than 4,650 acres of forested and changed hands many times as pioneers open land in the Santa Cruz Mountains. arrived — introducing logging, tanoak-bark The park’s groves of old- and second- harvesting, lime manufacturing, and even growth redwoods flank the San Lorenzo River. gold mining in the area. In the serene Fall Creek Unit, a few miles In 1867 Joseph Warren Welch Sr. purchased north of the main park, hikers experience 350 acres here. Although much of the a verdant, fern-lined river canyon and surrounding land had been logged, the General Frémont Tree: (left to right) General encounter the remnants of a successful large tract of old-growth redwoods we enjoy John C. Frémont, his wife Jessie Benton lime-processing industry. today still stood. He advertised the grove Frémont, and their daughter Elizabeth PARK HISTORY of uncut giants, and the Welch Big Trees Explorer John C. Frémont reputedly Native People Grove became a famous tourist destination. camped in this tree’s fire-hollowed base After his death in 1876, Welch’s widow, Anna The Sayante tribe, a subgroup of the Ohlone when he and legendary scout Kit Carson Isabella, leased the land to entrepreneur J.M. culture, lived in this area before Spanish visited Isaac Graham in 1846. When he Hooper, who ran the resort that included a rule. They found plentiful shelter, water, and returned to the grove in 1888, then-General small hotel and dance floor near the Frémont food both on the land and in the river. The Frémont was reported to have said, “It’s a Tree. Famous people such as Andrew San Lorenzo River was a major source of Carnegie and Presidents Benjamin Harrison good story; let it stand.” fish for the Sayante people, allowing them and Theodore Roosevelt visited. (now called Big Basin exposing huge amounts of limestone. This Redwoods State Park), limestone was formed by pressure that where the Sempervirens crystallized layers of tiny sea creatures’ Club was founded. fossilized remains. Heating raw limestone The Big Trees Grove in kilns for several days yielded lime used resort operated here for in mortar and plaster — staples of the another 30 years. William building industry. T. Jeter, with the help of At the time of peak demand, 80% of his wife Jennie Bliss Jeter lime came from Santa Cruz County. Kilns and friend Joseph Welch were built on the North Fork of Fall Creek Jr., worked tirelessly to convert the quarried rock into usable to ensure the creation material. Hundreds of thousands of cords of of Santa Cruz County redwood were burned over the years to keep Big Trees Park in 1930. the kiln fires blazing — baring the hills. Citizens dedicated the Eventually, raw limestone and log supplies Jeter Tree in his memory; dwindled as concerns about deforestation the County managed arose; lime processing here ceased. The Fall the park for more than Creek kilns closed in 1919. 20 years. It became Today, the old lime kilns can be seen along part of a new state park the South Fork Trail. The second-growth in 1954, when Samuel redwoods nearby testify to nature’s resilience (Harry) Cowell donated as the hillsides become forested once again. Creating the Park 1,600 adjoining acres on the condition that NATURAL HISTORY On a fateful afternoon in 1900, Andrew the combined park be named for his father P. Hill photographed “The Giant” Henry. The Cowell Family Foundation Geology redwood tree in the Welch Big Trees deeded the Fall Creek Unit to the State Located in the rugged Santa Cruz Mountains, Grove. When the proprietor objected to in 1972. Since then, Save the Redwoods Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park the unauthorized pictures, demanding League helped to add more than 800 acres provides a fascinating geologic view into the negatives, Hill angrily refused. Hill to the park. the landscape. The San Lorenzo River flows resolved that there should be a public park Fall Creek and Henry Cowell through the park, roughly following the path of the Ben Lomond Fault. Stream erosion and where the trees belonged to everyone. Fall Creek Unit, the northern section of Henry fault movement are the primary forces that He reported the incident to journalist Cowell Redwoods State Park, is located have helped shape this land. Josephine Clifford McCrackin, who followed about ¼ mile west of the town of Felton. The The northern part of the park is composed up with a letter to the Santa Cruz Sentinel 2,390-acre area contains nearly the entire Fall of soft sandstone and mudstone, with fossil urging Californians to “Save the redwoods.” Creek watershed, extending southeast from evidence that it was once a shallow inland The movement led to the creation of Ben Lomond Mountain. The Ben Lomond sea, including sand dollars and shark teeth. nearby California Redwood Park in 1902 Fault runs along the base of the mountain, The southern portion of the park consists spring. The Ben Lomond spineflower and of harder granite and schist formed from Ben Lomond buckwheat, found only in magma. These geologic factors determine this area, add to the distinctive Santa Cruz the vast diversity of flora and fauna that sandhills ecosystem. inhabit the park. Three of the park’s four Native plants such as California poppy, main ecosystems — redwood, riparian coyote brush, and lupine endure among (streamside), and sandhill chaparral — were non-native grasses, thistle, and sweet pea shaped as a result of these processes. The in the grassland. The riparian forest that human-made grassland is the park’s fourth once covered this area is now reclaiming main ecosystem. Plant Communities its former territory. Wildlife Among the world’s RECREATION tallest old-growth coast redwoods, the The park’s four distinct ecosystems allow for Weather changes quickly in the Santa Cruz largest trees surrounding the Redwood many wildlife viewing opportunities. Watch Mountains. Winter temperatures range from Grove Loop Trail may be up to 280 feet (85m) for white-tailed kites and white-crowned the upper 30s to mid-50s and from the high tall and 1,500 years old. Climate change is sparrows flying above the grasslands looking 40s to the 80s in summer. diminishing the plentiful rain and moist fog for their next meal. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park offers that sustained the redwoods’ growth. Along the San Lorenzo River, listen for camping and a large day-use area. Limited California bay trees, tanoaks, and hazelnut the belted kingfisher and catch a glimpse of catch-and-release steelhead fishing attracts shrubs adapt to the shade beneath the the great blue heron. This year-round river anglers to the San Lorenzo River. Visit redwoods. Clover-like redwood sorrel carpets is home to endangered steelhead trout, www.wildlife.ca.gov for updates, licensing the forest floor, along with wild ginger, providing a nourishing place for the fish regulations, and fishing restrictions. trillium, and milk maids. to spawn. Equestrians may use the main park trails The nearby San Lorenzo River supports In the forest, the melody of the Pacific as posted. Bicycles are allowed only on a remarkable riparian ecosystem. Large wren and the clicking sounds of the dark- Pipeline, Rincon, Ridge, and Powder Mill fire western sycamore, black cottonwood, white eyed junco echo through the forest. Banana roads. Bicycles are not allowed in the Fall alder, and California box-elder trees offer slugs slide along the path, and western gray Creek Unit. Observe all trail postings. cooling shade for river inhabitants. Arroyo squirrels leap from limb to limb. The privately owned Roaring Camp and willows stabilize the river’s banks. The wrentit’s lilting song and the scrub jay’s Big Trees Railroad adjoins the property On the ridgetops of the sandhill ecosystem, screeching calls fill the air in the sandhill outside the main park. For a fee, the train drought-tolerant plants with long taproots chaparral ecosystem. Two rare endemic takes passengers on a rail tour through the flourish in the sandy soil. Here, in one of insect species, the endangered Zayante forested area of the park. band-winged grasshopper and the Mt. the world’s five marine ponderosa pine Hermon June beetle, inhabit this area of the communities, ponderosa and knobcone Camping park. Coyotes, bobcats, and black-tail deer pines grow along the ridge tops and Sites are open seasonally. For details and roam freely throughout the park searching for surround the park’s observation deck. site-specific advance reservations, call food, water, and shelter. Manzanita, bush poppy, chamise, sticky (800) 444-7275 or visit www.parks.ca.gov. monkeyflower, and ceanothus all bloom in Henry Cowell Trails: PLEASE REMEMBER This park is supported in part through Redwood Grove Loop Trail — Along the .8- • All natural and cultural features are the Mountain Parks Foundation mile, self-guided, accessible loop stands the protected by law; do not disturb them. 525 N. Big Trees Park Road tree named for “The Pathfinder,” Lieutenant • Camping and fires are permitted only in Felton, CA 95018 · (831) 335-3174 John C. Frémont. designated areas. www.mountainparks.org Ridge Fire Road near Pine Trail — The • Dogs must be on a leash no longer than observation deck at 805 feet, one of the park’s six feet and are allowed only in picnic highest points, offers vistas of Monterey Bay. areas and campsites and on the Meadow Fall Creek Unit Trail, Pipeline Road, Graham Hill Trail, and Powder Mill Fire Road. Open for day use only, Fall Creek includes • Except for service animals, dogs are not almost twenty miles of connecting trails. permitted to use other trails, fire roads, Parking and trailheads are marked on Felton or the Fall Creek Unit. Empire Road off Highway 9. • All pets must be attended at all times ACCESSIBLE FEATURES and confined in a tent or vehicle at night. The Redwood Grove Loop Trail is • Camping, bicycles, smoking, and fires accessible. The campground has accessible are prohibited in the Fall Creek Unit. sites with restrooms and showers. The • Stay on established trails and out of all Visitor Center and Mountain Parks Store are undeveloped areas and unlabeled trails. both accessible; curbside pickup and drop- • Be alert for rattlesnakes and mountain off is recommended for people with mobility lions. Check for ticks issues. For accessibility updates, visit after hiking. http://access.parks.ca.gov. • Poison oak can be identified by its NEARBY STATE PARKS leaves — they grow in • Big Basin Redwoods State Park groups of three with 21600 Big Basin Way gently lobed edges. The Boulder Creek 95006 plant may appear as a (831) 338-8860 bush, vine, or ground • Wilder Ranch State Park cover with green 1401 Coast Road or reddish leaves. “Leaves of three — let it be.” Santa Cruz 95060 Many people (831) 423-9703 are allergic to its oil. Zayante 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Mile Trail MOUNT 600 Henry Cowell 9 ail 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 Kilometers te Tr HERMON Redwoods Service Road Zayan (No Public Access) 400 600 State Park N see detail map at left . Big Trees Park Rd Graham Hill Rd

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L San Note: Railroad tracks d M Park Office & o are private property. o e Lo S a ren w 9 a d z Keep off tracks Park Office & e n Entrance Station o k o c w and trestles. L Trail Entrance Station o o L r e P n River Overflow P 600 z P 2 Smith o R 1 Roaring iv 4 P P BROOKDALE P e Clear r Trail Camp FELTON 3 P P 800 Creek Clear Creek Loch Mountain Parks Lomond Pipeline Road 400 Foundation Store Creek

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Trail BROOKDALE Empire 1000 600 Alba Legend Creek 1200 oad Creek R Grade 1200 PRIVATE Freeway 2000 Big 9 Ben Tree Paved Road Trail 1200 PROPERTY Sunlit Trail UNIT Creek Creek Barrel BEN 1800 Unpaved Road Fall Lost Mill Area 9 FALL LOMOND Emp Mill ire Trail: Hiking Only No Dogs 600 CREEK

Laguna Sunlit Trail: Accessible Ln Trail UNIT HENRY No Horses Barrel Creek Lost 800 Empire Fe Trail: Hike & Bike Only No Parking lton COWELL Em p BONNY DOON ir e REDWOODS Parking Zayante Creek 400 Trail: Hike & Horse Only ECOLOGICAL 600 Lost Road 9 STATE Mt Hermon Camp RESERVE Road Accessible Feature Picnic Area see detail map to the left S-Cape Main PARK South FELTON Entrance Graham Hill Rd Campground Restrooms No bikes or dogs are Trail to San permitted in Fall Creek Unit. San Lorenzo Jose E Campground mpi Dogs allowed on Leash Seasonal Bridge Valley re Entrance C a High p F Grade e a 17 Horse Staging Area Telephone H l School Fall l WILDER 600 o C Powder r r n e 400 Locked Gate Viewpoint e RANCH T UC 1800 k Fel Magazine r

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