Big Basin Redwoods

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=540 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Basin_Redwoods_State_Park Big Basin Redwoods State Park is located in Santa Cruz County, about 36 km (22 mi) northwest of Santa Cruz. The park contains almost all of the Waddell Creek watershed, which was formed by the seismic uplift of its rim, and the erosion of its center by the many streams in its bowl-shaped depression. Big Basin is California's oldest State Park, established in 1902, earning its designation as a California Historical Landmark. Its original 3,800 acres (15 km2) have been increased over the years to over 18,000 acres (73 km2). It is part of the Northern California coastal forests ecoregion and is home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. It contains 10,800 acres (44 km2) of old-growth forest[2] as well as recovering redwood forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral and riparian habitats. Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 600 m (2,000 ft). The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops. The park has over 130 km (81 mi) of trails. Some of these trails link Big Basin to Castle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of the Santa Cruz range. The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail threads its way through the park along Waddell Creek to Waddell Beach and the adjacent Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwater marsh. The park has a large number of waterfalls, a wide variety of environments (from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes), many animals (deer, raccoons, an occasional bobcat) and abundant bird life – including Steller's jays, egrets, herons and acorn woodpeckers.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. “ These trees, because of their size and antiquity, were among the natural wonders of the world and should be saved for posterity.” California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (831) 338-8860. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov. –Andrew P. Hill, 1899 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 Big Basin Redwoods State Park 21600 Big Basin Way Boulder Creek, CA 95006 (831) 338-8860 © 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2016) Photo courtesy of Ruskin K. Hartley B ig Basin Redwoods, California’s oldest state park, covers more than 18,000 acres ranging from sea level to more than 2,000 feet elevation. This acreage launched the state park movement in California. Big Basin’s biggest attraction— literally— is a rare stand of awe-inspiring, ancient coast redwoods that are among the tallest and oldest trees on Earth. Some measure more than 300 feet tall and 50 feet in circumference. Scientists estimate that these trees may range from 1,000 to 2,500 years old. Spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, lush waterfalls, more than 80 miles of roads and trails, and a fascinating natural and cultural history have beckoned millions of visitors to Big Basin since 1902. coastal people. They harvested seeds of grassland plants in the meadows and gathered soap root and other bulbs for food and utility. Parts of fern, horsetail, and sedge were used to create baskets. They hunted elk, pronghorns, and mule deer. The Quiroste and Cotoni used fire and other land-management practices to promote growth of useful plants. The Ohlone led resistance to the local Spanish mission influence in the late 1700s. Eventually, tribal culture collapsed in the face of contagious European diseases, natural-resource destruction, and the suppression of their native customs. Today, descendants of these tribes are working toward federal recognition and revitalizing their native traditions. NATIVE PEOPLE Humans lived in or near Big Basin for at least 10,000 years before the Spanish explored the area in the late 1700s. The Big Basin area was home to the Cotoni and Quiroste tribes, two of more than 50 tribes comprising the Ohlone culture of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. Grinding rocks, where native people pounded acorns and other seeds into flour, are evidence that today’s parkland served as the interior “food basket” for THE REDWOODS Big Basin’s coast redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens, are native to the United States; they grow only along the coast from southern Oregon to Central California. The name Sequoia may honor Sequoyah, the 19th-century inventor of the Cherokee alphabet, and sempervirens means “ever living.” These trees are part of a once-huge ancient forest of which less than five percent remains. The redwood is California’s official state tree. The Santa Cruz redwood forest was first Sawmill, 1900 Sempervirens Club with the famous Father of the Forest tree, 1901 noted in accounts of a Spanish coastal expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá in 1769. Less than a century later, logging— to meet the demands of the gold rush and urban development —  threatened to deplete the forest. By 1884, the area’s 28 sawmills were processing more than 34 million board feet of lumber, shingles, railroad ties, and posts annually. PARK HISTORY As logging continued, a battle to protect the ancient trees in the heart of Big Basin became the focus of citizens united to save the redwoods. Photographer Andrew P. Hill, journalist Josephine McCrackin, writer-publisher Carrie Stevens Walter, and a growing coalition of journalists, politicians, artists, businessmen, and scholars formed the Sempervirens Club in May of 1900. As Walter wrote, “Once gone, no human power or ingenuity can replace them. Even the most callousmore than 18,000 acres, the park minded materialist continues to grow through partnerships does not love to think with private nonprofit groups like of this swirling globe Save the Redwoods League and the as a treeless place.” Sempervirens Fund. The Sempervirens NATURAL HISTORY Club enlisted and mobilized Ecology and Vegetation supporters throughout the Some redwoods measure more state to join the race to than 300 feet tall and 50 feet in pass legislation that would circumference. However, with no protect Big Basin’s taproot, redwood trees rely on a ancient redwoods. In network of far-reaching roots ab

Parque Estatal Big Basin Redwoods Nuestra Misión La misión de California State Parks es proporcionar apoyo para la salud, la inspiración y la educación de los ciudadanos de California al ayudar a preservar la extraordinaria diversidad biológica del estado, proteger sus más valiosos recursos naturales y culturales, y crear oportunidades para la recreación al aire libre de alta calidad. California State Parks apoya la igualdad de acceso. Antes de llegar, los visitantes con discapacidades que necesiten asistencia deben comunicarse con el parque llamando al (831) 338-8860. Si necesita esta publicación en un formato alternativo, comuníquese con interp@parks.ca.gov. “ Estos árboles, debido a su antigüedad y tamaño, se encuentran entre las maravillas naturales del mundo y deben conservarse para la posteridad”. –Andrew P. Hill, 1899 CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 Para obtener más información, llame al: (800) 777-0369 o (916) 653-6995, fuera de los EE. UU. o 711, servicio de teléfono de texto. www.parks.ca.gov SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp Big Basin Redwoods State Park 21600 Big Basin Way Boulder Creek, CA 95006 (831) 338-8860 © 2011 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) La fotografía es cortesía de Ruskin K. Hartley, de la Liga Save the Redwoods B ig Basin Redwoods es el parque estatal más antiguo de California, cubre más de 18.000 acres que van desde el nivel del mar hasta más de 2,000 pies de elevación. Esta superficie lanzó el movimiento de parques estatales en California. La mayor atracción de Big Basin es, literalmente, su excepcional hilera de antiguas e inspiradoras secuoyas que se encuentran dentro del grupo de árboles más altos y antiguos del planeta. Algunos tienen más de 300 pies de alto y 50 pies de circunferencia. Los científicos estiman que estos árboles pueden tener entre 1,000 y 2,500 años. Desde 1902, las vistas espectaculares del Océano Pacífico, las exuberantes cascadas, más de 80 millas de rutas y senderos y una historia natural y cultural fascinante han atraído millones de visitantes a Big Basin. los indÍgenAS Los seres humanos vivieron en Big Basin o en sus cercanías al menos 10,000 años antes de que los españoles exploraran el área en los años 1700. El área de Big Basin era el hogar de las tribus cotonis y quirostes, dos de más de 50 tribus que constituían la cultura ohlone de las áreas de San Francisco y la Bahía de Monterey. Las rocas de molienda, donde los nativos machacaban las bellotas y otras semillas para convertirlas en harina, son el testimonio de que el actual terreno del parque servía como una fuente de alimentos interna para los pueblos costeros. Cosechaban las semillas de las praderas y recolectaban jabonera norteamericana (chlorogalum) y otros bulbos que usaban a modo alimento y también con otros propósitos. Las partes de los helechos, la cola de caballo o las ciperáceas se utilizaban para crear cestas. Cazaban uapitíes, antílopes americanos y ciervos mulo. Los quirostes y los cotonis utilizaban el fuego y aplicaban otras técnicas de labranza para promover el crecimiento de plantas útiles. Los ohlones pusieron resistencia a la influencia local de la misión española local a fines en los años 1700. Finalmente, la cultura tribal colapsó debido a las enfermedades europeas, la destrucción de los recursos naturales y la eliminación de sus costumbres nativas. Actualmente, los descendientes de estas tribus se esfuerzan por lograr el reconocimiento nacional y reivindicar sus tradiciones nativas. Aserradero, 1900 LAS SECUOYAS Las secuoyas costeras de Big Basin, sequoia sempervirens, son autóctonas de los Estados Unidos, y crecen únicamente a lo largo de la costa que se extiende desde el sur de Oregón hasta California central. Club Sempervirens con el famoso árbol Padre del Bosque, 1901 El nombre “secuoya” surgió en honor a Sequoyah, el inventor del alfabeto cherokee en el siglo XIX, y “sempervirens” significa “siempre viva”. Estos árboles son parte de lo que una vez fue un enorme bosque antiguo del cual solo queda un cinco por ciento. La secuoya es el árbol oficial de California. En 1769, el bosque de secuoyas de Santa Cruz fue registrado en informes de expediciones costeras españolas lideradas por Gaspar de Portolá. Menos de un siglo después, con el objeto de satisfacer las demandas del desarrollo urbano de la fiebre del oro, la tala amenazó con destruir el bosque. Para 1884, los 28 aserraderos del área procesaban anualmente más de 34 millones de pies tabla de madera, tejas, durmientes y postes. HISTORIA DEL PARQUE A medida que la tala continuaba, se desató una batalla para proteger los antiguos árboles en el centro de Big Basin, lo cual provocó que los ciudadanos se unieran para salvar las secuoyas. En mayo de 1900, el fotógrafo Andrew P. Hill, la reportera Josephine McCrackin, la escritora y editora Carrie Stevens Walter y una creciente coalición de reporteros, políticos, artistas, empresarios y académicos formaron el Club Sempervirens. Como

Big Basin Redwoods State Park Big Basin Redwoods State Park CAMPGROUND RULES AND INFORMATION 21600 Big Basin Way • Boulder Creek, California 95006 • www.parks.ca.gov Park Headquarters/Trail Camp Reservations (831) 338-8861 • Recorded Information (831) 338-8860 Please follow these rules and regulations during your visit and help preserve the qualities that make Big Basin a special place. S Rd. eek ca pe il ra T a No k pervirens Cree m e S l r th Opa E S e q u oi . Sky Meadow Group Camp 236 Wa y k ook T rail Cr s Picnic Loop si n Ba ad ne ek Park Headquarters & Visitor Center ood S e qu 236 Pine Mtn. Rd. C Bl mm reek oo o n ms Cr e e a il Tra . Mtn k Waddell Cree Tra il Sempervirens Campground Trail ek e o o m r l sC B d oa R k d pa l Hi hn H Bob Kirsch Trail Jay Camp l rai T d Ha mm on n oia Pi ne Blooms Creek Campground Eas t il Huckleberry Campground To Hwy. 9 Boulder Creek 236 Bloom s Cree East Ridge Trail k a il eS Red w ea Tra il Cre Th Sk ylin e To Nature Lodge Store S k yli ry Wastahi Walk-in Campground Sky M ea do ro w ok Tr Ro a Sequoia Group Camp Old Lodge b er ig Tent Cabins Shadowb Tra il B set To The S ea Tra il Sun O Discover the many states of California. TM Tick Yellow Jacket T il ra Warning: Be aware of the presence of poison oak, rattlesnakes, ticks and yellow jackets. Rattlesnake st Trail Check-in time is 2 p.m. Check-out time is 12 noon on your last day. Poison Oak R s br en dow ervir mp Se alls F ping PLANTS, FLOWERS, mushrooms, natural scenery and animals are protected by law from human disturbance of any kind. Nails, axes, knives, and other sharp objects may not be put into any trees, downed logs, campsite tables, and parking barriers. Hammocks may not be hung from the trees. GAMES must be safe and not damage park resources. No bats, hardballs, airsoft weapons, bb-guns, paintball guns, or horseshoes. If in doubt, please ask staff. ee e PAY SHOWERS are located in the campgrounds. Change is available from the Blooms Creek Camp Host and at Park Headquarters. Cost is 25 cents for two minutes. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SECURE YOUR FOOD, except when eating, to protect yourself and park wildlife. Racoons, birds, and squirrels are very aggressive and will steal food that has been left out. Lock food inside a vehicle. It is not secure in tents, picnic table storage boxes, or ice chests. Dispose of trash and food waste into the campground dumpsters immediately to keep wildlife from consuming or spreading them around. Please recycle your plastic, glass, and aluminum. For e Do ckl FIRES: Fires are allowed only in the metal fire rings or stoves. Do not build fires outside of fire rings. Fires must be completely out when not attended. All fireworks are prohibited. WOOD COLLECTING, including leaves and twigs, is not allowed. This material decays and assists the growth of live trees and other plants. Firewood is sold at the park year-round. Hu NOISE: Radios and other sound-producing devices must not be audible beyond your immediate campsite, regardless of the time of day. Generators may operate from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. only. BICYCLES are restricted to the paved roads and fire roads. They are not allowed on any of the trails. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet. To Hwy 9 & Saratoga Gap Cre e QUIET TIME hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.­—radios off, voices lowered to a whisper. Voices carry at night and sound seems to be magnified in the still of the forest. Big Basin is California’s oldest State Park, established in 1902. Camping and tent cabin reservations are essential during peak season and may be made year round by calling (800) 444-PARK or visiting www.reserveamerica.com. Unreserved campsites and tent cabins will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Tent cabins are concession operated. eq Slippery Rock To uo Lodge ia T rail Road Sha d k ee Gazos Cr Cr ood il Redw l Tra o VEHICLES must register at Park Headquarters and display a valid receipt on the windshield prior to parking. Vehicles must park in their designated campsite space only. Standard tent or RV drive-in sites allow parking for one vehicle and one extra vehicle. Trailers are counted as a vehicle. Walkin tent sites allow parking for one vehicle only in an assigned parking lot space. Fees are due for all extra vehicles, except trailers. No parking is allowed along campground roads. Extra or oversize vehicles must park in the lots adjacent to Park Headquarters. DOGS must be on a leash no longer than six feet and under control at all times. They are not permitted on any trails or fire roads, must be confined to a vehicle or tent from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and may not be left unattended at any time. Skylin e-H ih OCCUPANCY: Eight people are allowed per family drive-in or walk-in site. r R idg e T © 2007 California State Parks (Rev. 3/2010) Big Basin Redwoods State Park Campgrounds Your space #: ______________________ In case of