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Big Basin Redwoods State Park is located in Santa Cruz County north of the city of Santa Cruz, encompassing the majority of the Waddell Creek watershed within its 18,000-acre land area.
The park is the state’s oldest state park, originally established in 1902, and is recognized today as a California Historical Landmark.
It is home to Northern California’s largest continuous stand of ancient coastal redwoods, preserving more than 10,000 acres of old-growth and recovering redwood forest areas.
More than 81 miles of hiking trails are offered throughout the park, including trails linking to nearby Castle Rock State Park, Waddell Beach, and Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve. Abundant plant and animal life is found throughout the park, including deer, bobcats, Steller’s jays, herons, and egrets.
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