A visit to Big Basin Redwoods State Park awakens the senses. Inhale the bright scent of new redwood needles, listen to the calls of birds and look up to take in towering trees stretching as far as the eye can see. Those of us who come regularly know the redwood forest has a way of pulling us into the present. And right now is a great time to visit: morning fog hangs in the trees, colorful mushrooms dot the forest floor and banana slugs are easy to find. Research reminds us of what our bodies alr

On a recent visit to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, we walked among redwoods in different stages of regrowth five years after the CZU fire. Here’s some of what we observed and expect to see in the coming years, according to our Director of Land Stewardship, David Cowman. 🌲 Sprouting from dormant buds: Growth of new shoots from under the bark on the trunk or branches (epicormic) or from the base of the tree (basal), using stored carbon reserves. This typically begins within 4–6 months after fire

Even after wildfires, coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) live up to their name—ever-flourishing. At Big Basin Redwoods State Park, many old-growth redwood trees lost their branches in the fire five years ago, but these trees have adapted to recover after fire. Dormant buds, hidden sometimes for centuries, burst into new growth called epicormic sprouting. These fast-growing shoots help the trees photosynthesize again and rebuild their canopy. Nature’s resilience is on full display in the redwo

Portola Redwoods State Park

Big Basin Redwoods State Park - Sempervirens Fund

Big Basin Redwoods State Park - California’s oldest state park. Redwood Loop Nature Trail, May 2025 Public access to Big Basin has been severely impacted by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire and ongoing fire recovery work, but the park is now open for limited day-use access. Reservations for parking are not required, but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available. The parking fee is $6 per vehicle plus a $2 reservation fee or $10 per vehicle without