This remote cabin resort is located at the edge of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly and knowledgeable staff (and several super-cute animals that reside here). Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Hikes The park has a more modern visitor center. Here are some of our favorite places to stay in Felton near Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. #4 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. During our visit to Felton, we stayed at the Fern River Resort and we loved it! Locals and visitors alike love the beauty of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Henry Cowell has it all. You also agree to our Terms of Use and our use of your information as set forth in our Privacy Policy. If you plan to rent a cabin, you can reach many of these hikes from nearby vacation homes, hotels, and RV parks. To see the Mystery Spot you will need to buy an entrance ticket for a guided tour of the location. What is the earliest time I can explore the park? A mere mile away from the state park, Smithwoods RV Park is a front-row seat to the towns famous monthly festivals. The Mystery Spot is located a short drive from Felton and is one of the best things to do in the area. Think indoor mini golf, cheap eats, quirky cafes, old school cinemas and way more If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. This 6 mile out-and-back hike is on a paved road that travels through redwood trees, follows . The Roaring Camp is a great place for a family outing. The Old Lime Kiln Ruins mark the location of historic lime kilns, a barrel mill, and other remains of an old industrial complex that once operated in the forest between 1874-1919. So gorgeous. It's a peaceful place for reflection, respect, and reverence. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Henry Cowell Redwoods state park is a stunning redwood forest near Santa Cruz. In 1952, he acquired the grove and named it in memory of his father, Henry. The Mystery Spot is a unique tourist attraction that is well worth visiting. It takes about five minutes to drive there. Flash forward to 1950, when there was only one member of the Cowell family left, Samuel Harry Cowell, who was almost ninety years old. The cost varies depending on which place in the park you select and may be available only on certain dates or days of the week. You can also see the John C. Fremont tree where Lt. Fremont camped while surveying for the US government prior to California statehood. It has a hollowed-out trunk that visitors can climb through to see the inside. I'm a big fan of Henry Cowell, but Big Basin might just be my favorite. is situated by the boardwalk, where youre bound to splash around the water. Many of the State Park attractions and trails can be reached within a 10-15-minute walk from the property. Fern River Resort offers a variety of cabin options for different budgets and groups. While these beauties are perhaps at their most striking in the winter rain and fog, you can pretty much visit the state park whenever you want. Our recommended businesses are top-quality and are committed to their communities. You will immediately feel the coolness and stillness in this rainforest as soon as you enter it. Kids under 3 and active military are free of charge. A display of one of the oldest coastal redwood trees can be found near the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park visitor center. It will leave you speechless. Here are the top 9 things to do at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park! Felton Covered Bridge is an interesting historical attraction that is located in a community park near the main intersection. Other trees in this area include evergreens, riparian, madrone, oak, and ponderosa pine. The cabins at Fern River Resort come equipped with all the comforts of home and are filled with thoughtful touches for a cozy experience. The park features 15 miles of hiking and riding trails, which take you through towering redwoods, mixed evergreens, Santa Cruz sand hills, and ponderosa pines. The Fern River Resort is nestled in a wooded property off Highway 9 that connects many historic logging towns and the surrounding redwood State Parks. You can purchase firewood. This provides shade and privacy. It's truly a privilege to write about them." 'Rotary to the Rescue' will be held on Friday, Oct. 21, 11:30am-2pm at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton. This Vietnamese restaurant is fresh and delicious and Amy's go-to for healthy take-out. These campsites are quite large and come equipped with picnic-style tables, storage lockers, and grills for cooking or enjoying a firepit at night. The Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort is a great alternative to standard State Park camping that offers amazing amenities for its guests. Price: Day-use parking - $10, camping - $35/night. Store via Glen Arbor. The Central Coast RV camp is situated by the boardwalk, where youre bound to splash around the water. From here you can easily access Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and combine a trip to both within the same day. A trip to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a great outdoor escape all year long! At this exhibition, you can see the different tree rings and their age comparison in terms of modern-day events. Although the 4-mile-long trail to Cathedral Redwoods runs out and back, it is one of the most popular trails in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. In it were members of the San Francisco Bohemian Club, the Alameda Harmonie Verein, and the Independent Rifles, among others, about 300 people in total. This forest was originally purchased in 1867 for logging but the family decided to protect the trees instead and it became the first redwood preserve in the United States. For more information, call the Henry Cowell Campground at 831-438-2300 between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Roaring Camp is located right next to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park so you can combine a visit to both on the same day. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The parks day-use area is free to visitors who choose to hike or bike in, but bikes are allowed on only four trails within the park trail system; dogs are allowed on three trails. The Redwood Grove Loop Trail, if youre new to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, is a great way to get familiar with it and warm up your feet. The train travels to the top of Bear Mountain along one of the steepest grades built in North America. Starting from the N Big Trees Park Rd Parking you can head on a 0.8-mile long loop that passes through a 40-acre grove with some of the tallest and oldest redwood trees in California. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park encompasses more than 4,650 acres (1,882 hectares) of wilderness and offers a peaceful escape from Santa Cruz, San Jose, or San Francisco. Stop at the trailhead and scan your smartphone for a QR code. This is a limited review because of severe storms we were not able to see everything. Since the grove was already given to the state, Cowells representatives met with the officials, underwent lengthy negotiations, and were eventually successful. It can be found at the Roaring Camp parking lot. Listen all the way to see who came out with the best squad and hear what the guys had to say about the Baker Mayfield trade!. Cable Car Beach is a great place to stop along the route. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Our other. There are several routes that you can take to reach Cathedral Redwoods grove. You can admire the magnificent views of redwood trees and the San Lorenzo River from the property. With 15 miles of trails, you can hike, bike, and ride through the Redwood Forest. But, if you dont mind a few fellow campers, the parks river provides summer swimming, spring bounces with wildlife, and the fall makes for a front-row seat to vibrant rust-orange foliage. If youre thinking about going do it! The Bigfoot Discovery Museum is easily accessible off Highway 9 and is open Friday to Monday from 1-5 pm. Its quiet and peaceful and the trees are beautiful. This is a small but beautiful park with two sections: The main area, off Hwy 9, has a Visitor's Center, Nature Store and trails. Address: 4980 Hwy 9, Felton, CA 95018, United States. The trails were well maintained, marked so easy to follow, appreciated the handy trail guides. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (Felton) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. This park has 107 sites for tent camping among shady pine and oak forest trees. Many visitors park along Highway 9 and walk 1-2 miles into the park. This exhibition shows the various tree rings and their age in modern-day events. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is another park of old and massive redwoods , it's located in the Santa Cruz Mountains and is most famous for the 40-acre grove of towering old-growth redwood trees. If youre wanting to extend the hike, the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park offers over 20 miles of hiking trails through a second-growth forest that was once logged but has since regrown back. Feltons top attraction is the Roaring Camp. The museum consists of artifacts, exhibits, and evidence of Big Foot sightings. Its get very busy and with the road works going on at the moment parking gets tough. Camping reservations are highly recommended. 104 Lockheed Martin jobs available in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, CA on Indeed.com. Located around the beautiful redwoods, makes for plenty of shadeperfect for a hot summers day. ? This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Check out these posts next: Ive been out in the Santa Cruz area, and the small town of Felton and absolutely fell in love with it!! Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is known for its rich history and lush, towering redwoods native to the land. what you know about this area! Unfortunately, we missed the opening hours on our latest trip to Felton but my mom has visited the Bigfoot Discovery Museum before and really enjoyed hearing all the stories from the owner who manages it. Distance: ~3 miles; Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate; Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park has countless awesome trails for hikers of all levels, and you can combine this waterfall hike with so many other trails to create the perfect customizable hike for your level. Minimal muddy spots on trails. One of the largest trees within this loop is called the Giant with a noteworthy 270-foot height and 17-foot width. You can follow the trail past the duck ponds to reach the trestles. Top ways to experience nearby attractions Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Trip from San Jose 13 Full-day Tours from AU$394.23 per adult Big Sur Monterey California Pacific Coast One Day Tour 11 Recommended Bus Tours from AU$440.15 per adult (price varies by group size) Beginner Surf Lesson in Santa Cruz 11 Recommended Surfing Lessons from You can admire the Redwood Grove Loops giant trunks and tall trees, which block most sunlight from entering the grove. 2023 Copyright Visit Santa Cruz County. The park has been established to preserve forests and the areas next to the watershed of the San Lorenzo River, including a number of huge redwood trees. Your email address will not be published. If youre looking to spend a few days RV camping in Felton, weve got the perfect place for you! There is also a train which the kids will love. We started at the Redwood Grove Trail, then continued on the River Trail which connected with the Big Rock Hole Trail. Fern River Resort cabins are equipped with all the amenities of the home and have thoughtful touches to make your stay comfortable. The Redwoods Observation Deck is the highest point in the park overlooking Monterey Bay and the surrounding mountain peaks. In this post, we cover 9 of the best things to see & do at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and many other helpful visitor tips. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. . We were able to take the loop walk by the visitor center through the trees. Are you after, spend your weekend at a rugged campground. At the end of the tour, we had some free time to walk around the cabin and take a few photos of the slanted stairs and distorted floors. Three miles north of Santa Cruz, on Graham Hill Road, is the parks campground with 113 sites. It looks like planning is for a nice structure but right now there are only port-a-pottys and they are poorly maintained. Spectacular park. Some of the other popular attractions at Montaa de Oro State Park include: watching for Humpback whales, peering into the tidepools in Corralina Cove and hiking up the 1,347-foot Valencia. This grove contains more than 300 feet of high trees and is over 2000 years old. Near the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park visitor center, you can see a display with one of the oldest known coastal redwood trees. This forest is home to the remains of an old mining operation that was active between 1874-1919. We tried several different wines here and my favorite was the Pinot Noir. 113 No Hookup Rates: $35.00 Open: All year Facilities Hot showers Wi-Fi Nearby Gas Stations Coffee Shops Restaurants Hotels Attractions Airports Search nearby Things to do See all Golden Gate Bridge Tripadvisor (50K) Also, you will learn more about Henry Cowell State Park by scanning your phone for a QR code. You might be able to see Acorn Woodpeckers digging holes in the trees around the deck for winter storage. There are 4 ways to get from San Francisco to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park by bus, train, subway or car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. After the factory closed, the property slowly deteriorated. ." Jessica Louise on Instagram: "The last time I walked through Henry Cowell state park it was the most perfect spring afternoon. If you have more time, you can hike one of the longer trails or take a dip in the San Lorenzo River, which flows through the park. This Observation Deck is located near the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground and can be easily reached via a 0.5-mile-long trail. Looking for more things to do around the Central Coast? He and his brother John left their hometown of Wrentham, Massachusetts in 1849, right when the lure of gold was drawing people to the Golden State. This area is unique because of its unique sandhills and rare ecosystems. Featuring 15 miles of hiking and riding trails that take you through towering redwoods, mixed evergreens, sandhills, and ponderosa pines, the park boasts trees that are close to being 1,800 years old. Bodies of Water Nature & Wildlife Areas. Take your pick from standard RV camping sites for $80 a day, or if youre up for a splurge, the river view sites go for $125 a day. 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