henry cowell redwoods state park

JeriLG

We had tickets for the Roaring Camp Railroad. As we had paid for day parking (8.00) we decided after the train ride to cross over to Henry Cowell. I had my elderly father and cousins visiting us from Alaska with two small children. All were able to do the .8 mile walk easily. There are amazing giants along the way and brochures that help explain points of interest. The kids loved hiding in the Fremont Tree to frighten others who ventured in. As a child I remembered the entrance being much bigger. A great example of the redwood self healing! It was a warm day and the forest was cool. The loop is flat. There are many more trails and options here. Definitely check in at the visitor center.

r0bertw49

Absolutely fabulous to take a walk amongst these trees, their size is enormous, they are ageless. For the less adventurous, there is a one hour walking track that starts at the visitor's centre and loops around and back to the centre, there are some significantly longer trails was well.

mantaraya45

Beautiful walking trails with ancient huge trees. You can take your dog on a couple of the trails. Gift shop, bathrooms, maps. $10 park admission.

JMRow

We paid $10 to see the Natural Bridge which also gets you in to this park and all parks in area. We arrived about 2pm on a sunny 63 degree day & it was chilly under the trees. We stopped at gift shop first then at visitor center to learn more about the park. We took the short loop trail about a mile. Trees are amazing & if you have panoramic on you camera use it. We heard a train coming through woods and there's a little town next door it stops at & it's worth a walk through but expensive food & items.

StephenMcArthur

2000 plus year old redwoods, great stories about Teddy Roosevelt, amazing trees that heal themselves, some examples of albino redwoods, gorgeous trails, fabulous docents to take you on a tour, nice facilities with restrooms, store, etc. biking on some trails, four different habitats, incredible bright yellow banana slugs important to the redwoods survival -- what's not to like?

BrinMoreson

I've logged in some hours at this park, pardon the pun. This park has a nice interpretive center staffed with friendly docents and a sweet gift shop with sweatshirts, snacks, books and jewelry. The staff here is very helpful. Your dog can get a free dog biscuit at the gift shop.There are some wonderful trails to hike. You can bring your horse or your dog on designated trails. If you want to avoid the parking fee, park your car on Highway 9 and walk into the park. It's about half a mile from Highway 9 to the Interpretive Center and the gift shop. At that point you are near a walking loop that has interpretive markers describing trees, animals and climate. There's a pamphlet or an audiotape for the loop. They offer guided tours of the loop at different times. Ever see a Banana slug? Keep your eyes out for these yellow creatures that are unique to this area.Fishing. Photography. Swimming in the river. Camping. Deer. Coyotes. Go to parks.ca.gov for more information and a map.

Deb3932014

The redwood loop, which is only 0.8 miles self guided tour is well worth it. The guides are 25 cents at the trail head which is right at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is well worth the visit as well and is free, with donations accepted. It is $10 for day use, but if you are at the Roaring Camp Railroad, you can cross over to the park, and is only $8 to park. We did both parks in one day while waiting for our train to depart. Two great activities to do together.

justvisitingkids

This is the perfect spot to see an old grove of Redwood trees. There is a short 1 mile loop thru some fabulously HUGE trees. This is a beautiful peaceful spot... I keep coming back

Milkman097

Took a drive to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. $10 admission fee. We arrived about 10 am. It was a "warm" day with temps upon departure from near Santa Cruz in the low sixties. However upon arrival we noticed frost on the roof of the gift shop near the entrance to the redwood trails. Wife had to buy a sweatshirt. Great walk through the tall trees. Not as tall as what you would see in northern California but still impressive. We then took a ride on a narrow gauge steam operated engine for a two plus hour ride up Big Bear mountain. It is located just up the rise form the parking lot for the park. Very enjoyable and educational.

Lauriejed

This is a great place for a stroll in the redwoods for all ages. The wide, smooth Redwood loop trail is just .8 mile, so even little kids can walk it. Easy for older folks, even in walkers or wheel chairs. There are lots of redwoods around, but most are not old growth. These are as old as 2000 years. "Big" is such a little word to describe them! They soar and your spirit soars as you take in their majesty. Be sure to look UP as you walk!! Oh, and bring a small flash light or use the flashlight app on your iPhone, because half way around (near the restroom) there's a living tree you can go inside! You have to duck to enter, but you can stand up once you are in there. Don't miss this tree--it's just to the right of the main path. There's a nice little interpretive center at the beginning of the trail. Take a trail map and stop to read the information at the markers.

charlottel492

A great educational forest. The guided path is short enough for even teenagers to enjoy. Lots of deer when entering the park. I've been there three times with family and colleagues, and I enjoy it every time. Remember to bring an extra sweater or coat as the tall trees create a very chilly tour.

Stuart15734

Absolutely take the steam train! Do not hesitate because you won't be disappointed! Go on the hikes! You will not be disappointed. You will be in awe!

935jackiel

Our family met at the Redwood Loop trail and walked around it with the grandkids (twins age 9 and 6yr old). They loved the trees and going inside the hollow redwoods. There are markers and a trail guide so you can read about what your are seeing. It is a truly beautiful place and we are so lucky people saved these trees from destruction. The grandkids loved spending time in the visitor center. There are wonderful displays and things for them to touch and see. There is also a great relief of the area which shows the hiking trails. We will definitely be back to hike some of those and maybe with the grandkids.

mare4422

We were there in late October and it was pretty chilly, but the walk kept us warm. It was a beautiful little walk through the awesome redwoods. The pamphlet you receive explains all the different flowers and bushes and types of trees. Very peaceful - wasn't crowded. You could stop anywhere along the way to just sit and admire the beauty of nature. We saw a banana slug - were totally shocked to find it - apparently, they are only found in California and Alaska, and are not usually seen. Stopped in the information cabin and loved the fireplace - felt very comfy.

erickm685

There's nothing like spending the day among the redwoods. These giants create a Cathedral-like spiritual space. Consider spending some time here early in the morning or in the evening - these are magical times where the forest takes on a completely different atmosphere. Enjoy this space. I consider this one of the best places on earth.