Plan Your Visit
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is open every day from sunrise to sunset, and most visits start at the day-use area on Highway 9 in Felton, where the visitor center opens 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With an hour, walk the 0.8-mile Redwood Grove Loop; with half a day, add a river walk or the climb from the campground; with a full day, hike the 5.9-mile Cowell Highlights Loop. Parking is $10 a car. Weather changes fast in the Santa Cruz Mountains, so bring layers.
Before You Go
How Much Time You Need
California State Parks suggests:
- An hour: the shady, flat Redwood Grove Loop Trail, 0.8 miles. Step inside the Fremont Tree with a flashlight.
- Half a day: walk from the campground through ponderosa pine and chaparral down to the Redwood Grove and back, about 5 miles, with time by the San Lorenzo River and in the visitor center.
- A full day: the 5.9-mile Cowell Highlights Loop, taking in the Redwood Grove, the Observation Deck, the Overlook Bench, Cathedral Redwoods and Cable Car Beach.
If you have more time, the Fall Creek Unit is a separate trip with almost 20 miles of quiet trails, and the private Roaring Camp steam railroad is next door.
Weather and Seasons
California State Parks warns that the weather changes quickly in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It gives winter temperatures from the upper 30s to the mid-50s °F and summer temperatures from the high 40s into the 80s. The grove is shaded and cool even in summer; the sandhills around the Observation Deck are open and sunny.
- Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day): the busiest season. Campground reservations are strongly recommended, and rangers run campfire programs, junior ranger activities and guided hikes.
- Late summer and fall: the agency says river crossings on hikes like Four Crossings are doable for most people from July to October.
- Winter and spring: the river runs wide and fast, and trails to the water are slippery. In bad weather the park may occasionally close and move campers out.
Check the California State Parks park page for closures before you drive, especially after storms.
Visitor Center and Nature Store
The visitor center, next to the Redwood Grove Loop, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and covers wildlife, plants, logging and park history. The Mountain Parks Foundation Nature Store, at the end of the Meadow Trail, is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and sells the detailed topographic trail map.
Accessibility
- The Redwood Grove Loop Trail is accessible, with a semi-accessible restroom halfway and an ADA restroom in the main parking lot.
- The visitor center and Nature Store are accessible. California State Parks recommends curbside drop-off and pick-up for people with limited mobility.
- The campground has accessible sites (17, 23, 24 and 109) with accessible restrooms and showers.
- Visitors who need help should call the park at (831) 335-4598 before arriving. California State Parks posts updates at access.parks.ca.gov.
Guided Walks, Programs and Field Trips
Rangers and docents lead free programs through the year, including Redwood Grove guided walks; find them on the California State Parks events calendar. Schools can book field trips for a guided walk in the old-growth forest; the agency posts registration for each school year in mid-August. Its Kids2Parks program, with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, helps pay transport for some Title 1 schools in Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Volunteers can join the park's stewardship team.
Safety
- Poison oak grows everywhere: leaves in groups of three, sometimes red. "Leaves of three, let it be."
- Rattlesnakes and mountain lions: be alert. Ticks: check after hiking.
- Railroad tracks and trestles are private and dangerous. Keep off.
- Stay on established trails, and carry a map; the agency says routes are complicated.
- Drones and model aircraft are not allowed in the park.
Permits
Commercial photography and filming need a permit from the California Film Commission. Weddings, parties and special events need a park permit: call (831) 335-6324.
A Common Question: Can You Drive Through a Tree?
Not here. California State Parks says no tree in the Santa Cruz Mountains can be driven through; the three drive-through trees in Northern California are far north on US Route 101, in Leggett, Myers Flat and Klamath.
Nearby State Parks
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park, 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, (831) 338-8860.
- Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz, (831) 423-9703; Rincon Fire Road connects toward it for cyclists.
Plan Your Visit FAQ
How long do you need at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park?
An hour is enough for the 0.8-mile Redwood Grove Loop. California State Parks suggests about 5 miles for a half day and the 5.9-mile Cowell Highlights Loop for a full day.
What is the weather like at Henry Cowell?
California State Parks gives winter temperatures from the upper 30s to mid-50s °F and summer from the high 40s to the 80s, and warns that mountain weather changes quickly.
Is Henry Cowell wheelchair accessible?
The Redwood Grove Loop Trail, visitor center and Nature Store are accessible, and the campground has accessible sites with restrooms and showers. Call (831) 335-4598 before arriving if you need help.
Can you fly a drone at Henry Cowell?
No. The park is closed to drones, model aircraft and gliders.
Can you drive through a redwood tree at Henry Cowell?
No. There are no drive-through trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The three in Northern California are on US Route 101 far to the north.