Destination | Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Skip a trip to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and opt for a walk through a grove of giant redwood trees in the California State Park–Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Tucked in the Santa Cruz Mountains lies acres of towering redwood trees.  The Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, established in 1954, is home to a grove of over 40-acres of old-growth coast redwoods. Walking and hiking trails, campgrounds and picnic areas fill the park and draw visitors who might be looking for a different side of Santa Cruz County away from the packed crowds that usually flock to the Santa Cruz beaches on warm, sunny spring days.

There’s something humbling about standing amongst giants as tall and old as the redwoods in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.  According to the California State Park’s informational brochure, the tallest redwood in the park is estimated to be approximately 277 feet tall, about 16 feet wide and around 1500 years old. The saying, “respect your elders,” can easily be applied to these old-growth redwoods, as they’ve endured a lot over the span of their lifetime. From California wildfires, storms and historic droughts, theses grand redwoods still stand tall–surviving and providing lessons on the importance of redwood preservation for all who visit.