Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park ranks 4th on the list of best places to see redwoods in California. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is one of California's most popular state parks with redwood trees. And redwood trees aren't the only thing to see at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Roaring Camp Railroad, which operates on a historic 1880s steam train, is also located in the park.

There is no other place in California where you can ride an open-air train and be surrounded by redwoods. It's a fantastic experience. With its scenic beauty and a 40-acre grove of 1,500-year-old redwood trees, this park inspired some of California's first redwood preservation efforts and was admired by John C. Fremont and President Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park has 30 miles of hiking trails, over 100 campsites, a popular swimming hole called the Garden of Eden, and redwood trees that you can walk inside.

While you're there, don't miss the 0.8-mile Redwood Grove Loop Trail, which provides a good introduction to the area's history and allows you to enter the popular Fremont Tree. If you have more time, the 4-mile Cathedral Redwoods Trail is a good hike that includes a detour to Cable Car Beach. The 5-mile Observation Deck Trail, meanwhile, offers panoramic views and dense forests of second-growth redwoods, ponderosa pines, and Santa Cruz sandhills.

Google Rating: 4.8/5.0

Location: California, USA

Phone: +1 831-335-4598

Website: parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546