Directions to Waterfalls of Big Basin Trail Run

Waterfalls of Big Basin
Directions to Big Basin Redwood State Park

The park is 25 miles northwest of Santa Cruz via Highways 9 and 236 and about 65 miles south of San Francisco. Click here for a road map. From the Bay Area, there are three basic ways to get to the park: from the San Jose area, from the San Francisco area, and from the Santa Cruz area.

Parking is $6.00—Please do not park in day use area. Please plan an extra 10 minutes for parking.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All roads into Big Basin are curvy. The least curvy route is route 1 as described below.

Route 1 (From San Jose, Oakland, Fremont)

Take the I-880 South, which becomes Highway 17. As you head towards Santa Cruz and come down from the summit, you will see a sign on the freeway for Big Basin. The actual road name is Mount Hermon Road. Exit the freeway here and stay right onto Mount Hermon Road. Stay on this road as it goes through the city of Scotts Valley. Mount Hermon Road ends at an intersection with a signal (Graham Hill Rd.). Turn right at this light. You will immediately come to another lighted intersection (Highway 9). Turn right again. Stay on Highway 9 in this northerly direction for 15 miles. You will be traveling through Felton, then Ben Lomond and Brookdale. You will eventually come to the town of Boulder Creek. In Boulder Creek there is one stop sign. At this stop sign you will turn left onto Highway 236/Big Basin Way. Stay on this highway for 10 minutes and you will enter the Park. Proceed to Park Headquarters.

Route 2 (From San Francisco, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto)

Take either 101 South or I-280 South. From there take 85 South. Exit 85 at De Anza Blvd./Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road. Turn right and head west. After a few miles, you’ll encounter a signal. Turn right onto Highway 9/Big Basin Way; drive through the quaint shopping area of Saratoga. The road then begins to climb into the mountains. Stay on 9 as it winds through the mountains for 12 miles. You will then see a sign for Highway 236/Big Basin. You can turn right onto Highway 236 and continue on this road for 9 miles until you come to Park Headquarters. However, this road is small, slow and twisty, and many drivers prefer to continue on Rte. 9 about 8 miles to the stop sign in Boulder Creek. Turn right onto Rte. 236/Big Basin Way and proceed another 10 minutes to Park Headquarters.

Route 3 (From California Highway 1, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Half Moon Bay)

Take Highway 1 to Santa Cruz. Take Highway 9 north for 15 miles. You will pass through Felton, Benl Lomond and Brookdale and eventually arrive at the town of Boulder Creek. In Boulder Creek there is one stop sign. At this stop sign you will turn left onto Highway 236/Big Basin Way. Stay on this road for 9 miles and you will enter the Park. Proceed to Park Headquarters.

Alternate (actually faster between Santa Cruz and Felton)

From the South: Exit Highway 1 at Ocean Street. Turn right onto Graham Hill Road at the first traffic light you come to on Ocean. From the North: Pass Hwy 9 at River St. and take the next exit (Ocean St.). At bottom of ramp, turn left onto Graham Hill Rd. This road will take you into the town of Felton, where you will turn right onto Highway 9. Proceed as above.