Santa Cruz Mountains State Parks

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Santa Cruz Mountains State Parks

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09/30/2026

🎃October is upon us🎃

🔥👩🏽‍🚒 Good Fire Fair
Want to watch a prescribed burn in person? Join us from 10 to 3 on October 10th to see, hear, and learn about "Good Fire" in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Swing by the main parking lot of Henry Cowell Redwoods off Highway 9 for food trucks, fire engines, informational booths, games, crafts, prizes, and more!

🍂🍁 Tree ID Tour
Looking for a touch of Fall color? Join us at 3:00 pm on Halloween for a journey through archways of sycamores and bigleaf maples as they drop their vibrant leaves from the sky. Meet in front of the Visitor Center.

🧡🧡

09/28/2026

What cool flower did you see this Summer?

As the season comes to a close, flowers and the food source they provide for critters like bugs and birds dwindle. This brightly colored beauty, California Fuchsia, is one of the last flowers to bloom in the Santa Cruz Mountains before Winter settles in. Critters like our resident Anna's Hummingbird can be seen seeking out its flowers for a sugary snack. We love a late bloomer!

An impressive variety of California native plants flower throughout the calendar year, with some blooms lasting weeks and others lasting just days. The diversity in the timing of blooms allows for a stable and plentiful supply of nectar for native pollinators. Looking forward, the Anna’s hummingbird will visit the manzanita blooms for a sip of nectar in the Winter.

09/27/2026

Come see how good fire is used in the Central Coast! Hosted by the UCANR Fire Network & California State Parks. The Good Fire Fair brings together the people who use fire to care for land on the Central Coast, including tribal stewards, state and local agencies, fire departments, land trusts, and researchers. Come see how prescribed fire works up close, talk with the people who plan and carry it out, and learn what you can do at home to live more safely with wildfire.

If conditions are right, you will be able to see a prescribed fire carried out by local resource managers in the heart of a Santa Cruz Mountains coast redwood grove.
Activities include: Live fire demo! Kid zone, fire safety, educational demonstrations, food trucks, home resilience, meet local organizations and more!

See the full schedule at: goodfirefair.org

09/26/2026

Mushrooms Return!

This sulphur shelf mushroom here was our education staff's first sighting of the mushroom season! As we move into fall, mushrooms will be a more frequent sight.

Aptly named, this mushroom is similar to sulphur in color and grows in shelf-like clusters. They are common to see on fallen oak logs like this one in the Redwood Grove Loop!

This mushroom is not poisonous to humans and has no poisonous look-alikes. Friendly reminder that all natural and cultural resources in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park are protected, meaning they are not allowed to be collected or removed. Please leave all mushrooms, plants, animals, rocks, and other artifacts where you find them.

09/25/2026

What would your day look like without driving? Sign up for Santa Cruz County’s Week Without Driving and challenge yourself to travel without a personal vehicle starting on October 1!

Week Without Driving 2026 encourages our community to explore transportation from a different perspective and better understand the challenges many Santa Cruz County residents face every day when traveling to work, school, medical appointments, groceries, and visiting family and friends.

Join Cruzin’ Together Santa Cruz County, Oct. 1–8, 2026, as we highlight better access, greater mobility, and stronger transportation connections across Santa Cruz County.

Learn more: www.cruzintogetherscc.org

Image: Close-up photo of part of bike (rear wheel and seat) with greenery in background and Week Without Driving and Cruzin’ Santa Cruz County logos.

📍Ohlone Tribal Land

09/24/2026

Often seen out in September and October, spiders like the one in this photo are busy filling their bellies before winter comes.

This photo tells the story of a well earned meal. Our spider friend has trapped an insect, perhaps some type of wasp, in its web. Once trapped, the wasp is injected with the spiders venom and wrapped in a cocoon of silk where it will stay for 1-4 hours before being consumed by the spider.

This particular species of garden spider, Argiope aurantia, has a few fun common names: zig zag spider, zipper spider, and golden garden spider to name a few. The female spiders are 2-3 times larger than the males - wowza! Notice the large size of this female spider compared to the wasp it is wrapping up in silk.

09/23/2026

Portions of Pipeline Trail in Henry Cowell State Park will be impacted in October due to Santa Cruz County's pipeline project.

Trail access will be impacted from October 7th to October 21st. During this period, expect delays, respect all signage, and follow guidance from staff and onsite spotters.

08/28/2026

Let's say hello to some good dogs spotted in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park!🌲

Have you ever been curious about or frustrated by not being able to bring your dog to your favorite park area? Well, despite what may seem arbitrary, we assure you, there are good reasons for these restrictions! 🐾

Maintaining certain trails as dog-friendly is, in fact, a critical part of what visitors can do to contribute to local animal conservation! We encourage you to enjoy the parks with your pup AND to contribute to the protection and conservation of our local species!🐇

Disclaimer: Task-trained ADA service animals are more than welcome to accompany their handler through all parts of the park, allowing important access to our disabled guests!🦮

08/25/2026

Welcome September! Summer is wrapping up, but the events at Henry Cowell Redwoods just keep coming! Come and join our lovely host of volunteers and naturalists on our guided walks throughout the month.

08/14/2026

Shingle Mill and Old Growth Redwood Hike May 16, 2026 (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Portola Redwoods State Park, Headquarters – La Honda, California
Distance: 8.2 Miles Elevation Gain: 1,100 Level: Moderate

Led by longtime docent Steve S., this shaded summer hike takes us through second-growth redwood forest past the remains of an old shingle mill, lost to history. As we climb along Shingle Mill Creek we encounter a massive old-growth redwood. The redwood is hollow, which is probably why it was never logged. After lunch underneath the giant tree, we emerge onto dry grassland, where we loop around to return via Coyote Ridge. This moderate hike is mostly flat, but covers 8.3 miles, which is why it is rated “moderate.” There is an uphill section that gains 600 feet over 2.8 miles.

Bring at least one liter of water, lunch, snacks, and appropriate clothing. Rain cancels. Meet at Park Headquarters. Day use parking is $10 per vehicle, program is free.

Address

101 Big Trees Park Road
Felton, CA
95018

Website

https://linktr.ee/santacruzcastateparks

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