Henry Cowell Redwoods
Felton (Santa Cruz Mtns) · near Felton / Santa Cruz · SF Bay Area
Camping · Hiking
At a glance
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Elevation
- 800
- Campsites
- ~110 sites
- Season
- Year-round (campground seasonal)
- Fee
- ~$35/night
- Difficulty
- easy
- Route type
- loop
- Distance
- 4 miles
- Elevation gain
- 600 ft
- Time needed
- day
- Best season
- Year-round
Permits and booking
- Reservation required
- Yes
- How to reserve
- Reserve on ReserveCalifornia (6 months ahead). Redwoods near Santa Cruz on the San Lorenzo River — the campground sits in a sunnier ridge area; the old-growth grove is a short drive. Showers, RV sites. Near the Roaring Camp railroad.
- Permit required
- No
- How the permit works
- No permit; state park parking fee. Ancient coast redwoods a short drive from San Jose and Santa Cruz — flat, shady, and magical for families.
- How hard the permit is to get
- 1 of 5
What is here
- Setting
- forest
- Amenities
- Redwoods near Santa Cruz · Showers · San Lorenzo River · Roaring Camp steam trains
- Best for
- Redwood camping near Santa Cruz beaches
- Features
- Redwoods + Santa Cruz beaches · Old-growth grove loop · San Lorenzo River swimming · Roaring Camp railroad
- Features
- Old-growth coast redwoods · Flat, family-friendly loop · San Lorenzo River · Observation deck viewpoint
Worth knowing
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
- Dogs
- Not permitted
Camping detail
- Camp type
- developed · rv
- Intl tip
- Reserve on ReserveCalifornia 6 months ahead. The campground is on a sunny ridge; the old-growth grove and river swimming are a short drive down. Ride the Roaring Camp steam train. Santa Cruz beaches are 15 min away. Showers; RV-OK. A great redwoods-plus-beach family combo.
Hiking detail
- Intl tip
- The main Redwood Grove Loop is flat, short, and stroller-friendly — perfect for families or anyone wanting maximum redwood awe for minimal effort. For a longer hike and a view, climb to the observation deck. Go on a weekday morning to have the ancient grove at its quietest and most magical.
The guide
Henry Cowell Redwoods pairs redwood camping with easy access to the Santa Cruz coast — a perfect combination for a Northern Cal…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Henry Cowell Redwoods — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 37.041, -122.068