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| Area: 19,000 Acres | ||
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Pam Starr
Alyn Robert Brereton
Julie MacKinnon
Linda Pittman
Parham Pourahmad
Larry Whiting
Randall Finley
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| Big Basin Redwood State Park - Site # 29 | |||
| Background: | California's oldest state park begins at forested ridges over 2,000 feet high, encompasses gorges with cascading waterfalls, and ends at a freshwater marsh bordered by dunes and sandy beach. Turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks favor the rocky slopes, where evergreens and chaparral support hummingbirds, warblers, and doves. Resident black-tailed deer, western gray squirrels, and raccoons are abundant and easily seen. Massive redwood trees along Waddell Creek hide brown creepers, American dippers, marbled murreltets and bats. The moist environment sustains California newts, Pacific giant salamanders, and Pacific treefrogs. The Skyline to the Sea Trail begins at nearby Castle Rock, passes through Big Basin uplands, and ends at the beach with views of gulls, tern, and harbor seals. Across Highway 1, Waddell Creek Marsh attracts herons, egrets, legions of shorebirds, and salmon or steelhead bound for the creek. | ||
| Viewing Tips: | Low to moderate probability of seeing wading birds and birds of prey year-round. Look for songbirds in winter and spring. Shorebirds and marine birds are common in winter. Watch for marbled murrelets from April through August leaving forest at sunrise. One hundred miles of trails. Visitor center. | ||
| Viewing Site Hours of Operation are: | |||
| Staff On-site: | Yes | ||
| Open: | Everday | ||
| Hours: | sunrise - sunset | ||
| Year Round: | Yes | ||
| Road Information: |  Paved. | ||
| Road Hazards: yes | |||
 Number of Parking Spaces: 0 | |||
| Parking Fee: | |||
| Proximity to viewing area: | |||
 Pull-Through Parking: Yes | |||
| Parking Notes: | |||
| How to Get There: | From Saratoga or Santa Cruz, take Highway 9 to Highway 236. Follow Highway 236 from Boulder Creek 9 miles to park. Beach and marsh entrance off of Highway 1, north of Santa Cruz. | ||
| Contact Information | |||
| Managing Agency: | California State Parks | ||
| Agency Site URL: | http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=540 | ||
| Physical Address: | 21600 Big Basin Hwy. Boulder Creek, CA 95006 |
Agency 2: | same , CA |
| Manager Phone: | |||
| Site Phone: | (831) 338-8860 | ||
| County: | Santa Cruz | ||
| Addition Website: | |||