Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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The Redwood Grove Trail (old-growth loop) in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
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 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Location in California
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Santa Cruz County, California, USA |
| Nearest town | Felton, California |
| Area | 4,623 acres (18.71 km2) |
| Established | 1954 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a special state park in California, USA. It protects beautiful forests and river areas, especially a grove of very old coast redwood trees. You can find it in Santa Cruz County, between the cities of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley. It's also close to Felton and the University of California at Santa Cruz. The park also has a separate part called the Fall Creek area, north of Felton. This big park, about 4,623-acre (1,871 ha), was created in 1954.
Contents
What You'll Find in the Park
The main part of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park covers about 1,750 acres (7.1 km2). The separate Fall Creek unit adds another 2,390 acres (9.7 km2). The park is located in the southern part of the Northern California coastal forests area.
Amazing Trees and Plants
In the many stream canyons, you'll find lots of coast redwood trees. Other native trees include coast Douglas fir, California bay laurel, tanbark oak, California hazelnut, and bigleaf maple.
Higher up from the redwood forest, you can see trees like Pacific madrone. There's also a stand of Ponderosa pine trees, which are rare at this low elevation. Some of the highest, driest slopes have unique chaparral areas called "elfin forests." You can also find the special Santa Cruz Sandhills community here.
The Old-Growth Redwood Grove
The park's most famous part is the old-growth coast redwood grove. It's about 40 acres (16 ha) in size. This area is full of different kinds of ferns and lots of redwood sorrel.
Other parts of the park, including the Fall Creek unit, were heavily logged in the 1800s. People cut down trees for lumber and to fuel lime kilns, like those at nearby Cowell Lime Works. Logging mostly stopped by the 1920s. Now, the second-growth redwoods are quite large, several feet wide.
Fun Things to Do
Both parts of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park offer many activities for families and nature lovers. You can go hiking, fishing (in season), and camping (for RVs and tents). It's also a great place for birdwatching. Some trails allow horses, dogs, and mountain biking. You can also visit the Mountain Parks Nature Store. Right next to the main parking lot is the Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad.
Main Park Adventures
The main park has over 15 miles (24 km) of hiking trails. Some trails lead to small, sandy beaches along the San Lorenzo River. Others offer amazing views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and even glimpses of Monterey Bay.
The park has a modern visitor center that is open all year. Park employees and volunteer guides are there to help you. The Mountain Parks Nature Store is also open most park hours. You can even walk directly from the park's main parking lot to the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad.
The Redwood Grove Loop
The Redwood Grove has very old, "virgin" redwoods. The oldest trees are about 1,400 to 1,800 years old. They can grow to about 300 feet (91 m) tall and over 16 feet (4.9 m) wide. Locals call this area "the loop." It's mostly a self-guided walk. However, on most summer weekends and other times, free guided walks are available.
On the loop, you'll see unique old-growth redwoods. One has unusual white albino growth. Another is the John C. Fremont tree, which was hollowed out by fire and once used as a honeymoon room!
Right by the park's entrance, you can see all three known types of redwood trees planted together. These are the Coast Redwood, the Giant Sequoia, and the Dawn Redwood. The Giant Sequoia and Dawn Redwood are not native to this area. This spot lets you easily compare these amazing trees.
Habitats and Fishing
This park is great for studying different natural areas, called habitats. Within just a few hundred feet, you might go from a riverbank area to a sandhill community. You'll also find mixed evergreen forests and redwood forests. During winter, people can fish for Steelhead and salmon. There's also a picnic area with views of the San Lorenzo River.
Besides driving, you can reach the park by the Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway. Tent and RV camping spots are available a few miles from the main entrance.
Garden of Eden Swimming Hole
The Garden of Eden is a popular swimming spot in the San Lorenzo River. It's located inside Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
You can get there by taking Ox Fire Road off Highway 9. There's a parking area about 0.75 miles south of the park's main entrance. From there, it's about a 1.5-mile hike roundtrip, with a 200-foot change in elevation.
The water at the Garden of Eden is not deep enough to safely dive. There are many large, sharp rocks at the bottom, so diving is not allowed. Also, please remember that alcohol, dogs, fires, and glass containers are not allowed in this area.
Fall Creek Unit Extension
The northern part of Henry Cowell State Park is called the Fall Creek Unit. It has over 20 miles (32 km) of hiking trails. Most trails follow creeks that flow all year. These creeks create beautiful mini waterfalls during the rainy season (November to March).
There's also an 18-hole Disc Golf course run by a local school. Along Fall Creek, you can see the ruins of a 19th-century lime factory. This includes a quarry and lime kilns built by the I.X.L. Lime Company in 1874. Industrialist Henry Cowell later bought these lime works.
The Fall Creek in Santa Cruz County starts near Empire Grade Road. It flows 4–5 miles south and southeast before joining the San Lorenzo River, east of Highway 9. Please note that dogs and bicycles are not allowed in the Fall Creek Unit.
Park History
In the 1830s and 1840s, when California was part of Mexico, large land grants called "ranchos" were created. The land that is now Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was once part of three different ranchos: Rancho Cañada del Rincon en el Rio San Lorenzo, Rancho Zayante, and Rancho Carbonera.
By 1865, most of these rancho lands had been divided up. In 1865, industrialist Henry Cowell bought 6,500 acres (26 km2) of the former Rancho Cañada del Rincon en el Rio San Lorenzo. This included 1,600 acres (6 km2) of forest. He added this to his quarrying and lime businesses nearby. Many buildings in San Francisco were built using redwood and limestone from this area.
In the 1920s, the owners of a large resort next to Henry Cowell's land wanted to protect their beautiful redwood forests. They worked to get the County of Santa Cruz to buy and preserve these lands. This was finally approved in 1930, thanks to the efforts of California Lieutenant Governor, the Honorable William Jeter.
Later, in 1954, a generous person named Samuel Cowell, who was 90 years old and the last of the Cowell family, donated the rest of the land to the State. He was also a supporter of Cowell Hall at the University of San Francisco. He made one condition: Santa Cruz County also had to give its nearby land (Big Trees Park) to the State. This way, all the land could be managed together. So, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was officially created on August 15, 1954. The separate Fall Creek unit was added later.
Images for kids
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This large coast redwood, which is located on "the loop" at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, is known as "The Giant" (June 2022).
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A young visitor to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (June 2022).
