The Park
As a young man, I spent a fair amount of time in Big Basin hiking and exploring the area. There are trails that cover the basin, and you can hike from the highest areas all the way to the coast. The spirit and ancient feeling of the area is awe inspiring.
Big Basin redwoods State Park is California’s oldest State Park. The park was established in 1902 and is home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. Big Basin Park consists of over 18,000 acres of old growth and recovering redwood forest along, with mixed conifer, oaks and chaparral. The elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 2,000 feet. The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops.
The park is located about 22 miles North West of Santa Cruz, and contains most of the Waddell Creek watershed. The basin was formed by a seismic uplift of the rim and the center was eroded by the many creeks that flow through the area. It served as a refuge for Ohlone Indians during the Spanish occupation of the area
Big Basin History
Popular belief says that the old growth areas were not inhabited by early peoples, but evidence indicates the contrary. Native artifacts have been recovered and indicate that the area was inhabited by the Olhone tribes of Quiroste, Achistaca, Cotoni and the Sayante.
The Redwood forested country of Big Basin served as a refuge for Ohlone Indians early during the Spanish occupation of the area. Although redwoods are the dominate species there are many other plant species are common. There are Coast Douglas-Fir, Tan Oak, Pacific Madrone and Pacific Wax Myrtle.
The first resistance to Spanish power in the Bay Area was led by the Quiroste in the area of Point Ano Nuevo, down the coast from San Francisco.
Flora and Fauna
In competition for sunshine are shrubs such as Red Huckleberries, Western Azalea, and many varieties of ferns. In the spring and summer, wildflowers such as Redwood Sorrel, Salal, Redwood Violets, Trillium, Star Lily and Mountain Iris.
At higher elevations as the forest growing thinner, the redwoods are replaced by more tolerant species. The higher, drier areas of Big Basin are typically full of chaparral vegetation such as; Knobcone Pines, Chinquapin and Buckeye. Ceanothus, Manzanita, Chamise, and Chaparral Pea grow dense and low. There are colorful wildflowers such as Indian paintbrush, Monkey flower, and Bush Poppies.
A huge variety of animals live in the Big Basin area. They include; California Black Bear, Black-tailed Deer, Western Gray Squirrels, chipmunks, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and opossums. Cougars have been seen in the park but are very rare. Grizzly bears which are extinct in California were numerous in the past.
An interesting fact is that the last known human to be killed by a Grizzly in the wild occurred in Big Basin in 1875, when William Waddell, a lumber mill owner, was killed near Waddell Creek.
There are birds such as; Stellar Jays, Acorn Woodpeckers, The Dark-eyed Junco, Brown Creeper, Anna’s Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher and Sharp-shinned Hawk.
In the reptile category, The Western Fence Lizard, and the Pacific Rattlesnake which is found almost exclusively in the high areas. There are amphibians such as the California Newt, Pacific Tree Frog and the Arboreal Salamander. One interesting creature is the Banana Slug which can reach 6 inches long.
