Updates

Making Big Basin Safe for People and Wildlife

• Saddle Mountain construction has continued including preparation for ADA access to the two interim park operation buildings.
• A backup generator was installed at Saddle Mountain and AT&T service was installed.
• Building conversion at Saddle Mountain continues including interior paint and furniture installation,
• New educational panels for former Headquarters area have been designed and are being sent to the printer.
• In the former headquarters area, cavities where three of the former buildings were removed after burning have been filled to restore the natural topography at the site.
• The Union Creek culvert replacement is underway.
• CalFire and State Parks staff completed review of some additional helicopter landing zone locations in the backcountry.
• On May 14th, volunteers from the Big Basin Volunteer Trail Crew and Trail Center helped around the Redwood Loop Trail in preparation for the reopening this summer. To learn about the progress that was made with the Big Basin Volunteer Trail Crew, click here. To learn more about the Trail Center Crew and the work they did, click
• The Forest Management Strategy field work has continued throughout this year throughout Big Basin, Butano and Ano Nuevo, and 10,000 trees are being monitored.
• CCC are working in Big Basin on Dool Trail
• Staff began work on culverts on Gazos Rd.
• Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has continued working on the online reservation system for interim parking reservations at former headquarters area.

Learn about Big Basin’s Recovery

• A press release about the vision summary was recently released, in the release the highlights of the summary were shared as well as information about limited day use access and the recovery work that is continuing to be done. To read the press release, click here.
• At the end of May we held a media tour for Big Basin, read all about what has been happening in the park and the changes that will occur as we reopen in the summer:
  • San Fransico Chronicle “Fire-ravaged Big Basin Redwoods State Park to reopen this summer”
  • Santa Cruz Sentinel “Reopening planned for Big Basin Redwoods State Park”
  • Lookout Santa Cruz “Reimagining Big Basin: Following CZU fire devastation, what should the park become?”
  • KSBW “Big Basin Redwood State Park is getting ready to reopen to visitors this summer”
  • The Mercury News “Big Basin Redwoods State Park reopening plans announced after devastating wildfire”
  • Los Angeles Times “A historic California redwood park will soon welcome visitors, two years after devastating fire”
  • Patch “Big Basin Redwoods Park Could Reopen This Summer”

Stakeholder Engagement

• The project advisory committee members reviewed the vision summary and provided comments to the project team.
• The Public Draft Vision Summary is available and posted on the project website! This document was created through months of public input to guide the reestablishment of Big Basin after the 2020 CZU Lighting Complex Fire. To read the summary, click here.
• Staff met with, informed, and listened to the immediate neighbors to the Saddle Mountain site on May 22.
• A community open house happened on Friday, June 3, 5-7 PM at the Recreation Hall in Boulder Creek Boulder, to review the Big Basin Vision Summary.
• Members of the public are invited to submit comments on the public draft vision summary through June 17.