What's New

Make your state parks adventures easier with a Golden Poppy Pass. Valid at all local state parks and beaches, this pass is available in the ParkStore Online.

SHOP

New bilingual interpretive panels have been installed at Seabright State Beach and the historic Castle Beach gate has been restored. Check them out next time you visit.

EXPLORE

Flash flooding at Wilder Ranch State Park damaged portions of the park’s historic dairy ranch. Your help is needed to support the short-term response and long-term recovery efforts.

DONATE

The Horse Camp at Rancho Del Oso Unit on the coast side of Big Basin is open for interim walk-in and bike-in, non-equestrian camping. Reservations required.

CAMP

Plan Your Visit

Our Mission, Our Passion

Our local parks and beaches: thriving and available to all!

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends) is a vital partner with California State Parks, creatively working to ensure our cherished local parks and beaches are thriving and available to all. Friends’ innovative and collaborative community partnership provides support and investment for education, equity and inclusion, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation and cultural events.

I want to help!

Get News and Stay Connected

#thatsmypark

View

Apr 23

Open
#REPOST @bigbasin_sp Our Natural Resource crews will begin a prescribed burn at Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Wednesday April 24th. This burn will likely continue for two to three weeks and will be focused on the heavy fuels along the edge of Johansen and Upper China Grade Roads that were created during a fuel reduction project in 2022 following the CZU Lightning Complex Fire incident. This burn will be staffed 24 hours a day while ignitions are completed and regularly monitored until completely out. The crews have also recently finished this season’s pile burning. 84 piles were burnt at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, 244 piles at Cowell’s Fall Creek subunit, and 100 piles at Big Basin. Thank you Natural Resources team for proactively protecting our parks and communities! Be sure to visit our new website www.parks.ca.gov/santacruzprescribedburns to stay informed about our efforts to preserve our public lands, improve biodiversity, and ensure a safer environment for our community. #BigBasin #BigBasinRedwoodsStatePark #ThatsMyPark #PrescribedBurns #RXFire #GoodFire

#REPOST @bigbasin_sp Our Natural Resource crews will begin a prescribed burn at Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Wednesday April 24th. This burn will likely continue for two to three weeks and will be focused on the heavy fuels along the edge of Johansen and Upper China Grade Roads that were created during a fuel reduction project in 2022 following the CZU Lightning Complex Fire incident.

This burn will be staffed 24 hours a day while ignitions are completed and regularly monitored until completely out.

The crews have also recently finished this season’s pile burning. 84 piles were burnt at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, 244 piles at Cowell’s Fall Creek subunit, and 100 piles at Big Basin. Thank you Natural Resources team for proactively protecting our parks and communities!

Be sure to visit our new website www.parks.ca.gov/santacruzprescribedburns to stay informed about our efforts to preserve our public lands, improve biodiversity, and ensure a safer environment for our community.

#BigBasin #BigBasinRedwoodsStatePark #ThatsMyPark #PrescribedBurns #RXFire #GoodFire ...

17 0

View

Apr 23

Open
Do fish tacos sound delicious? 🌮 Bring your fishing gear to Manresa State Beach this weekend to catch your dinner. Starry flounder, California halibut, Barred surf perch, Striped bass and Surf smelt can be caught at Manresa. 🎣 A fishing license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older attempting to catch a fish. Obtain a license online by visiting the link in our bio or visit a local shop like Big 5 Sporting Goods to purchase a license in person. @santacruzstatebeaches #thatsmybeach #Thatsmypark #Fishing #FishingLisence #Fish #California #SantaCruz

Do fish tacos sound delicious? 🌮 Bring your fishing gear to Manresa State Beach this weekend to catch your dinner. Starry flounder, California halibut,
Barred surf perch, Striped bass and Surf smelt can be caught at Manresa. 🎣

A fishing license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older attempting to catch a fish. Obtain a license online by visiting the link in our bio or visit a local shop like Big 5 Sporting Goods to purchase a license in person.

@santacruzstatebeaches
#thatsmybeach #Thatsmypark #Fishing #FishingLisence #Fish #California #SantaCruz ...

12 0

View

Apr 23

Open
Our Natural Resource crews will begin a prescribed burn at Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Wednesday April 24th. This burn will likely continue for two to three weeks and will be focused on the heavy fuels along the edge of Johansen and Upper China Grade Roads that were created during a fuel reduction project in 2022 following the CZU Lightning Complex Fire incident. This burn will be staffed 24 hours a day while ignitions are completed and regularly monitored until completely out. The crews have also recently finished this season's pile burning. 84 piles were burnt at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, 244 piles at Cowell's Fall Creek subunit, and 100 piles at Big Basin. Thank you Natural Resources team for proactively protecting our parks and communities! Be sure to visit our new website www.parks.ca.gov/santacruzprescribedburns to stay informed about our efforts to preserve our public lands, improve biodiversity, and ensure a safer environment for our community. 📷: Natural Resources crew member in yellow turnout gear ignites a shrubby area with some oak trees at a recent prescribed burn in Big Basin. 📍 Ohlone Tribal Land friendsofscstateparks mountainparksfoundation #BigBasin #BigBasinRedwoodsStatePark #ThatsMyPark #PrescribedBurns #RXFire #GoodFire

Our Natural Resource crews will begin a prescribed burn at Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Wednesday April 24th. This burn will likely continue for two to three weeks and will be focused on the heavy fuels along the edge of Johansen and Upper China Grade Roads that were created during a fuel reduction project in 2022 following the CZU Lightning Complex Fire incident.

This burn will be staffed 24 hours a day while ignitions are completed and regularly monitored until completely out.

The crews have also recently finished this season's pile burning. 84 piles were burnt at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, 244 piles at Cowell's Fall Creek subunit, and 100 piles at Big Basin. Thank you Natural Resources team for proactively protecting our parks and communities!

Be sure to visit our new website www.parks.ca.gov/santacruzprescribedburns to stay informed about our efforts to preserve our public lands, improve biodiversity, and ensure a safer environment for our community.

📷: Natural Resources crew member in yellow turnout gear ignites a shrubby area with some oak trees at a recent prescribed burn in Big Basin.

📍 Ohlone Tribal Land

friendsofscstateparks mountainparksfoundation #BigBasin #BigBasinRedwoodsStatePark #ThatsMyPark #PrescribedBurns #RXFire #GoodFire ...

101 2

View

Apr 22

Open
Where's your favorite place to watch the sunset? ❤️☀️❤️ @santacruzstatebeaches #thatsmybeach #Thatsmypark #Sunset #Landscape #Beautiful #Photography #SantaCruz #Nature

Where's your favorite place to watch the sunset? ❤️☀️❤️

@santacruzstatebeaches
#thatsmybeach #Thatsmypark #Sunset #Landscape #Beautiful #Photography #SantaCruz #Nature ...

16 0

View

Apr 22

Open
Happy Earth Day! On April 22nd, we come together to celebrate our planet and reaffirm our commitment to its well-being. Today and every day, we encourage you to enjoy the outdoors, whether you’re in your backyard, exploring a State Park, or simply pausing to appreciate the natural world around you. No matter how you celebrate today, every action you take to protect the Earth counts. Share your Earth Day plans below and inspire others to engage in a more sustainable future! 📍 Quiroste Tribal Land Image: Elephant seals lay on the beach at sunset. #AñoNuevoStatePark #NorthernElephantSeal #ElephantSeal #EarthDay #CaliforniaStateParks #CaliforniaWildlife #ThatsMyPark

Happy Earth Day!

On April 22nd, we come together to celebrate our planet and reaffirm our commitment to its well-being. Today and every day, we encourage you to enjoy the outdoors, whether you’re in your backyard, exploring a State Park, or simply pausing to appreciate the natural world around you.

No matter how you celebrate today, every action you take to protect the Earth counts. Share your Earth Day plans below and inspire others to engage in a more sustainable future!

📍 Quiroste Tribal Land

Image: Elephant seals lay on the beach at sunset.

#AñoNuevoStatePark #NorthernElephantSeal #ElephantSeal #EarthDay #CaliforniaStateParks #CaliforniaWildlife #ThatsMyPark ...

128 1

View

Apr 22

Open
Here’s your Monday Morning Otter Shot. Nestled in the Pickleweed for a nap in the sun. #seaottersofinstagram #seaotters #otters #marinemammals #babyanimals #wildlife_photography #wildlife #wildlifetour #wildlife_shots #wildlifephotographers #experienceoverthings #traveladventures #amazinganimals #NatGeo #sunsetmag #elkhornslough #sanjoselove #visitsanjose #mosslanding #montereycalifornia #californiawildlife #santacruznow #thatsmypark #santacruzcounty #montereybayaquarium #VisitCalifornia #santacruzlife #seemonterey #earthlovers #happyanimals

Here’s your Monday Morning Otter Shot. Nestled in the Pickleweed for a nap in the sun.
#seaottersofinstagram #seaotters #otters #marinemammals #babyanimals #wildlife_photography #wildlife #wildlifetour #wildlife_shots #wildlifephotographers #experienceoverthings #traveladventures #amazinganimals #NatGeo #sunsetmag #elkhornslough #sanjoselove #visitsanjose #mosslanding #montereycalifornia #californiawildlife #santacruznow #thatsmypark #santacruzcounty #montereybayaquarium #VisitCalifornia #santacruzlife #seemonterey #earthlovers #happyanimals ...

70 0