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

Wildflowers are coming to a redwood forest near you…

#spring #springflowers #wildflowers #redwoods #redwoodforest #thatsmypark #visitsantacruz
...

17 0

Do you like to remove invasive plants? Then come join us at Natural Bridges State Park for our Restoration Party Day!
Where you can meet new people and help make a difference on Saturday, March 23rd from 9:30 - 11:30 AM.
Our efforts to remove these small invasive plants now mean fewer huge thistles in the summertime. The thistles seeds can last up to 7 years in the soil. So with combined effort, we can get a lot done!
Please RSVP here https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26414 or Call (831)423-4609
Please bring a water bottle and gloves.
Also, if you have a trowel and/or dandelion puller please bring that too!
🧤🌱🧤

#NaturalBridges #NaturalBridgesStateBeach #ThatsMyPark #CAStateParks #Restoration #InvasivePlants #Thistles #InvasivePlantRemoval #Hemlock
#SantaCruz #SantaCruzLife #VisitSantaCruz #CaliforniaCoast #BayArea #BayAreaEvents #WestCoast #CaliforniaMPAs #Everyone
...

17 0

Looking to be more prepared in the backcountry? Work in a field that requires knowledge of first aid? Or just looking to learn some useful, lifesaving skills in the comfort of a beloved local State Park? Either way, we’ve got you covered! We’re hosting a Wilderness First Responder Training course right here at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, led by NOLS-certified vendor Ready SF, and we’d love you to join us!

This program is a hybrid in-person and online course. The in-person element will be held at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on Monday 4/29 through Friday 5/3/2024.

Sign up at https://www.nols.edu/portal/wmi/courses/21842/ now or visit www.ReadySF.com for more information.

Image description: a colorful flyer with an illustrated forest background advertising the WFR training course at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on April 29th through May 3rd, 2024.

Repost: santacruzmountainsstateparks

🌲 CAStateParks FriendsOfSCStateParks MountainParksFoundation PortolaAndCastleRockFoundation
...

8 1

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Marcel Proust

#Thatsmypark #Quote #MarcelProust #Nature #Garden #Soul #Sky #Hiking #Trails
...

33 0

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round…🚌

Santa Cruz Metro’s Route 35 is running on weekends to Big Basin again! There will be 5 rides per day on Saturdays and Sundays, starting today through the summer.

A one-time regular bus pass costs $2 per ride, or $6 for a day pass, and there is no admission fee for entering the park. Be cool, save money and greenhouse gas emissions – ride the bus! 😎

For more information and a detailed schedule, visit www.scmtd.org.

Image: Route 35 bus arriving at the bus stop in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, with old-growth redwood trees sprouting fresh growth in the background.

📍 Ohlone Tribal Land

#BigBasin #BigBasinRedwoodsStatePark #ThatsMyPark #ReimaginingBigBasin #RideTheBus #PublicTransportation friendsofscstateparks mountainparksfoundation
...

56 2