Berry Creek Falls
No. As of 2026, all trails to Berry Creek Falls in Big Basin Redwoods State Park are closed, along with the trails in the West Waddell Creek State Wilderness, because of damage from the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire. California State Parks has not announced a reopening date. The waterfall hike open now is the 4.3-mile Sequoia Trail loop to Sempervirens Falls, from the main day-use area.
Berry Creek Falls at a Glance
What Is Closed
The park's 2026 infosheet lists the closure in one line: all trails to Berry Creek Falls and in the West Waddell Creek Wilderness are closed. That includes every route hikers used to take to the falls, from the park's headquarters area and from the coast.
From the coastal Rancho del Oso unit, the Skyline to the Sea Trail now ends at a gate 0.4 miles past the Highway 1 entrance. California State Parks says trail access north from Rancho del Oso into Big Basin is not expected to be restored for several years.
Please respect the closures. The agency asks visitors to stay off closed trails so the forest can heal, and closed routes may have washed-out sections or unstable burned trees.
Why It Is Still Closed
The CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned 97% of the park in August 2020 and damaged the entire trail network. Atmospheric river storms in 2023 caused more damage. Crews reopen trails one section at a time as they are rebuilt and made safe, and the state's Reimagining Big Basin project says rebuilding the full network will take many years. Read more on our fire and recovery page.
Go to Sempervirens Falls Instead
The Sequoia Trail to Sempervirens Falls reopened on May 22, 2026, for the first time since the fire. It passes a 20-foot waterfall, and with 1.4 miles of the Skyline to the Sea Trail it makes a moderate 4.3-mile loop from the main day-use area. It is the closest substitute for a Berry Creek Falls hike while the falls are closed.
Other Open Hikes
- Redwood Loop Trail: 0.6 mile, level, past the Mother and Father of the Forest
- Ocean View Summit Loop: about 4.2 miles with an ocean overlook
- Mount McAbee Overlook: 5.7 miles total
- Gazos Creek Road Loop: 12.25 miles on fire roads, an all-day outing
All are on the hiking and trail map pages.
How to Check the Status
Trail status changes as sections reopen. Check the official Big Basin page and its current park map before you go, and ask at the entrance kiosk, where staff can tell you which routes are safe and passable. There is no cell service at the park, so check before you leave home.
Berry Creek Falls FAQ
Is Berry Creek Falls open?
No. California State Parks' 2026 infosheet says all trails to Berry Creek Falls and in the West Waddell Creek Wilderness are closed due to damage from the 2020 CZU fire.
When will Berry Creek Falls reopen?
No date has been announced. California State Parks reopens trails as they are rebuilt and made safe, and says restoring the full trail network will take many years.
Can you hike to Berry Creek Falls from Rancho del Oso?
Not now. From the Highway 1 side, the Skyline to the Sea Trail is closed at a gate 0.4 miles past the entrance, and trail access north into Big Basin is not expected for several years.
What waterfall can I hike to at Big Basin instead?
Sempervirens Falls, a 20-foot waterfall on the Sequoia Trail, reopened May 22, 2026. The loop from the main day-use area is 4.3 miles.