Fire & Recovery

The CZU Lightning Complex Fire swept through 97% of Big Basin Redwoods State Park on August 18, 2020, destroying nearly every building, including the historic park headquarters and all the campgrounds. Most of the old-growth redwoods survived. The park reopened for limited day use on July 22, 2022, more than 20 miles of trails are restored, but camping in the redwoods and the trails to Berry Creek Falls remain closed.

What Happened

In August 2020 a week of record heat and low humidity dried the vegetation across California. Thousands of dry lightning strikes started hundreds of fires at once, and in the Santa Cruz Mountains several lightning fires merged into the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which swept into Big Basin on August 18.

According to the state's Reimagining Big Basin project, 17,792 of the park's 18,224 acres lay inside the fire perimeter. The fire burned hotter in some areas than others. About 100 structures were damaged or destroyed, including the 1930s headquarters, the campgrounds, employee housing and the entire trail network.

Did the Redwoods Survive?

Most of them did. California State Parks explains that coast redwoods evolved with fire: mature trees can have bark up to a foot thick, rich in tannin, a natural flame retardant. Their height keeps low fires out of their crowns, and they can resprout from roots, stumps, trunks and burls. Since the fire, most scorched redwoods have sprouted new growth along their trunks and branches, and madrone, live oak and tanoak are sprouting from their bases.

Younger redwoods and other tree species fared worse. You will see blackened trunks, standing dead trees and open, sunny slopes where shade used to be. The agency now works with Indigenous peoples on prescribed burns and other practices to make the forest more fire-resilient.

The 2023 Storms

Recovery took a second hit in 2023, when a series of atmospheric river storms damaged roads and trails again. California State Parks says most routes that were open before the storms have been partly or fully reopened, but repair work continues and hikers should expect downed trees.

What Is Open Now

• Main day-use area: open 8 a.m. to sunset, with reserved or drive-up parking
• Interim visitor center: open, with exhibits and staff
• Trails: more than 20 miles restored, including the Redwood Loop Trail and, since May 22, 2026, the Sequoia Trail to Sempervirens Falls
• Skyline to the Sea Trail: open from Castle Rock State Park to the main day-use area
• Highway 236: open to through traffic
• Rancho del Oso: coastal day use, visitor centers and a small walk-in campground

More than 230,000 people visited between the July 2022 reopening and May 2026.

What Is Still Closed

• All trails to Berry Creek Falls and in the West Waddell Creek State Wilderness
• All campgrounds and backcountry trail camps in the redwood section of the park
• Many backcountry trails and roads, which reopen as crews make them safe

Reimagining Big Basin

State Parks is rebuilding through its Reimagining Big Basin project. A vision summary came out in 2022, a Facilities Management Plan was signed in 2026, and on July 2, 2026 the State Park and Recreation Commission approved amendments to the park's General Plan. The agency says the rebuilt park will not look exactly as it did, with facilities designed for fire resilience, and that full reopening will take several years.