Redwood Loop Trail

The Redwood Loop Trail is a flat 0.6-mile (1 km) loop that starts at the main Big Basin parking lot and passes some of the tallest trees in the park, including the Mother of the Forest and the Father of the Forest. It takes 45 minutes to an hour. Rangers and volunteers lead guided walks on weekends by request at the visitor center. It is the best first walk at Big Basin.

What You Will See

California State Parks calls the Redwood Loop the place to see some of the biggest and oldest trees in the park. Some of Big Basin's redwoods are more than 50 feet around and as tall as the Statue of Liberty, and some are 1,000 to 1,800 years old. The two named giants on the loop, the Mother of the Forest and the Father of the Forest, are among the tallest.

The loop runs through the former park headquarters area, where the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps buildings stood before the 2020 fire. Look for the ways the trees survived: blackened bark that stayed intact, and new green sprouts along trunks and branches. The agency describes this grove as the inspiration that led to the park's protection in 1902.

Trail Facts

• Length: 0.6 mile loop
• Elevation change: level
• Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour at a slow pace
• Trailhead: the main day-use parking lot
• Surface: natural forest trail

Accessibility

The parking lot and the interim visitor center near the former headquarters area are wheelchair accessible. California State Parks says it plans to restore accessibility on the Redwood Loop Trail in the future, so the loop is not listed as accessible today.

Guided Walks

The 2026 infosheet says guided Redwood Loop walks run on Saturdays and Sundays by request; ask at the visitor center. The park's events calendar also lists scheduled Redwood Grove guided walks through the fall. Check the official park page for upcoming dates.

Good For

• First-time visitors who want the old-growth grove in under an hour
• Families with young children: the loop is level and short
• Photographers, especially in the soft light of early morning after the 8 a.m. opening

Maybe Skip If

• You want a waterfall: hike the 4.3-mile Sequoia Trail loop to Sempervirens Falls
• You want a view: the Ocean View Summit Loop climbs to an ocean overlook
• You are bringing a dog: dogs are allowed only on paved areas, not on trails. See dogs.

Combine It With

The short Opal Creek Loop, about half a mile and level, also starts at the parking lot and follows Opal Creek through old-growth redwoods. For more, see all the recommended hikes and the trail map.