Big Basin Redwoods State Park

We took a drive to Big Basin Redwoods State Park in California — the very first state park in the state. Back in 1900, a group of concerned citizens rallied to protect the redwoods from logging. That same year, the state purchased 3,800 acres to preserve this incredible forest. Today, the park has expanded to 22,500 acres of towering redwoods and rugged wilderness.

The drive through the park felt endless to me — like five hours of twisting, narrow roads. Janet, who did the actual driving, swears it was just a little over an hour. The road wound sharply through the forest, and in places, the trees seemed to lean right into the road. Some sections were so narrow, you felt like the forest was swallowing the path, the road curve to avoid them? It’s hard to tell — nature is everywhere.

In September 2020, a lightning strike sparked a massive wildfire, fueled by the dry conditions of climate change. It burned through 86,000 acres, devastating much of the forest. Now, in 2025 — five years later — it’s both heartbreaking and inspiring to see what’s become of it. Many trees are still charred black, their trunks like giant, burned matchsticks. But out of those blackened trunks, new green branches are growing. It's amazing how redwoods can regenerate like that.

It’s hard to imagine how much wildlife was lost during the fire, and seeing the damage in person is sobering. But at the same time, the recovery is stunning. The contrast between the vibrant green leaves and the black bark is almost unreal — colorful and bright in a haunting way. Not all parts of the park are open yet, as they’re still working to rebuild trails and roads, but what we saw was absolutely gorgeous.

Devastating — but beautiful. The redwoods are so tall, and some are so wide you could compare them to the front of a car. Truly breathtaking.