Photos and text by Kyle Martin
If you want to get lost, away from your daily obligations for a little while, California’s redwood parks might be a place to find a few hours of peace. As it turns out, you can also go for free for the last time this year on Saturday.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation and Save the Redwoods League offer one free parking admission at redwood parks on the second Saturday of each month. More than 40 redwood parks throughout the state are available for free entry.
You have to sign up, though. You can do that here. Otherwise, it’s a $10 parking fee to get in.
Officials for the organization say that the goal of the free-days program is to reconnect residents to what they call “the beauty and power of the redwoods.” As it happens, Santa Cruz County has Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton as a participating open park.
Inside the park are looming acres of giant redwoods, some of which are likely thousands of years old, with miles of gorgeous hiking trails throughout. The San Lorenzo River also runs through the park . . . If you’re not careful, you may fall in (like me). But don’t worry, the water’s fine — just a bit cold.
Happy trails!
PHOTOS | A WALK THROUGH THE REDWOODS
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