Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Map SatelliteIn this park, the oldest of the State Park system, are several habitats. Foremost, and the prime reason for the creation of the park, are the redwood stands; others include mixed evergreen, chaparral, knobcone pine forests, meadows, riparian and some littoral.
The redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens, and Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, are found in the canyons along with huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum, Western azalea, Rhododendron occidentale, and salal, Gaultheria shallon, among others. The mixed evergreen forests include madrone, Arbutus menziesii, wax myrtle, Myrica californica, California nutmeg, Torreya californica, and several oaks, Quercus spp. Knobcone pines, Pinus attenuata, are found in various places in the park and, in the western portion, hybridize with the northernmost population of the Monterey pine, Pinus radiata.
Several rare plants, Arctostaphylos glutinosa, Arctostaphylos silvicola, and Perideridia gairdneri ssp. gairdneri, are found in the park, as are the uncommon Pentachaeta bellidiflora and Lessingia filaginfolia var. filaginifolia.
Animal life is abundant in the area. Of note is the discovery of a marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratum, nesting in a tall redwood; it is assumed that murrelets nest in the trees.
Integrity: Though there was some logging prior to 1900 and various homesteads were established, as well as trails and recreational facilities, much of the area is relatively undisturbed. Redwoods in the more heavily used areas are deteriorating.
Use: Research, educational, observational, light recreation.
October 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
