If you wish to see some California redwood trees, Butano State Park is recommended over the traditional places such as Muir Woods National Monument and Big Basin State Park. Butano is also closer and much less crowded than these two places. Butano is a small intimate place on the coast. The number of visitors is small enough that the park rangers are not hard-nosed about you going off the trails as long as they do not have to rescue you. There is a nice creek (Little Butano Creek) that runs along side the one road into the park that is an easy and pleasant hike. Note that the creek is "off trail" but popular with visitors. You may even find one or two of the state's famous banana slugs along the creek bed. There is a small campground in the park and reservations are required if you wish to camp out there. Call 1-800-444-PARK (7275). For day use, there are a couple of small parking lots. There are picnic tables and barbecues at one of the parking lots. There is water and an outhouse there as well. The usual state park day use fee of $3 applies.

The trip to Butano is about 2 hours. From Conjose, get on 280 going north and take 17/880 south to Santa Cruz. At Santa Cruz go north on state 1 until you get to the Pesacadero Creek Road which leads to the small town of Pescadero. Go through the town to Cloverdale Road and turn right. The entrance to Butano State Park is on the left after 5-10 minutes. As someone once told me, "Keep going until you think you have gone too far and it will around the next bend in the road."

The drive to Butano along route 1 is pleasant and you will pass the elephant seal preserve at Ano Nuevo. You can have a nice dinner in Santa Cruz on the way back. Just beware that during the summer, the coastal temperatures in the morning and evening will drop below 60F (15.5C) and may not rise to 60F (15.5C) during the day if the fog does not lift.

Danny Low

For more information about the park click here.

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