A Day Hiking Among the Redwoods in Santa Cruz County

Drove all the way down from Truckee for a day hiking among the redwood trees in Santa Cruz County. Started at the visitor center on the Redwood Grove Loop Trail, a flat 0.8 miles through some of the oldest and largest coast redwoods in the park. My neck was bent back most of the loop — the trunks run straight up without a branch for what looks like a hundred feet, and the crowns close over the trail so the sky only shows in gaps.

One giant near the path carried a fire scar from the ground to well past head height, charred black and gouged open, with a full green crown still going above the damage. Couldn't tell whether it was the Advocate, the park's largest tree, or just another one that had survived something bad.

Added the Old Growth Loop after, about 1.1 miles, which passes through a stand of twisted redwoods. By afternoon the sky had gone fully clear and blue behind the tops.

The park has 30 miles of trail for hikers. I covered just under two of them.