Featuring a variety of redwood forested areas, Henry Cowell State Park offers beautiful views along the San Lorenzo river, family friendly trails and magical picnic spots. Henry Cowell State Park is a great nature adventure for families!
After parking in the main parking lot, we continued to the excellent
and very informative Nature Center and visited the friendly rangers. Here, you
can also buy the Redwood Grove Loop Trail Self-Guided map for 25 cents. For
parents and older kids, it will help you understand the magnificence of this
very special place.
The Redwood Grove Loop Trail is a short 0.8 mile trail. It's toddler, stroller and dog friendly, and easy and short enough for toddler to finish it by themselves. We had barely walked 30 feet into the park when we spotted our first banana slug of the day. We ended up seeing 3! How exciting!
About half way through the Redwood Grove Loop is the amazing
Fremont Tree. This tree was hollowed out by fire and was once used as a resort
honeymoon room! Daniel loved going in and out, prepare your flashlights for
extra fun time!
Right after the Fremont tree, at the south end of the loop trail,
look for a gated dirt road. This is the River Trail. About half a mile farther there's a bridge that took us to a fun spot on the San Lorenzo River. When we visited the river's water level was very low and the kids loved walking and playing in the gentle water flow. Aside from splashing in the river, there's a
railroad bridge right above you and you can see trains crossing it. The kids had a
great time!
 |
| Redwood Grove Loop Trail |
 |
| Fremont Tree |
 |
| San Lorenzo River |
Gift shop and snack bar in the main parking lot are nice and not
expensive.
Across from the gift shop, in the other side of the parking lot,
there’s an entrance to the Roaring Camp Railroad. We stopped there for
lunch and live music before heading back home.
 |
| Roaring Camp Railroad |
Henry Cowell State
Park:
Park Entrance Fee:
$10/car. This is good for all day long in all state parks and beaches, so keep your
receipt if you’re heading to the beach!
Park Hours: Sunrise
to sunset.
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546
Roaring Camp
Railroad: http://www.roaringcamp.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment