Camping Among Giants: A Family Adventure at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park with Kids

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is located in the middle of the Santa Cruz Mountains, in the small town of Felton, California. The state park has over 4,000 acres of land with trails and historic sites, as well as a campground with more than 100 campsites.

This campground is popular. It’s conveniently located close to kid-friendly hiking trails, good food, and fun activities, and it’s just twenty minutes from the beach destination of Santa Cruz.

We had a great time sharing a campsite at the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park with another family while hiking, eating, and exploring all that the Santa Cruz Mountains had to offer.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is located on the stolen lands of the Sayante Ohlone tribe

Before you go

Reserve a campsite. This campsite is popular; therefore, campsites need to be reserved well in advance. Campsites in the middle of the campground loops have no tree coverage, and are more exposed to the road and other campers than those on the outer edges. Check their website and plan ahead. Go to reservecalifornia.com to reserve a site.
The drive from the East Bay Area to Felton is about an hour and fifteen minutes long without traffic. Consider beginning your trip before commuting hours (2-7pm) to avoid traffic.
Check your directions. The state park has three entrances. The campground entrance is located off Graham Hill Road, near the Roaring Camp Railroads (not near downtown Felton).
Plan for variable weather. The Santa Cruz Mountains have variable weather, with warm summer days (mid-70’s) to chilly winters (~40s). The fog can be present year-round and can make early mornings and evenings cooler, even in the summertime. Dress appropriately.
Bring Tecnu in case you or your kiddos run into some poison oak.

What we packed

Standard diaper bag essentials
Camping essentials (tent, sleeping bags, pillows)
Sunscreen and hats
Smores ingredients and roasting sticks
A cooler with food for dinner and breakfast
Baby carrier
Wagon
Fun campground activities (butterfly wings, bubbles, etc)
Tecnu

BASE COST

Campground reservations are $35/night for a tent site with 8 campers and two cars max

Add-Ons:

Meals from town (if not bringing your own)

Tips To Get the Most Out Of Your Trip to the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground

1. Plan your activities before you arrive.

The campground is located deep within the park, and far from the most popular hiking trails (see tip #2).

Plan ahead to determine if you’re staying at the campground or need to drive into town (see tip #5) for food, gas, drinks, or to access more of the park.

2. Go for a hike

There are a few hikes that begin at the campground.

We hiked up to the Observation Deck from our campsite, about one-mile round trip. To our pleasant surprise, we met a horse at the top of the trail whose rider was kind enough to answer all our kiddo’s incessant questions.

Many people go to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to see the redwoods. We were surprised to find that the campground was not in the redwood forest and that it would take a few miles to get from our campground to the redwood grove at the main entrance to the park.

3. Watch out for poison oak

The Santa Cruz mountains are covered in poison oak – a three-leafed plant that can cause a very itchy and ulcerous rash if it comes in contact with your skin.

Keep your kids out of the plants, walk in the middle of the trail, and wear long pants and shoes for protection.

Unfortunately, our campsite was surrounded by poison oak. If your kids end up touching something questionable, wash the area immediately with Tecnu, a soap that can remove poison oak oils and prevent rashes.

4. Ask a park ranger about special events

During the summer, the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park rangers host a variety of events, such as star gazing, night hikes, and junior ranger programs with activities for kids.

Ask the park ranger about campground events taking place during your visit and make sure to attend on time.

5. Visit Felton

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is located in the town of Felton, a cute and historic logging town with quite a few family-friendly activities to enjoy.

Ride an historic steam train, visit a playground, learn about horses, and cross a covered bridge with your kiddos.

Check out our blog post about Felton, California for more tips.

I was so excited to have a chance to stay at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground this summer. The campground was only a little over an hour away from our hometown in the East Bay Area and the perfect distance for a short, one night weekend getaway from the bustle of city life.

Although I enjoyed staying at the campground, I wish I had known that it was not located at the main entrance to the park or anywhere near the old growth redwood forest. The campground is located instead in a forest of oak trees and sand dunes.

Although beautiful, it was not what I was expecting and the campground’s distance from the Redwood Grove trail meant that we didn’t get the opportunity to hike it. Even though I was disappointed, I immediately began planning our next trip. My next step is to put a reminder in my calendar to book a campsite six months in advance. Will you remind me?

How do you keep track of the things you want to do next time you visit a place? Share in the comments below.

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This post is part of a series of posts about the area around Santa Cruz, California. Check out our other posts to plan a fun adventure with your family:

5 Fun Activities to do in Felton, California with your Kids

Visiting the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with your Toddlers & Preschoolers

Angel

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Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.