Friday, May 8, 2026

Question: Established in 1902, what is California’s oldest state park?

Answer: Big Basin Redwoods State Park, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Big Basin was established after photographer Andrew P. Hill and the Sempervirens Club lobbied the state legislature to protect the area’s ancient coast redwoods. The park has expanded from its original 3,800 acres to more than 18,000. In August 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned roughly 97% of the park and destroyed all historic structures, but most old-growth redwoods survived. The park began a phased reopening in 2022.