Day-use parking fees from state parks and beaches do more than just pay for the parking spot. The fees go on to support ongoing programming throughout the year, fund special events for visitors and more! Remember that your fee goes beyond the lot. 💚🏞

Step away from civilization for a day & take a guided plant walk at Big Basin Redwoods this weekend! From 10am - 12pm on Sat, Dec 20, learn about native plants, understand their roles in history, hear about the revitalization of Big Basin & more! RSVP: bit.ly/47G8ntQ

🍄Mushrooms are putting on a show this season and it’s a perfect time to appreciate their incredible variety — with your camera, not your hands. CA State Parks prohibit collecting or foraging, & that’s especially important now as the region is seeing a bumper crop of highly poisonous Death Caps.

Portola Redwoods State Park has a hike for everyone! With 18 miles of trails available, some trails are less than a mile while others stretch for 13 miles. ✏️ Plan your next hike by visiting thatsmypark.org/parks-and-be... Parking is $10 and helps Friends support local state parks and beaches

A huge thank you to Mountain Parks Foundation for their continued support of the K2P field trip program! 🌲 Thanks to their generosity, 17 trips are funded this year, giving an estimated 860 students the chance to explore & learn at Henry Cowell Redwoods!

Gift an experience this holiday season! 🎁 Reservations are available for guided elephant seal tours at Año Nuevo State Park. Led by a docent, the tour takes you inside the Año Nuevo Coast Natural Preserve to witness the northern elephant seals in their natural habitat during the breeding season.

📣 Final call to place your online orders for pre-holiday delivery! Find hats, hoodies, books, stickers and other gifts inspired by your favorite state park on the ParkStore Online! Orders placed after tomorrow (Dec. 15) will ship in January. Shop the ParkStore Online today: thatsmypark.org/shop/

🍄 Nature has its own marvels, & right now it’s all things mushrooms & fungi — come see it up close at a local state park. This one was spotted at Henry Cowell Redwoods. Remember mushrooms are for viewing & foraging is prohibited in state parks. Parking is $10 & helps support state parks & beaches.

Zip-Up or pullover, classic black or a beautiful teal, there are so many options for state park-inspired hoodies & any would make a great gift! Available at our Natural Bridges & Seacliff ParkStores & Online: buff.ly/hyJLMoT 📆 Place online orders by Dec. 15 to get them in time for the holidays!

New year. New job? 🌟 Friends is hiring a Finance Director! Use your skills to support a meaningful mission — helping ensure local state parks & beaches are thriving & available to all. If you’re ready to make an impact in 2026, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more: 🌲✨ thatsmypark.org/jobs/

Step back in time and celebrate the holidays Victorian-style at Wilder Ranch State Park in Santa Cruz! ✨ 🗓 Holidays on the Ranch, Sat, Dec 13 from 11 am to 3 pm.

Enjoy a festive 90-minute walk through the redwoods at Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Saturday (Dec. 13) at 11 a.m. Participants will listen to the Nutcracker Suite and imagine the forest performing the ballet while strolling the easy, half-mile Redwood Loop Trail. 🌲🎶

Find solitude while camping at Rancho del Oso in the offseason. ⛺️🎒🧘‍♀️ Throw a tent, a warm sleeping bag and winter layers into the car for a weekend getaway. 👉 Learn more and make your reservation today: bit.ly/3EJhDOf

Mark your calendars for the Geminid meteor shower ☄️ viewing at the Pigeon Point Light Station SHP from 5-9 p.m. on Sat, Dec 13! The evening includes 2 presentations from astronomy professor Justin Stevick at 5 & 7:30, plus viewing through a telescope 🔭 provided by the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club!

We love books! 📚This curated list includes field guides to take on the trail, guides to spark creativity, & titles that help you continue the adventure from the comfort of home. Find at our ParkStores & Online: friends-of-santa-cruz-state-parks-online-parkstore.myshopify.com/collections/...

Bring a warm drink on your next morning walk along the beach to beat the morning chills. 😌♨️ No thermos? No problem! Grab one from a ParkStore today (or order one from the ParkStore Online)!

New to the ParkStores this season is a 1,000-piece puzzle of Natural Bridges! 🧩Pick one up at the Natural Bridges ParkStore or Online: friends-of-santa-cruz-state-parks-online-parkstore.myshopify.com/products/nat... 📆 Place online orders by Dec. 15 to get them in time for the holidays!

Nature is essential for all of us to find peace & a sense of well-being😌. It's been a banner year for our local state parks, but they still need your support heading into the new year. Help support state parks & beaches by donating & becoming a Friend! thatsmypark.app.neoncrm.com/forms/become...

Shop the ParkStore this weekend for the annual Holiday Sale! Find thoughtful gifts, accessories for your next trip to a state park, fun toys for the kids and amazing clothes to show your love of nature.

King Tides are back! Experience this natural phenomenon at state beaches from Thursday to Saturday (Dec. 4-6). These extreme tides occur as a full or new moon is closest to the Earth in its elliptical orbit. Here's a list of places to explore:

🌲Trail Restoration Update: Big Basin Redwoods State Park!🌲 Good news, hikers! 2.95 mi of the Hollow Tree Trail are now open, reconnecting Skyline to the Sea Trail, Middle Ridge Fire Road, & China Grade Road. That means more opportunities for loop hikes & exploring the recovering forest.

Enjoy the warmth of the holiday season 🎁 ✨at the Castro Adobe SHP! This month's Open House festivities are set to run from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sun, Dec 7. The event includes tree ornament decoration🎄, leather bookmark making 📖, live music throughout the day 🎵 & more!

Start Dec off right with a hike through an iconic state park. Here's a list of our favorite state parks with trails for all skill levels: 🥾 Año Nuevo SP 🥾 Wilder Ranch SP 🥾 The Forest of Nisene Marks SP Learn more: thatsmypark.org/parks-and-be... Parking fees help Friends support parks.

Head over to Castle Rock State Park to explore more than 35 miles of trails and snap iconic photos of trees and mountains.

Stop by a ParkStore this weekend for #SmallBusinessSaturday to discover park-inspired gifts. Here's a list of the nearest ParkStores that are open this weekend. 🎁 Natural Bridges 🎁 Seacliff 🎁 Wilder Ranch Stop by this weekend to explore a state park & shop for a holiday gift.

Take a break after Thanksgiving to burn off calories and enjoy the scenery. Stroll down the stairs at Seacliff State Beach to hear waves crashing, enjoy the smell of salty sea air and more. Parking is $10 and supports the park!

Happy Thanksgiving! Friends is thankful to everyone for their generosity throughout the year. Your engagement, effort & donations helped Friends support state parks & beaches programs, field trips, events & so much more! Read the Friends Annual Report here: buff.ly/h4vAKyS

Make plans to stretch your legs & learn something new. Join a tree identification event from 3-4:30 pm on Sat, Nov 29, at Henry Cowell Redwoods. The program is free & meets in front of the Visitor Center, taking visitors through the River Trail & Redwood Grove. RSVP: bit.ly/3L63RvE Parking is $10

Mark your calendar for the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks annual ParkStore Holiday Sale. This in-person event will be the first weekend of December and proceeds benefit local state parks and beaches.

Make your reservation for a guided tour to see elephant seals in their natural habitat at Año Nuevo State Park. 🦭 Tours start Dec. 15 and visitors can expect a 2-3 hour adventure with 3 miles of moderate hiking.

Discover the compelling story of Martina Castro in “The Tragedy of Martina Castro." Martina was one of the largest rancho owners in Santa Cruz County, whose ranchos included the areas now known as Soquel, Capitola & part of The Forest of Nisene Marks: buff.ly/w1J6QZr

Commemorate a major life 🌟 milestone for the state park lover in your life with a Tribute Table. This custom-engraved, redwood table can be placed in a state park of your choice. Use it to celebrate relationships, friendships, family moments & more! Learn more: thatsmypark.org/tribute-tabl...

Crisp fall 🍂 weather means cooler days camping. Make a reservation at the Rancho del Oso campground on the coastal side of Big Basin Redwoods to soak in the season from the comfort of your tent. ⛺ Enjoy a cool day by the nearby Waddell beach. 👉 Learn more and make your reservation: bit.ly/3EJhDOf

Join a guided, 2.5-mi hike at Burleigh Murray Ranch starting at 10am this Sun, Nov 23. The hike is 2.5 mi round trip. Along the way you will learn about the lives of early pioneers & farming families. The hike is free to join! Register: bit.ly/3WyhjLn

Grab a camp chair, a pair of binoculars, a hat and head down to the beach to look for whales migrating offshore. Rio del Mar State Beach in Aptos is a good spot to watch for whales 🐳 👀. Parking at "Platforms" is $10 and helps Friends support the park.

After the rains begin to fall, the forest floor blooms with mushrooms & fungi. On your next hike through the forest, remember to keep your eyes open. Check out these Chicken of the Woods mushrooms spotted by our staff at Castle Rock.🍄👀 Remember mushroom foraging is prohibited in state parks.

Grab a mountain bike 🚵 🚵🏾 and ride Aptos Creek Road in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos! The state park is great for beginners looking for an out-and-back route as well as seasoned mountain bikers looking to ride for miles. Parking is $8 and helps Friends support the park.

Show your love ❤️ for Wilder Ranch State Park with these stickers that incorporate the original cattle brand 🐄 used at Wilder Ranch during the dairy farming days! Perfect for sharing on your water bottle, laptop or notebook! Available at the mini Wilder Ranch ParkStore & Online:

Henry Cowell Redwoods is a place for everyone to explore. Visitors can stroll the Redwood Loop for a short walk, learn about park history at the Nature Center, or challenge themselves with a hike in the sandhills! 🤔 Plan your trip: bit.ly/4nj5sLS Parking is $10 & helps support the park.

The dog days are never over. 🐕 Bring your four-legged friend on your next trip to a state beach for everything from an easy stroll along the sands to running for miles. ✨ Find out what state parks and beaches allow dogs and what the rules are by visiting: thatsmypark.org/visit/dogs/

Happy birthday 🎂 to the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, which turns 153 years old! 🎊 Come celebrate the historic structure this Saturday, Nov. 15, with an anniversary event at Pigeon Point State Historic Park from 1-7 p.m.! Learn more about the event by visiting thatsmypark.org/event/135th-...

Pitch in 💪 and help out at the next trail day for The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park this Sunday, Nov. 16. The group meets regularly every month, allowing park users to help maintain trails and perform other tasks to enhance the visitor experience.

It's fun time with fungi! 🍄 🍄‍🟫Check out these beautiful Oyster Mushrooms and banana slug recently spotted by our staff in Big Basin Redwoods State Park Remember mushroom foraging is not allowed in state parks.

Have you stopped by to see the monarch butterflies 🦋 at Natural Bridges State Beach yet? Part of their migration pattern, the butterflies flutter to spots in Santa Cruz to roost in eucalyptus trees for the winter. Parking is $10 and helps Friends support the park.

Step back into 1840s California at Castro Adobe State Historic Park during the Castro Open House on Sun, Nov. 16, from 10:30am to 3pm. 🏠 🥫 In the Rancho spirit of giving, bring canned food to support Second Harvest Food Bank. (1/3)

Utility and banana slug pride 🐌 collide in this printed bandana. The print features slugs, ferns and mushrooms, which are great as an accessory as a well as a handy tool to have while hiking. This item is available at the Natural Bridges ParkStore and the ParkStore Online: bit.ly/3Lr2oQF

Take a stroll along the shores of New Brighton State Beach in Capitola this weekend to soak in the sunshine. ⛅ Parking is $10 and helps Friends support the park.

CA State Parks is offering free admission to 142 select state parks for veterans on Veterans Day — next Tuesday, Nov. 11. Armed service veterans, active and reserve military members can receive a complimentary entry when they show their ID card or valid discharge records.

Do you have an older car 🚗 in your driveway that needs a new home? Donate it to Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks! Proceeds from the vehicle donation help Friends fulfill our mission to support local state parks and beaches. Learn how to donate by visiting: thatsmypark.org/donate/donat...

Take a trip into the backcountry of Wilder Ranch this weekend on an 8-mi guided hike, 9am-2pm on Sun, Nov 9. Hikers will learn about the natural history of Wilder Ranch, hear stories about the people who shaped it and have an opportunity to stretch their legs on this adventure.