Family Day Trips From Boulder Creek

The short version

• Easiest with little kids: Roaring Camp trains and Henry Cowell's flat redwood loop, both in Felton, roughly 15 to 20 minutes south on Highway 9.
• Beach day: figure 35 to 50 minutes down Highway 9 to the Santa Cruz waterfront. Save your directions first, because cell service drops out along the way.
• Bigger hikes: Castle Rock for ridge-top views ($10 parking), or Big Basin, which is open again but still recovering from the 2020 fire. Check access before you drive up.
• Older kids and teens: the Mount Hermon Adventures zipline in Felton, with age, height, and weight rules and reservations you'll want to book ahead.
• Before you load the car: confirm hours, fees, and closures on each destination's official site, and check Caltrans QuickMap and our Mountain Status page for road conditions.

Point the car south from Boulder Creek and the day opens up fast. Redwood trains in Felton, state parks in every direction, a zipline strung through the treetops, and the beach waiting at the bottom of Highway 9. The gentlest, most kid-friendly stops cluster down the valley toward Felton, while the state parks each reward a phone call or a look at the website before you commit.

One caveat runs through everything below: every drive time here is an approximation, because mountain roads, roadwork, and weather keep changing the math. Treat each destination's official site as the source of truth for hours, fees, and closures.

Roaring Camp Railroads (Felton)

Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton runs heritage steam and diesel trains through the redwoods and down to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and the whole place is built around families: a kids' club, birthday packages, and seasonal event trains. Plan for roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive south on Highway 9, keeping in mind that's an estimate.

Ticketing, ride times, and event schedules shift through the year and sell out on busy weekends, so book and confirm on Roaring Camp's own site before you go. We don't publish its prices or times here because they move; the official page is where to check.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park: check first

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California's oldest state park and Boulder Creek's backyard, but it's still recovering from the 2020 CZU fire, and much of it remains closed. It's open for limited day use only, parking is first come, first served, and reservations are encouraged rather than required.

State Parks lists day-use fees of $6 plus a $2 reservation fee, or $10 without a reservation, and no fee to arrive on foot, by bike, or by bus. There's no drinking water on site except at the kiosk, so pack your own.

This is a real destination again, though a different one than the old photos show, with thinner shade and trails that reopen in phases. Confirm current access before you drive up. For the full planning picture, see our responsible Big Basin day trip guide.

Henry Cowell and Fall Creek (Felton)

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton is the gentler redwood walk for families. A flat, stroller-friendly loop threads through old-growth trees near the main entrance, and a quieter Fall Creek day-use unit sits a little further on, with about twenty miles of trails and historic lime kilns.

The Fall Creek trailhead and free parking are on Felton Empire Road, and that unit has no facilities and no dogs, bikes, or fires. State Parks runs seasonal junior ranger and interpretive programs at Henry Cowell, but the times shift by season, so check the park's site or call ahead for the current schedule. Figure on about a 15 to 20 minute drive down Highway 9, roads permitting.

A beach day down Highway 9

The Santa Cruz beaches sit at the bottom of the valley, and the drive down Highway 9 through Felton and Ben Lomond is the part to plan around. It's a winding, mostly two-lane mountain road, so give yourself a comfortable buffer rather than a tight door-to-door estimate.

Plan for something like 35 to 50 minutes to the Santa Cruz waterfront depending on traffic and where you're headed, and expect summer weekend congestion both on the road and at beach parking. Save your directions before you drive, since cell service drops out along stretches of Highway 9.

The Beach Boardwalk is also the end of the line on a Roaring Camp beach train, which turns the drive-and-park problem into part of the fun.

Mount Hermon Adventures zipline (Felton)

For older kids and teens with a taste for heights, Mount Hermon Adventures in Felton runs a redwood zipline and aerial adventure course. Courses carry age, height, and weight requirements, reservations are typically needed, and availability is seasonal and weather-dependent, so this is one to book and confirm directly on their site rather than show up for.

It's a short drive down the valley, in the same Felton cluster as Roaring Camp and Henry Cowell, which makes it easy to pair with another stop.

Castle Rock, for a bigger hike

If your family hikes and wants ridge-top views, Castle Rock State Park sits up on Highway 35 about two and a half miles southeast of the Highway 9 junction, with sandstone formations along Skyline. Parking is $10 a day at a self-serve kiosk, and the gate locks at sunset, so it's a daytime trip. Weekdays are quieter for parking. This one suits kids who can handle real trail miles more than a toddler stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best family day trip that isn't weather-dependent?

Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is the most weather-proof and family-oriented option nearby, since the train rides run rain or shine on a set schedule and the site is built around kids. Confirm ride times and book on Roaring Camp's own site, because schedules and availability change seasonally.

Is Big Basin open for a family visit right now?

Big Basin is open for limited day use as it recovers from the 2020 fire, with much of the park still closed, first-come parking, and encouraged reservations. Facilities and water are limited. Always check the official State Parks access page before you drive up, because what's open changes.

How long is the drive to the beach from Boulder Creek?

Plan for roughly 35 to 50 minutes down Highway 9 to the Santa Cruz waterfront, but treat that as an approximation. Highway 9 is a winding two-lane mountain road, summer weekends get congested, and cell service is patchy, so save directions ahead and check QuickMap and Mountain Status before you go.

Are there redwood walks easy enough for little kids?

Yes. Henry Cowell in Felton has a flat, stroller-friendly loop through old-growth redwoods near the main entrance, which is gentler than most of Big Basin's current trails. Check the park site for seasonal junior ranger programs, and note the Fall Creek unit has no facilities and no dogs.

These are starting points, not guarantees. Conditions and hours change, so each destination's official site rules. For more local ideas and seasonal outings, browse our Visit and Around Town pages, and if something here is out of date, let us know at bouldercreeklocal.com/contact.