Come curious, come prepared
Visit Boulder Creek
A small mountain town at the north end of the San Lorenzo Valley, surrounded by redwoods. Plan ahead, drive for the roads, and leave room for weather and access to change. Confirm hours and conditions with each place before you go.
Getting here
Plan the drive first.
Boulder Creek sits on Highway 9. The roads in are winding and mostly two lanes, so give yourself extra time and check conditions before you leave.
By car
From Santa Cruz, take Highway 9 north up the valley through Felton and Ben Lomond. From the Santa Clara Valley side, Highway 9 climbs over the summit from Saratoga. A common alternative from Highway 17 is Bear Creek Road, which drops into Boulder Creek from the east. All three are slow mountain roads with tight curves, cyclists, and wildlife, so use pullouts to let faster traffic by.
Check the roads
Winter storms and summer roadwork both close lanes up here. Check Caltrans QuickMap for real-time closures and chain controls, and the County Road Closure Dashboard for local roads. Our Mountain Status page pulls together the same sources. Cell service is patchy along parts of Highway 9, so it helps to have directions saved before you lose signal.
Riding the bus? Santa Cruz METRO Routes 35 and 35X connect Boulder Creek and the San Lorenzo Valley with Santa Cruz. The 35X is a weekday express; Route 35 covers nights and weekends. Check the current schedule with METRO before you plan a trip.
The redwoods
Parks and trails nearby.
Access in these parks keeps changing after the 2020 CZU fire. Confirm hours, reservations, and open trails on each official page the day you go.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
California's oldest state park is open for limited day-use as it recovers from the CZU fire, and much of it is still closed. Parking is limited and first come, first served. Reservations are encouraged, not required. As of July 16, 2026, the state lists day-use fees of $6 plus a $2 reservation fee, or $10 without a reservation, and no fee to arrive by foot, bike, or bus. There is no drinking water on site except at the kiosk. Confirm the current status before you drive up.
Big Basin access, State ParksCastle Rock State Park
Sandstone formations and ridge-top views along Skyline. It sits on Highway 35 about two and a half miles southeast of the Highway 9 junction. Parking is $10 a day at a self-serve kiosk, and the gate is locked at sunset. Weekdays are quieter for parking.
Castle Rock, State ParksFall Creek, Henry Cowell
A quiet day-use unit with about twenty miles of trails through redwoods and old lime kilns. The trailhead and free parking are on Felton Empire Road off Highway 9. There are no facilities, and dogs, bikes, and fires are not allowed.
Henry Cowell, State ParksCloser to town, the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District keeps up Junction Park, with a small beach, San Lorenzo River access, a lawn, and picnic tables one block off the main street. Barbara Day Park sits just downstream, and Garrahan Park up Highway 9 has a walking track, fields, and barbecue areas. The river is a popular summer swim spot, and it's swim at your own risk.
Choose your own adventure
A perfect day in Boulder Creek.
Five stops, three ways to make each one yours. Hours change up here, so check before you count on any single stop.
Start with breakfast
Jenna Sue's
Coffee and a casual downtown start.
The Tree House Cafe
The other local coffee stop, made for lingering.
Bella's Cafe
The town's sit-down breakfast.
Earn your lunch
Play a round
Nine holes under the redwoods at the Boulder Creek Golf and Country Club.
Swim
The rec district pool in season, or the river beach at Junction Park.
Hike Big Basin
Limited day-use as the park recovers; check access first.
Lunch, three ways
Taqueria Los Gallos
Burritos and tacos, no ceremony.
El Rey Leon
Mexican food truck on the main drag.
The Sawmill
Burgers, pub fare, and outdoor seating.
Walk the shops
The main stretch rewards a slow lap: Air and Fire for crystals and gifts, SWAG's eclectic collective, Viscosity Glass for locally made glass art, Beck's Shoes, fitting families since 1919, and Scarborough's hardware and garden aisles with a little of everything. The directory has the full list with hours.
Stay for dinner
Tae's Edo Sushi Bar
Sushi and Japanese dinner plates.
Scopazzi's
Historic Italian dining room and lounge.
Red Pearl
Chinese, dine-in or takeout.
Full details, hours, and phone numbers for every spot are on Food and Drink.
Through the year
What the seasons ask of you.
Conditions shape a visit more than the calendar does. Check before you come.
Winter
Storms bring downed trees, flooding, and road closures on Highway 9 and the back roads. Check Mountain Status and Caltrans QuickMap before heading up, and turn around if a road looks unsafe.
Summer
The valley can be warm and the river draws crowds. Bring water, watch your footing on rocks, keep an eye on kids near moving water, and pack out everything you bring.
Fire season
This is a fire-prone forest. No fires or charcoal outside designated areas, and never during a Red Flag Warning. Check fire weather with the National Weather Service and CAL FIRE before you go.
Good to know
The practical stuff.
There's one gas station in town on Highway 9, so fill up before long drives or a trip out to Big Basin. Groceries and markets are on the food and drink page. Public restrooms are limited, so plan around them. Remember that cell service drops out along stretches of Highway 9.
Respect the mountain
Visit like a neighbor.
Most of what looks like open forest is someone's home, watershed, or working land. Leave no trace and pack out your trash. Don't park on blind curves or block driveways and pullouts. Keep noise down near houses, follow all fire restrictions, and give the road and the river the caution they're due.
Keep exploring
Build a fuller day.
Pair a walk or a meal with a local story or something happening in town.