Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Distance & elevation gain: From Big Basin to Waddell Beach is 12 miles one way with 1,100-foot elevation loss
Estimated time: 7 hours

If you're hiking from Big Basin to the sea, you'll need to arrange a car shuttle. Waddell Beach, at trail's end, is 18 miles up-coast from Santa Cruz on Highway 1.

Better yet, take the bus, which stops at both the state park and Waddell Beach. Santa Cruz Metro route 35 offers weekend seasonal (Spring/Summer) service from Santa Cruz to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Route 40 travels Highway 1 and transports the hiker from trail’s end at Waddell Beach back to Santa Cruz.

One suggestion: Leave your car at the Santa Cruz bus station (920 Pacific Avenue) and take the 7:45 a.m. (weekends) bus bound for the state park. You'll arrive about 9 a.m. Hit the trail and take the 5:15 p.m. bus from Waddell Beach back to Santa Cruz.

Call the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District at (408) 425-8600 or visit www.scmtd.com for the latest bus schedule.

Why to go: Without a doubt, Skyline to the Sea Trail is one of the gems of the state's trail system. As its name suggests, the path drops from the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Views from the Skyline--redwood-forested slopes, fern-smothered canyons and the great blue Pacific--are superb. And if further enticement be needed, the trail runs mostly downhill on its scenic journey.

The wildest and most beautiful part of the 35-mile long trail extends from state park headquarters in Big Basin to Waddell Creek Beach. It winds through deep woods and explores the moist environments of Waddell and Berry Creeks.

The hike begins in the nucleus of the park on Opal Creek flatlands at the bottom of the basin. From park headquarters, join Redwood Trail, which crosses a bridge and travels a few hundred yards to a signed junction with Skyline to the Sea Trail. You'll turn toward the sea and begin a vigorous climb out of the basin.

Junction with Middle Ridge Road

First the route is in very tall redwoods, climbs over a ridge (and past a junction with Middle Ridge Road), then returns to the redwoods. Two miles out you cross the Kelly Creek footbridge, sticking with Skyline Trail and passing junctions with other park trails.

After climbing, the trail descends through deep and dark woods, first with Kelly Creek, then along the west fork of Waddell Creek. Ferns and mushrooms, salamanders and banana slugs occupy the wet world of the trail.

This is a hike for all seasons—great on a clear winter day. Springtime, when the creeks are frothy torrents and Berry Creek Falls cascades at full vigor, is a particularly dramatic time to walk the trail. During summer, the cool redwood canyons are great places to beat the heat.

Junction with Berry Creek Falls Trail

Some four miles from the trailhead, just short of the confluence of Waddell Creek and Berry Creek, you'll intersect Berry Creek Falls Trail. The falls cascade over fern-covered cliffs into a frothy pool. Walk up Berry Creek Falls Trail 0.1 mile to a viewing platform and wooden benches—a perfect lunch stop.

Skyline to the Sea Trail descends with Waddell Creek and passes through the heart of the beautiful Waddell Valley. Rancho del Oso, "Ranch of the Bears," as this region is known, has second-generation redwoods, Douglas fir and Monterey pine, as well as lush meadows.

Twin Redwoods Trail Camp, Alder Trail Camp

About 3.2 miles from the sea, you’ll pass the signed junction with McCrary Ridge Trail, and continue along Waddell Creek. A mile and a half from the ocean, you'll reach Twin Redwoods Trail Camp, and then Alder Trail Camp.

Hiker’s Route

Just beyond Alder Trail Camp the trail splits. The wide dirt road (horse trail/bicycle route) continues on a mellow descent with Waddell Creek. The hiker’s route (a footpath) climbs the canyon wall above the creek and offers great views of the valley. After meandering up and around more than most hikers would like at this point in what was supposed to be an all downhill hike, the path eventually touches down on the valley floor, passing by a ranger station and a self-registration board for campers. The last 0.3 mile is paved road.

Near trail's end is a freshwater marsh, a favorite stopping place for migratory birds on the Pacific flyway. A wildlife sanctuary, Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, has been established in the heart of the marsh area for more than 200 kinds of native and migratory birds.

The trail ends at Highway 1. West of the highway is a bus stop and windswept Waddell Beach.

Trails Day

By some hikers’ reckoning, Trails Days, at least how we think of them now, began in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. Skyline to the Sea Trail needed some maintenance and, as it turned out, this gem of a trail had many friends.

During one weekend in 1969, dedicated members of the Sempervirens Fund and the Santa Cruz Trails Association turned out more than 2,000 volunteers to dig, clear, prune and otherwise improve the path. Area volunteers put together an annual Trails Day that became a model for trails organization through the state and planted the seed for a National Trails Day, an annual celebration held each June with some 3,000 events across the U.S. to encourage hikers and newcomers to appreciate, preserve and maintain their local trails.