The best season to visit redwood parks is winters, after rains, when creeks and waterfalls are full of water.

Big Basin has a large network of hiking trails. The most popular hike is to Berry Creek Falls. The 28-mile Skyline to the Sea Trail also goes via this park. Butano is one of my favorite parks with gorgeous trails next to creeks and canyons. Portola Redwoods and Purisima Creek also have awesome trails going through redwoods. Cascade Ranch lies to the west of Big Basin. Gorgeous loops can be constructed from this entrance by combining trails from Big Basin.

Pescadero Creek and Sam McDonald are adjacent to each other with good hikes along shaded trails. Memorial Park is a small park with a short hike to Mount Ellen.