Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Big Ben Tree & Big Ben Trail
4 mi · ▲ 862 ft · 1 hr 46 min
Big Ben Tree & Big Ben Trail is a 4-mile out-and-back in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park near Bonny Doon, CA. The route reaches Big Ben Tree. It climbs 862 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 41/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Ben Tree & Big Ben Trail
4 mi · ▲ 862 ft · 1 hr 46 min
Elevation 1,180–2,005 ft
Out & Back · Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Trailhead: Sunlit Trail · 37.06848, -122.12340
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 84°F / low 60° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route · No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Empire Grade & Sunlit Lane stop 22 m from the trailhead
- Start on Sunlit Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Big Ben Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lost Empire Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Big Ben Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Big Ben Tree.
- 1.3 miSharp right onto Fall Creek Trail, heading N.
- 350 ftBear right onto Big Ben Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftReach Big Ben Tree, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear left onto Fall Creek Trail, heading N.
- 350 ftSharp left onto Big Ben Trail, heading NW.
- 1.3 miSharp right onto Lost Empire Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Big Ben Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunlit Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 7:54 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:31 PM — 13 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
- No dogs on part of this route
- Transit-accessible: Empire Grade & Sunlit Lane stop 22 m from the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Sunlit Trail Trailhead
- Nichols Pond via Lost Empire Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 598 ft
- Old Alba Grade via Lost Empire Trail 5.1 mi · ▲ 1,129 ft
- Big Ben Tree–Big Ben Trail, 4 sights 6.2 mi · ▲ 1,457 ft
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A wild hike near Bonny Doon, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Bonny Doon, California