As of November 2023, these trails have re-opened:
– The Skyline-to-the-Sea trail between Hwy 1 and the gate before the Bypass trail junction.
– The Marsh trail on both sides of Waddell Creek. A seasonal footbridge allows passage between the Nature and History Center
and the north side of the creek during the dry months.
– The Hoover loop trail, which begins across from the Nature and History Center.

ALL OTHER TRAILS AT RANCHO DEL OSO REMAIN CLOSED DUE TO HAZARDOUS, POST-FIRE CONDITIONS.

Marsh Trail
(Trail ends at Waddell Creek from October – late April)
Distance: .4 miles
Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
This trail is perfect for families looking for a short hike to explore the marsh and Waddell Creek, or for birders seeking to find the next bird on their list. The Marsh Trail is teeming with life. Rabbits are frequently seen scurrying off the trail, while dragonflies swoop over the water, and birds flit among the willows growing near the creek. Due to the abundance of water, flowering plants have an especially long season here. The Marsh Trail connects the Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center to the Welcome Center by a seasonal bridge over Waddell Creek.
From approximately October – late April, this trail ends at Waddell Creek due to seasonal bridge removal.

Hoover Loop Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles
Time:  45 minutes – 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate
Beginning at the Nature and History Center, a newly built section of trail ascends the slope, winding it’s way through the recovering Monterey Pine forest where hundreds of young trees are visible. It then traverses a ridge with expanding views of Waddell Beach, Año Nuevo Island, and beyond before descending the old Highway One, originally a wagon road between Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Below is a large freshwater marsh. Above, hardy ferns, bulbs, and other flowering plants, cling to the rocky road-cut.

For current information about hiking the upper section of Big Basin State Park, accessible from Hwy 9, go to: parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28975.)