Sempervirens Fund

A long weekend means more time to explore your local redwood forest! Here are five favorites for leaving everyday life behind and experiencing the magic of walking among ancient giants.

🌲Six Bridges Trail, Butano State Park
Difficulty: Easy, High elevation
Length: 2.2 miles
Try this hidden gem at Butano State Park, a classic nature trail with moderate inclines and occasional natural obstacles.

🌲Redwood Grove Loop
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Difficulty: Easy, accessible
Length: 0.8 mile loop
See the grove that launched the redwood conservation movement and Sempervirens Fund on this accessible trail featuring a cave-like hollow you can explore in the living old-growth “Fremont Tree” and a rare ghost redwood tree.

🌲Old Tree Trail
Portola Redwoods State Park
Difficulty: Easy, Kid-friendly
Length: 1.2 miles out & back
Deep within this redwood canyon Sempervirens Fund helped to protect, you’ll find a 1,200 year-old old-growth redwood named "Old Tree" —one of only 14 redwoods that stand over 300 feet tall in the Santa Cruz mountains.

🌲Peters Creek Loop
Portola Redwoods State Park
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length: 11.9 miles out & back
Visit what’s been called one of the most rewarding trails in the Bay Area under the lavish canopies of second-growth redwoods and tanoaks to reach a remote and ancient grove of old-growth redwoods called Peters Grove.

🌲Saratoga Gap Trail to Castle Rock Trail Camp
Castle Rock State Park
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 7+ mile loop
Venture through Castle Rock State Park’s diverse habitats to see some of its most extraordinary features such as rare old-growth dwarf redwoods, Castle Rock Falls, Goat Rock, and great views from both Russell Point and Emily Observation Point all in one loop!

Get outside and get into the redwoods! We would love to see you at one of our upcoming events where you can explore nature, expand your knowledge, and connect with others to make a positive impact on the redwoods. If you can’t make it, please share with your friends. 🤗

🌲The Science of Awe, with Paul Piff, Ph.D.
Date: May 26, 2026
Where: ZOOM
Join U.C. Irvine professor Paul Piff to learn about the science behind how we experience and benefit from awe.

🥾Guided Hike at Castle Rock State Park
Date: May 28, 2026
Where: Castle Rock State Park
Join us May 28th for a moderate 4.5 mile guided hike at Castle Rock State Park for a spring-themed group hike through one of California’s most iconic state parks

🥾Guided Hike at Portola Redwoods State Park
Date: June 6, 2026
Where: Portola Redwoods State Park
Hike to Tiptoe Falls! Join Sempervirens Fund on June 6th for a guided hike through Portola Redwoods State Park

💚Volunteer Day at Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument
Date: June 16, 2026
Where: Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument
Join Sempervirens Fund for a volunteer day of pulling invasive plants at Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument.

Photo: Orenda Randuch

Pumas (Puma concolor) are the native mountain lions of the Santa Cruz Mountains. In 2026, mountain lions in Southern and Central California were listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act.

Pumas need extensive ranges for territory, hunting, and breeding, one reason why it’s so important to have large intact habitats with connected wildlife corridors. Roads and new development that fragment habitat are the biggest threats to mountain lions.

Once they have established a home range, pumas may live up to 12-13 years in the wild. Here in the Santa Cruz Mountains an average male home-range will be 100 square miles, while a female puma will range about 30 square miles.

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📸 Photo Credits
Page 1 main: Sensor cam
Page 1 inset: Santa Cruz Puma Project

Page 2 inset: Sebastian Kennerknecht
Page 2 main: Santa Cruz Puma Project

Page 3 inset: Stock photo
Page 3 main: Santa Cruz Puma Project