Sunshine through charred trees and sprouts of green at Big Basin. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
A new kiosk greets visitors returning to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
An interpretive panel touts the hardy redwoods that are Big Basin’s namesake. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Reminders of Big Basin’s recent past tower alongside a new pathway. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Zora Martin Etemadi and Cruz Cooper taken in the newly reopened portion of Big Basin. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Jeff Herbest biked from San Jose — a 46-mile round trip — for his first visit to Big Basin since the summer before the 2020 CZU fire. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
A State Parks volunteer gives visitors an overview of what’s changed at Big Basin in the wake of the 2020 CZU fire. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Messages from visitors celebrate the reopening of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
A new visitor information area. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Visitors map out their return to Big Basin. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
An interpretive panel marks the spot where Big Basin’s visitor center used to sit. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
The Skyline to the Sea Trail remains closed. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Visitors cross a new bridge near the Big Basin visitor center. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Big Basin’s new visitor center. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Santa Cruz residents Tera Martin and Malalai Martin Etemadi enjoying the view. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Burn piles are scattered throughout the reopened portion of Big Basin. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
An interpretive panel fills visitors in on preservation efforts. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Green sprouts from and around charred trees at Big Basin. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz
Back to Big Basin: Inside the beloved state park as it reopens post-CZU fire
