Escape the crowds and head to one of the most pristine national preserves where you can literally Cruz into one of the most picturesque, unspoiled and isolated wilderness areas in America. Learn the flora and fauna, rivers and history of the area. Enjoy the shaded trails of Henry Cowell and Big Basin Redwood State Parks.

Big Basin is California's oldest State Park, established in 1902. Home to the largest continuous stand of Ancient Coast Redwoods south of San Francisco, the park consists of over 18,000 acres of Old Growth and recovering Redwood Forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitats. Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 2,000 feet. The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops.

The Skyline to the Sea Trail threads its way through the park along Waddell Creek to the beach and adjacent Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwater marsh. The park has a surprising number of waterfalls, a wide variety of environments (from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes, many animals (deer, raccoons, an occasional bobcat) and lots of bird life-- including Steller’s jays, egrets, herons and California woodpeckers.

Cowell features short and easy redwood promenades. The massive redwoods are stunning, and there's a nice mix of big leaf maple, tanoak, California bay, hazelnut and chaparral distinguished by knobcone, including a few shrubs of purple bush lupine mix through chamise, manzanita, monkeyflower, pines, and huckleberry. The park's varied terrain and vegetation is a nice surprise, adding an extra dimension to the tour.

The park features a forest that looks much the same as it did 200 years ago. Zayante Indians once lived in the area, where they found shelter, water and game. The park is the home of the Redwood Grove and Douglas fir, madrone, oak and the most unusual feature of the park, a stand of Ponderosa pine.

The tallest tree in the park is about 285 feet tall, and about 16 feet wide. The oldest trees in the park are about 1400 to 1800 years old. The park is former ranch land, and many trails are old ranch roads. Numerous ponds, springs, creeks, and swimming holes throughout the park provide fishing opportunities and the chance to cool off on a hot day.

The tour passes through a meadow, which in late winter may be dotted with popcorn flowers, baby blue eyes, and fiddlenecks. Squirrels have constructed elaborate burrows under oaks and across the meadows, so you will probably see plenty of the scampering bushy tailed animals near these colonies.

The park offers 10,000 acres of rugged semi-wilderness, rising from sea level to steep coastal mountains of more than 2,600 feet. Once the site of logging operations until the 1920s, visitors can still find evidence of logging operations, mill sites and trestles in the park.

This park is on land that was clear-cut during a forty-year logging frenzy (1883-1923). When the loggers left the Aptos Canyon, the forest began to heal itself and now the scars grow fainter with each passing year. The Forest of Nisene Marks is a monument to forest regeneration and the future - it is a forest in the state of becoming.

When most people think about hiking in Nisene Marks State Park their feet begin to hurt. A hike from the Aptos entrance to the Forest is 12.4 miles, mostly uphill. Why not try the Segway™ HT way and leave your sore feet at home!

Old-Growth Loop Trail is a lovely moss and fern covered grotto. The park is host to at least 17 different types of ferns, including beautiful five finger ferns, sword ferns and bracken ferns. Further up the trail, you'll discover the "twisted grove" or "crazy forest." Several large redwoods twist in unusual curves. Tiger Lily Garden is an exceptionally large natural colony of tiger lilies, but are usually only around in May, right after they have blossomed and before the deer eat them.

The largest redwood in the park, The Advocate, is more than 45 feet in circumference. Many visitors hug the tree like an old and dear friend. Less than two percent of the old growth forest remains. The Advocate has survived for hundreds of years.

Although it is a short tour, it is more than enough to bring back special moments of your experience. When you want to get away and only have a few hours, take a Cruz through the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. It’s a great way to sample our tours without a great outlay of time or money.

The park has 1006 acres of redwoods, conifers, oaks, sycamores, cottonwoods, maples, alders and willows - plus open meadows. Wildlife includes black-tail deer, gray squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and birds, such as water ouzels and belted kingfishers. Cruzers can enjoy the many scenic trails, including a several nature trail.

Take a cruz along Pfeiffer Redwood Creek, which, features some of the finest redwood groves in the Big Sur region and includes several scenic bridges across Pfeiffer Redwood Creek.

The 60 foot high waterfall at the end of the trail is a scenic highlight. A wooden platform at the base of the falls is a fine place to rest, meditate or have a picnic lunch.

If you have a special trail in mind and think it would be perfect for a Segway HT tour, then email our Concierge and make your suggestion. We will gladly, do everything we can to research your submission. With a minimum party of 5 we can customize a tour exclusively for you!