HomeCaliforniaFelton › Garden of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwood State Park

Garden of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwood State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 408 Google reviews · Running trail in Felton, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Garden of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwood State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicDog-friendlyQuiet

Picturesque wilderness area featuring a riverside loop trail & a natural swimming hole.

What runners say about Garden of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwood State Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (408 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area just be respectful of the environment so it stays as clean and special as it is.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 16 mentions

“The scenery is absolutely beautiful, with clear water, large rocks to relax on, and plenty of spots to just sit and take it all in.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 7 mentions

“actually found a couple of quiet trails where i was completely alone with the redwoods.”

Beautiful place to swim. Very refreshing!!! We parked by the street at Oxford rd trail and walked 17 minutes to find this beautiful place. Worth the walked! No dogs allowed.

★★★★★ — Borincana , Aug 2022

I had visit this place on December/27/2020. Spoony me.....I was looking for the garden with a lot of flowers but after about 1.5 miles hiking in, and I found out.... The name Garden of Eden is a misnomer. There is no garden but a beautiful forest and scenery river flowing through it.

★★★★★ — Tina , Dec 2020

You can drive down further and take an easier trail to the river… it’s FABULOUS! It’s like church among the redwoods in the river… water is clear and nice swimming, not too deep! The trail down takes about 10 mins to the river shore.

★★★★★ — Anna , Jun 2025

Scenic little spot that's kinda hard to get to. Maps does a poor job of getting you there. Found a parking lot on the road shortly after maps said was garden of eden. See pic of signage, took this down to RR tracks and followed the railroad tracks back about .

★★★★★ — Irvin , May 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 408 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 18 mentions

“The scenery is absolutely beautiful, with clear water, large rocks to relax on, and plenty of spots to just sit and take it all in.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 6 mentions

“actually found a couple of quiet trails where i was completely alone with the redwoods.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 5 mentions

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Plan your run at Garden of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwood State Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteparks.ca.gov
  • Phone(831) 335-4598

Hours

Monday 6 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–6 PM
Thursday 6 AM–6 PM
Friday 6 AM–6 PM
Saturday 6 AM–6 PM
Sunday 6 AM–6 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Garden of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwood State Park

CA-9, Felton, CA 95018

Get directions

Running trails near Felton

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Cable Car Beach

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Santa Cruz Rincon Trail Trailhead

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Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 8,229 reviews

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0.8 miLoopScenic

Featuring a variety of forested areas, this park offers camping, fishing, hiking & picnic spots.

1.1 miles away

Bear Mountain

4.8 ★★★★★ 149 reviews

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BoardwalkScenic

Family-friendly hiking area with scenic redwood forests and a historic steam train ride.

1.2 miles away

U-Conn Trail Head

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1.4 miles away

Powder Mill Trail

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ScenicDog-friendly

Kid- and dog-friendly area with trails for hiking.

1.4 miles away

All running trails in Felton, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.