California State Parks Continues Pile Burning in Santa Cruz Mountains
California State Parks is conducting pile-burning operations across several mountain parks in Santa Cruz County, with work continuing as weather and air-quality conditions allow through April 2026. Roughly 400 burn piles are planned across Big Basin Redwoods, Castle Rock, and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Parks, including the Fall Creek Unit.
The burns support long-term forest health and wildfire resilience. At Big Basin and Henry Cowell, crews are reducing accumulated fuels around old-growth redwoods to help protect these iconic forests. In the Fall Creek Unit, the work is part of a broader effort to reduce the potential for extreme fire behavior. At Castle Rock, pile burning supports a forest-health project aimed at thinning dense understory growth so the area’s fire-adapted black oak woodlands can thrive.
What to Expect
- Crews will monitor each pile until it is fully extinguished.
- Burning will take place throughout the season as conditions allow.
- Ignitions are scheduled between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Residents and visitors may see smoke near the parks during these operations. Patrols will continue into evenings and weekends as needed. All burns are coordinated with the Monterey Bay Air Quality Management District and will be postponed if weather or air-quality conditions are not suitable.
Pile burning is a key tool for improving emergency access, enhancing habitat, and reducing the risk of severe wildfire across the region.
For updates on prescribed burns and other fire-related activities in Santa Cruz and San Mateo County state parks, visit:
parks.ca.gov/santacruzprescribedburns
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