Sempervirens Falls is a 15-foot plunge on Sempervirens Creek in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz County, California, seen from the Sequoia Trail.
The falls
Lidar data now puts the drop at about 15 feet, down from an earlier figure of 20 feet that still appears on California State Parks' own page. The single drop is classed as a plunge.
Getting there
The falls sit on the Sequoia Trail, which reopened May 22, 2026 after the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned 97 percent of Big Basin. The trail is 2.9 miles, or a 4.3-mile moderate loop when combined with 1.4 miles of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail from the main day-use area. Park hours run 8 a.m. to sunset; vehicle day use is $6 plus a $2 reservation fee, or $10 without one, and reservations are strongly recommended. A 2026 summer shuttle runs weekends and holidays from Saddle Mountain overflow parking, beginning May 23, and Santa Cruz METRO also runs seasonal buses to the park.
When to go
Summer temperatures at Big Basin can exceed 100 degrees, and the park may close during adverse weather.
On site
The park has no potable water, limited cell connectivity, and ongoing hazards and closures left from the 2020 fire. Dogs are not allowed on trails, though leashed dogs may go in the parking area and along North Escape Road. Base or top access at the falls, the swimming rule, and any incident history are not documented.
Nearby
Berry Creek Falls is about 3.1 miles away, Silver Falls about 3.3 miles, and Golden Cascade about 3.4 miles.
Distances are straight-line.