Mountain town near Silicon Valley
Boulder Creek is a rural, mountain town where the pace of life is decidedly slower than in nearby Silicon Valley. Billing itself as the gateway to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, this former logging village is surrounded by dense woodlands, steep hills and roadways with hairpin turns. “We’re an hour from Silicon Valley on a bad day, but you’re living in a completely different environment. There are no three-story buildings in downtown. It’s like going back in time,” says Realtor Suzanne Hood of Century 21, a longtime Boulder Creek resident.
The town’s main street is Central Avenue, a small-town business strip with boomtown style architecture, mom-and-pop shops and local restaurants. The surrounding forests are peppered with cozy cabins and renovated older homes. Its proximity to San Jose and Silicon Valley have made it increasingly popular with commuters, but the town’s remote location can come with unexpected challenges.
“Living up here is not for everybody. Winter can be really hard; on average, we get 60 inches of rain. The mountains wring out all the water and we send whatever’s left over the hill,” Hood says. “I mean, we’ve lost roads, water systems and power poles. So, if you can’t live without power, and you don’t know how to deal without having tap water, this isn’t the place for you to live. But in the summertime, it’s gorgeous. We put up with winter to live here in the summer.”
Community parks and outdoor recreation
Junction Park is a small community park with benches and picnic tables that overlooks a bubbling, rocky creek with a swimming hole. It’s a great spot to take a dip during the summertime. During the winter months, Boulder Creek Recreation Center offers a warm, dry place to get some exercise. Sprawling state parks offer ample opportunities for hiking, biking, swimming and sightseeing. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California’s oldest state park, has a labyrinth of trails that crisscross its mountainous woodlands. The park was charred by a major wildfire in 2020, but many of its redwoods survived and new plant life is blooming at a fast clip. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is south of Boulder Creek and features swimming holes, hiking trails and plenty of old-growth redwood trees.
Central Avenue shopping and dining
Boulder Creek’s downtown offers an eclectic mix of local eateries and independent shops. “The shops and restaurants in Boulder Creek are owned by local people that really care about the community. You’re not dealing with big corporate America here,” says Realtor Jayson Madani of Room Real Estate, who is a longtime resident of the area.
Joe’s Bar is a local institution — it’s dark wood paneling, low lighting, cold drinks and pool tables have made it a popular dive for locals and visitors. Authentic Mexican cuisine can be found at Taqueria Los Gallos, while those in the mood for Japanese might try Tae’s Edo Sushi Bar. Boulder Creek Pizza & Pub is a downhome pizza parlor that’s been running for over a decade. Upscale Italian is right around the corner at Scopazzi’s Restaurant and Lounge. The restaurant’s building traces its origins to the early 20th century when it was known as The Italia Hotel; at the time, it was frequented by early Hollywood stars like Peter Fonda and Slim Summerville.
There are two independent grocery stores on Central Avenue: Johnnie’s Super Market and Wild Roots Market, a grocer that specializes in local and organic foods. There are also small businesses up and down the strip, including a crystal shop, a hair salon and an art gallery.
Events, celebrations and festivals
Boulder Creek residents celebrate the Fourth of July with a raucous parade on Central Avenue. During the fall and winter, kids trick-or-treat at downtown businesses on Halloween and gather for a holiday tree lighting during the first week of December. On Memorial Day weekend, hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors flock to the town for the annual Boulder Creek Art, Wine and Music Festival, a weekend-long event that’s gone on for over a century.
Less expensive than nearby Silicon Valley
Homes in the town are typically older, including many that were built in the early and mid-20th century. “Most of the homes were designed as cabins. In the early 1900s, people would come up here to get away from the heat of the cities. This was a place where people would come to get away from it all. In the 1970s, a lot of hippies moved here because of all the nature and because it was a little more remote,” Hood says. Residences are often cloaked from view by thick tree canopies and dense foliage, and many are located along narrow, wooded roads. Home prices are relatively affordable for this region — they typically range from around $600,000 to around $1.5 million, depending on size, acreage and condition.
Highly rated schools
Boulder Creek students attend schools in the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District, which Niche rates as among the best in Santa Cruz County. Young learners go to Boulder Creek Elementary School, which earns a B-plus rating from Niche. The school is a few blocks from Central Avenue — it was recently updated with a new playground, science lab and computer lab. For sixth through eighth grade, students go to B-plus rated San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, while upperclassmen attend B-plus-rated San Lorenzo Valley High School.
Getting around Santa Cruz County
Commuters travel on State Route 9, a busy road that connects Boulder Creek with the city of Santa Cruz in the south and Saratoga in the north. It’s about 28 miles from downtown San Jose and 14 miles from the Santa Cruz boardwalk. The town is served by Santa Cruz Metro bus lines for those who prefer public transit. The nearest hospital is Dominican Hospital, about 15 miles south of the town in Santa Cruz.
Wildfires and heavy rain
Boulder Creek is at an increased risk for wildfires. In 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire destroyed more than 900 homes in the area. Boulder Creek was spared after volunteer fire fighters helped insulate the town from the worst of the fire. Wildfires are becoming more common along the California coast as global temperatures rise. Heavy rains during the winter also pose risks for Boulder Creek residents. The high volume of rainfall can cause road closures, power outages and damage water systems and septic tanks.
