Austin Creek State Recreation Area features open woodlands and hillsides adjacent to the dark, primeval redwood forests of Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve. With 22 miles of scenic trails, the park is popular with hikers, backpackers and equestrians. Its rugged topography gives a sense of isolation from the hustle and bustle of civilization. Elevations within the park range from 150 feet above sea level to almost 1,900 feet on Marble Mine Ridge. Austin Creek's open forests and rolling hills offer a striking contrast to the cool, dark redwood grove in Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve.

Springtime wildflower displays include Douglas iris, buttercups, lupines, brodiaeas, California poppies, and shooting stars. This is home to a wide range of native animals and birds: Foxes, coyotes, skunks, bobcats, the occasional mountain lion, the colorful wood duck and the rare spotted owl. Austin Creek's historic Pond Farm Pottery was the home, workshop, and school of the internationally renowned ceramic artist, Marguerite Wildenhain, who settled here after World War II. Formerly a student at Germany's famous Bauhaus school of design, Wildenhain enjoyed and was inspired by the peace and natural beauty of this area.