Bay Area Hiker: Portola State Park Portola Redwoods State Park

Featured hike
Mile:
0.0: Begin to the left of the ranger station, following the signs to Sequoia Nature Trail.
0.2: Junction. Bear left, toward Iverson Trail. Where the other leg of Sequoia Nature Trail feeds in from the right, stay to the left.
0.3: T junction. Turn left onto Iverson Trail.
0.5: Where a path heads off to the left and down to the creek, stay to the right.
0.6: Turn right and climb briefly and easily to Tiptoe Falls.
0.6: Tiptoe Falls. Retrace your steps back to the T junction with Iverson Trail.
0.9: Back at the T junction. Continue straight on Iverson Trail.
1.2: Junction. Turn left onto Pomponio Trail.
2.2: Junction. Turn left onto Bridge Trail.
2.5: Junction with Snag Trail. Continue straight on Bridge Trail.
2.8: Junction. Bear left onto Old Haul Road.
2.8: Junction with Ridge Trail. Continue straight on Old Haul Road.
4.1: Multiple junction. Turn left onto the service road.
4.1: Junction with other end of Iverson Trail. Continue straight on the service road.
4.5: Junction with Summit Trail. Turn right.
5.3: Junction with Slate Creek Trail. Turn left.
6.2: Junction with path to campground. Continue to the left on Slate Creek Trail.
6.6: Junction with Old Tree Trail. Turn left.
6.9: End of trail at old tree. Retrace steps back to previous junction.
7.3: Junction again. Continue straight on Old Tree Trail.
7.3: Trail ends at paved park road. Turn right and follow the road back to the trailhead.
7.4: Back at the trailhead.

Getting there:
From Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, exit #25 Woodside Road/CA84. Drive west about 6 miles to the junction with CA 35 (Skyline Boulevard). Turn left and drive south about 7 miles to the junction with Alpine Road. Turn right and drive west about 3 tortuous and winding miles on this narrow road (be especially careful for bicycle and motorcycle traffic on weekends). Turn left onto Portola State Park Road, and drive on the tiny and unpredictable road the remaining 3 miles to the entrance kiosk. Continue another .4 mile to the parking areas near the ranger station. If possible park in the Madrone lot (to the left just before the ranger station), or in the spots past the ranger station and across the bridge, on the right side of the road. (NOTE: do not be confused or tempted by the Alpine Road exit on Interstate 280. That section of Alpine Road deadends east of Skyline Boulevard.)

GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude 37°14'47.54"N
Longitude
122°12'47.99"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)


Read about this hike in more detail and view some photos at http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/portola.html


© 2002 Jane Huber/Bay Area Hiker.