Redwood
Trail,
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve,
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District,
San Mateo County
In brief:
0.6 mile out and back hike is on an all access trail through redwoods and huckleberry.
Getting there:
• From Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, exit Woodside Road (CA 84), Drive
west about 6.5 miles, to the junction with Skyline Boulevard (CA 35). Turn right
and drive north about 6 miles, to the small parking lot on the left side of the
road (it's easy to miss).
• From Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, exit CA 92. Drive west about 3
miles, then turn left onto Skyline Boulevard (CA 35). Drive about 7 miles to the
parking lot on the right side of the road (it is the last Purisima parking lot).
Trailhead details:
Two designated handicapped parking spots. Parking for about 6 other cars. Wheelchair
accessible pit toilet inside the preserve. No entrance or parking fees. Maps available
at information signboard. There is no direct public transportation to this preserve.
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, pay phone, restaurants, and picnic supplies available at the junction of
35 and 84, about 6 miles south. No camping.
Rules:
Most trails are multi-use. A few trails are open to hikers only. Dogs are not
permitted in the preserve.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 0.6 mile out and back hike is very easy, with minimal elevation change.
The Official Story:
MROSD's
Purisima page.
MROSD field office 650-691-1200
Map Choices:
• Use AAA's San Francisco Bay Region map to get to the preserve.
• Map
from MROSD (download pdf).
• 
Peninsula Tales
and Trails, by David Weintraub (order
this book from Amazon.com) has an overview of the preserve, descriptions of
hikes, and simple maps.
• Afoot and Afield: San Francisco Bay Area, by David Weintraub (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a great map and descriptions of a Purisima
Creek hike.
• Peninsula Trails, by Jean Rusmore, has a simple map and trail descriptions
(order
this book from Amazon.com).
• Tom Taber's The Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Book has a simple map
and trail descriptions (order
this book from Amazon.com).
• View 15 photos from the
hike.
Most
paths through redwoods in the bay area are either flat and crowded or not-so-flat
and no-so-crowded. Purisima Creek's Redwood Trail is neither. This short, all-access
dirt trail allows nature lovers in wheelchairs, or parents with children in strollers
a chance to wander among the giants, without getting trampeled by the tourists.
Redwood Trail begins a few steps from the handicapped
parking spots, in the deep shade of redwoods. The path gently descends through
tanoak and madrone, with lot of huckleberry bushes lining the way (the berries
are edible when dark blue, usually in September and early October). If you're
visiting in late summer, children may enjoy looking for nuts on hazelnut shrubs.
In the winter, look for grape-sized berries on madrone trees. Solitary picnic
tables are spaced along the sides of the trail. Redwood Trail crosses Purisima
Creek Trail at a signed junction, then continues winding through the trees, until
the path ends at a junction near gate PC03A. Turn around and retrace your steps
(or wheels!) to the trailhead.
Total distance: about 0.6 mile
Last hiked: Friday, September 15, 2000
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page
paths through redwoods in the bay area are either flat and crowded or not-so-flat
and no-so-crowded. Purisima Creek's Redwood Trail is neither. This short, all-access
dirt trail allows nature lovers in wheelchairs, or parents with children in strollers
a chance to wander among the giants, without getting trampeled by the tourists.
