Pescadero Creek Park

This park consists of peaceful redwoods. There are not many pepople here, so it is possible to enjoy nice quiet hike.
We started at Tarwater trailhead, and hiked Tarwater/​Canyon/​Brok/​Butano Ridge/​Pompoio and came back. It’s about 18 miles, 3500 feet elevation gain.
Almost not open view except Ocean View point 1 mile from ButanoRidge Trail junction.
Parking is no fee.
If you like redwoods, it’s good for you. You prefer open space/​view, you might not really enjoy here.

Amazing place to hike. I was looking for a new place to hike that wasn’t going to be super crowded, came here on a thursday and was the only person on the trail. I will definitely have to make more trips out here.

Went to check out Pescadero Creek Park on a warm day, Sat 6÷22÷13. N. said it’s one of her favorite park, well it sure ain’t mine.
FREE parking if you can find the parking lot. It’s over 1hr to get here on lots of windy roads, felt kinda sick being in the back seat. No bathrooms/​no drinking water!
We were gonna do 10 miles loop, didn’t make it. Started at the Hoffman Creek Trailhead, hiked on Pomponio Trail. Crossed Pescadero Creek, there’s logs so it was pretty easy to cross on the Jones Gulch Bridge (elev 280).
Tons of Mosquitoes here — bring DEET!
I think we did Brook Trail loop or something on there, to Grangers Bridge Towne Creek Elev 270, then we saw Worley Flat elev 300. Ohno, we made some error & was heading back to the cars! WTF!
Again did Jones Gulch Bridge, Towne Fire Rd, Pomponio Trail, Granger Bridge, crossed the Pescadero Creek, back to the cars.
Long day because we got lost & it was warm. Started 10am, finished 4pm, Yikes! Not sure how many miles we did, but glad to get out of there alive! It’s on my banned hiking list!
V. told me of the 6 mistakes we made after the fact: «We took Pomponio Trail to Brook Trail, turned left onto Brook Loop Trail (M1). Turned right onto Jones Gulch Trail (would have corrected M1 except for the next mistake.) Turned right onto Pomponio Trail (M2) [now going wrong direction on Pomponio]. Failed to notice we passed same trail junction @ Brook Loop (M3) After ¾ mile realized mistake and turned back. Turned left onto Brook Loop Trail (same mistake AGAIN!) (M4). Failed to turn off of Brook Loop Trail @ Jones Gulch (M5). Instead wandered up&up Brook Loop to ridge top. Should have known trail stays level. (M6) We did Brook Trail Loop to Towne Fire Road, returned on Towne Fire Road.»

a two hour hike
turned into five; luckily
twas a scenic trek
don’t forget a map
trails intertwine like a maze
you’ll be lost for days
the terrain differs
be prepared; rocky, paved, steep
we got stuck in mud =[
bridges, creeks, redwoods
a sh*tload of mosquitoes
don’t forget bug spray!
(shot out to david + kas)

When visiting San Francisco, one has so many options of things to do that it’s hard to decide what to do first. After eating my way through the city, I headed to Redwood City for some fresh air and hiking. My friend and I decided to drive to Pescadero Creek County Park, as he had yet to explore it, and I was eager to spend a day outdoors.
I am by no means an expert hiker, but I’ve been hiking enough times to know that confusing, maze-​like, unmarked trails make for a difficult trip. We started out on Old Haul Road as planned, and the hike was lovely. The redwoods are less grand than in Muir woods, since the ancient trees were felled and new growth trees are dominant, but they are stunning nonetheless. I followed strings of butterflies, watched as a tree fell in the forest (it made a sound), and watched a yellow-​striped snake sun itself on the trail.
Things took a turn for the worse (literally) when we looped back only to realize — at a point when the trail became unfamiliar and entirely vertical — that we had taken unmarked trail #2 instead of unmarked trail #1. After discovering that we were on the Towne Fire Road instead of Old Haul, we consulted a map and tried to find our way back.
Let it be known that my friend is an accomplished hiker with a phenomenal sense of direction, so when I say take a map and a compass, I mean TAKE A MAP. AND A COMPASS. Once reoriented, we took the Pomponio Trail back through the park. If you are going to hike here, I highly recommend this trail. It takes you through sprawling meadows with stunning views of tree-​covered mountains (Little House on the Prairie style), past quiet waterfalls, across gurgling streams, and is incredibly peaceful.
Beware of the equestrians, who are prevalent on the Old Haul Trail… and, more importantly, watch out for endless mounds of horse poop. There is a lot of poison oak, which becomes a concern when the Pomponio trail narrows. Parking is free, and the trails are uncrowded. Last but not least: make sure to bring lots of water and snacks (cliff bars, anyone?) in case your compass fails you!

After nibbling around the edges (as is my wont), I finally plunged into the heart of the Pescadero Creek park complex, namely PC County Park itself. The main trailhead is on the west side, near Memorial Park, but you can also come in from Sam McDonald on the north, or Portola Redwoods on the east, or the super-​secret Tarwater trailhead on the northeast. In short, it’s a big place, with a veritable maze of trails (seriously, bring a map), and one of the few Bay Area parks actually conducive to an overnight backpack (if you stay at Shaw Flat Trail Camp, try site 5, it’s got good light).
The park, of course, is centered on the impressively-​sized Pescadero Creek valley (definitely no mere canyon), but sadly there are few trails that actually follow the picturesque stream itself. What you will get is plenty of redwoods and a surprising number of grassy meadows. Oh, and the Old Haul Road, which runs the length of the valley, is one of the Bay Area’s classic mountain-​biking routes.