Introduction:
Where?
: Large park main entrances located at the lower section of the park near Portola
valley and reach all the way to skyline ridge top (hwy 35).
What? :
The park climb the mountains and it’s area covered with forest redwood trees in
the creeks and other trees like Oak and Eucalyptus. Many trail options, most
start with the climb and then you will go down to the parking lot.
When? :
year round, also good for summer day because the trails are covered with trees
that provide shade during the hikes.
Due
note 1: The parking lot can get completely full during weekends, no option to
park on hwy 84 narrow road, so make sure you are coming early or later in the
afternoon (preferred)
Due
note 2: This is very active equestrian park so do expect to encounter horse
rides and poop…
Due note 3: This is not park for mountain bikes !
My
thoughts: Nice park, I visited it only once during hot summer day afternoon, but
I will defiantly come back during winter rainy day, nice hikes that start with
going up all the way to open meadows and then trails that are going down.
I did
not hike the higher section of the park (the trails that go’s up all the way to
hwy35) so I do not know how this section is.
The
visit:
Park
your car at the small parking lot (at weekends come early morning or late
afternoon) and take the Alambique Trail on your left side.
The trail climbs the
Alambique creek for about 2 miles; Mostly in dense wood, and nice redwood
groves at the side creeks and some open spaces that are being renovated.
After 2
miles of climbing you will reach a narrow and short trail turning left into Alambique
Flat; take it and after hundred feet you will get into large redwood grove with
running water creek, there is unmarked trail that can take you into the water.
From this
point keep going up for 0.1 mile and you will reach trail junction. If you will
keep straight on Oak Trail you will start the descend, I recommend taking the trail
to the left and go up to Alambique Bear Gulch trail. Here you can turn left and
go up; I went right and after 0.3 miles you will reach the large open space
called “The Medows”.
This is
an excellent place to rest and enjoy the view to the west. From here keep going
on Alambique Bear Gulch trail all the way down in a very nice forest section to
Folger Stable and the parking lot.
It will
take you to finish his 5-mile loop around 3 hr, you can make it shorter by
turning right on Meadow Trail mid-uphill or going down on Oak Trail.
You can
also add additional 5-6 miles by going all the way to hwy 35 (up on Alambique trail
and down on Skyline trail).
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