Introduction:
What? :
Edgewood County
Park and Natural Preserve is a 467-acre protected area located in the west side
of Redwood, just off 280 highways. The park is best known for its spring
wildflower blooming that cover the open hills, but it provides excellent local destination
for spending time in nature any other season.
Where? :
The park has several
trailheads entrances but the most popular is near the Education center on Edgewood
Rd. and Old Stagecoach Rd. Redwood City, within easy access to Interstate 280.
At the park entrance you can find 2 small parking lots.
Google Map Link
When? :
Year round, the
best time is during spring when the flowers blooming cover the high hills open
grasslands.
Nearby Parks:
Due note 1: I visit here
during early winter but the preferred time to visit this park is at spring
where the while flowers are covering the open lends.
Due note 2: This is excellent
destination for nice spring weekend, but it can be crowded. There are only 2
small parking lots near the park main entrance and if they are full, you can
look for additional parking nearby or on other park entrances (see park map
link below).
Due note 3: Restrooms and
water can be found near the park main entrance.
Due note 4: Maybe I missed
it, but I did not saw signs or pay-station for parking fees.
Due note 5: The park opens
every day at 8:00 am and closes at sunset. Dogs and bikes are not allowed
within the park, most trails are open for equestrian use.
Due note 6: On the west
side of the park you will here the car nose coming out of the nearby highway
280.
My thoughts:
I visit this
park only once, at a winter day late afternoon but I’m sure I will visit here
again. The park has a good combination of typical local Oak woodland forest,
open grasslands and high hills with vista. This is a local county park but big enough
for nature experience and I do recommend visiting here if you live withing a
short driving distance.
The visit:
There are many
trails in the park and most of them are heading in the direction of the main top
hill that is located in the center of the park.
You can head
directly to the hill, about 700
feet in elevation, or chose to circle it using the peripheral loop trail that
circle the park area.
I found that
this park trails are well maintained and ready for the winter month as well as I
saw signs of the “weed warrior” program which removes invasive plants that
threaten native plants. When walking you can see their empty circles in the
open grasslands.
My recommended hike:
Overall, this
hike is 4.8 mile with some climbing but not over difficult. You should plan for
1.5-2 hours hike.
When I came
here it was already late at the afternoon and I decided to start with a trail
that circle the hill and climb up and check how much I can hike until it gets
dark.
I started from
the small picnic area near the education center, from here I took Sylvan Trail
south. The trail heading into the hill and gradually climbing slopes until you
will reach a trail junction.
Here I turned left into Serpentine Trail that keep climbing up until it level and reach the junction with Sunset Trail.
I start heading north using Clarkia Trail section that connect back into Sunset Trail.
Here, at the base of Edgewood's main ridge
on its southern side you will pass through large sections of grassland at a even
grade.
I assume that
this section is covered with flowers at springtime, took myself a mental note
to visit here again.
After walking 0.5 miles north on Sunset Trail and passing a large forest grove I turned right into Ridgeview Trail that easily climb the sunny southern side of Edgewood ridge.
After walking up for 0.6 mile I took
the short trail to my right and reach the nice viewing point at the top of the
hill.
From the
viewing point at the end of the trail I turn around and hiked the Live Oak
Trail. This 0.6-mile trail along the wooded northern side of Edgewood Park's
875-foot crowning ridge. The trail is passing through a dense oak forest, so
you do get to see a lot of views.
From here I already started to get dark,
and I headed to the parking lot. I took the Old Stage Road, this 0.9-mile trail
start by crossing the open grassland and then getting into oak forest where the
trail stat descending sharply down the north sides of the park border. Eventually
you will reach a road and soon you will find yourself in the education center
and the parking lots.
You can do other variations and use
other trails, but I do recommend reaching the higher park sections where you
can enjoy the open grasslands and vistas.
www:
https://www.smcgov.org/parks/edgewood-park-natural-preserve
Map:
https://www.smcgov.org/parks/edgewood-park-trails
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