hiking

Waterfall Loop and Contour Trail

Follow Swanson Creek up the canyon on the Contour Trail. Photo by Christian Yungert.

Follow Swanson's Creek past beautiful waterfalls under dense forest canopy.

Butano Was Made for Families

Butano just seems to make kids happy.

Natural play areas and excellent campfire programming make Butano State Park a standout kid-friendly destination.

Gray Whale Cove Trail

Expect ocean views, just not this one. You'll be a bit higher up. Photo by Juliette Spirson.

An easy 3-mile trail with great ocean views.

Horseshoe Lake-Fir Knoll Loop

Horseshoe Lake is surrounded by blackbird-filled cattails. Nice.

A short hike at Skyline Open Space Preserve provides a variety of scenery, including a little lake and big ocean views.

Mockingbird Loop Trail

Photo by Jeremy Zawodny/CC.

A pretty loop on the park's north side that climbs to a ridge and back down.

Big Tree Trail

The fire road on the way to the Big Tree. Photo by L. Clark Tate.

A short but steep roadside trail looping through some of the park's most impressive trees.

Heritage Grove Trail

An old-growth redwood in the Heritage Grove at Sam McDonald County Park picks up the light. David McSpadden photo/Creative Commons.

A half-day hike through a redwood grove inherited from an impassioned public to a high ridge lookout.

Wood Road Trail

Mt. Umunhum is visible from this trail. Photo by Elf / CC

All great hikes begin with an aged installation of mining machinery… right?

Deep Gulch Trail

The remains of an old church, a schoolhouse and a mining office make English Camp a picturesque destination. Photo by Eugene Zelenko/CC.

A steep but short climb to English Camp, home to the mine's English-speaking population.

Candelabra Tree Trail

The multiple trunks growing from the same base trunk give the Candelabra Tree its name. Photo by Rosanna Petralia.

In the mood to search for an incredible multi-trunked old growth redwood tree? You’re in luck!

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