 Buzzard’s RoostA scenic hill climbLength 4.8 miles • Climbing 1200 ftCalifornia > San Francisco Bay Area > Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Redwood uplands on the Pine Mountain Trail This popular hike features an unrelenting 1.8-mile-long climb to a commanding viewpoint over the eastern half of Big Basin. Because the climb has a reasonable 12% average grade, it's not quite as difficult as it might look from the elevation profile. About half of this hike passes through old-growth redwoods. As the trail climbs, it passes first through impressive lowland redwoods, then through smaller upland redwoods, and finally into a highland pine forest, making for an interesting and varied hike.
Click map to show all trails and roads Hike description
Click here to see the trailhead location in Google Maps or in Google Street View. Start at the 12-foot-tall Redwood Loop signpost across the street from park headquarters. Walk into the woods and almost immediately turn left at the first intersection with the Redwood Loop. When the trail divides at the Mother of the Forest tree, stay to the left. The trail runs alongside Big Basin Road among impressive redwoods. The first paved road that the trail crosses is Hinh Hammond Road, which also serves as the entrance to Blooms Creek Campground. Turn right onto Hinh Hammond Road and walk through the campground. Look for a trail for your left. This short spur trail is marked with a "Trail Access" sign and crosses a footbridge. Following the signs to Pine Mountain, turn right onto the Blooms Creek Trail, then left onto the Pine Mountain Trail, at which point the trail begins to climb in earnest. The trail passes through a small ravine, crosses the East Ridge Trail, then passes through a larger ravine with some good-sized lowland redwoods. You then enter typical Big Basin redwood uplands: the environment gets noticably drier and the redwoods smaller, although there's still the occasional big redwood.
The final climb to Buzzard's Roost After a switchback, the trail briefly joins the Pine Mountain Service Road. The redwoods continue for some time, but the trail eventually enters an area of logged redwoods. The transition from old growth to second growth marks the original 1902 park boundary. Fortunately, the logged stretch of redwoods is very short and you soon enter a tanoak forest. The tanoak in turn gives way to pine. There are two small rock faces to climb up, the first about three feet tall, the second about six feet. The trail is screened by trees throughout but, as you near the top, you're encouraged by some brief glimpses of the view over Big Basin. There's a final switchback and then you're at Buzzard's Roost. The final 50 yards or so is a steep bare rock face. It's not particularly challenging, but you wouldn't want to loose your footing because it would be a long roll to the bottom with nothing to stop you. Fortunately, the rock face is normally clean and dry, so traction is good. The view from the top is partially blocked by pine trees. Middle Ridge is clearly visible in front of you; park headquarters, at the base of the mountain, is hidden by the trees.
View of Big Basin from Buzzard's Roost For variety, on the way back turn left onto the East Ridge Trail. When you reach Hinh Hammond Road you'll see two auto bridges. Cross both and turn right onto the Skyline-Hinh Hammond Connector. This trail doesn't look very promising at first, passing by some unattractive pipeline service hatches. However, the trail soon enters a superb redwood grove and winds among huge trees, with views of more huge trees (actually the Redwood Loop area) across the creek. Turn right at the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail. Look for the huge, unmarked Santa Clara Tree to your right. Turn right again at the large footbridge to return to the parking lot. More information
The Hinh-Hammond Connector Trail
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