The Creeping Forest Loop

Length 2.5 miles • Climbing 500 feet

California > San Francisco Bay Area > Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Redwoods on the Creeping Forest Trail, leaning because of seismic activity

The Creeping Forest Trail climbs partway up Middle Ridge and is one of the more commonly-recommended short loops in Big Basin. However, especially at higher elevations the trail is not as enjoyable as the nearby Sunset or Skyline-to-the-Sea trails.

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Hike Description

From park headquarters, cross Opal Creek and take the Skyline-to-the-Sea trail north. This is one of the most scenic parts of the park, with large trees and an open understory.

The Creeping Forest trail begins after the Gazos Creek Road crossing. The trail climbs through a pleasant mixed redwood forest with a dense understory of huckleberry shrubs. It then crosses a ridge and descends to a T intersection before climbing again, cresting just before it crosses a log bridge. Be careful since the log bridge is very slick when it's wet. This forest here at the crest is drier, more scraggly, and less attractive than at lower elevations.

As the trail descends, it passes through a grove where the soil has slid downhill due to earthquakes. As a result the large trees are all leaning in the same direction, while the small trees are leaning haphazardly against each other.

After passing a short spur trail, the trail climbs again to a T junction with Gazos Creek Road. From this point, take the Dool Trail downhill. This trail follows a redwood-lined ravine that becomes gradually more lush and attractive as it descends.

At the bottom of the Dool Trail, turn right and take the Skyline-to-the-Sea trail back to park headquarters. A nice alternative is to turn left to reach Gazos Creek Road, then cross Opal Creek on the automobile bridge and take North Escape Road back to headquarters. The road passes through an attractive grove of large redwoods known as the Stanford Group.

The Stanford Group