The Pioneer Tree Trail

Length 2.7 mi · Climbing 190 ft

California > San Francisco Bay Area > Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Background

Samuel P. Taylor's only old-growth trail is a short, easy walk that climbs a hillside, visits a lone old-growth redwood, then descends through a little canyon that contains a tiny but surprisingly nice old-growth grove. This loop is meant to be hiked counter-clockwise, but I like to save the old growth for last.

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Hike description

To reach the trailhead, park in the day use area just past the entrance kiosk, then walk down the main road, cross the bridge, and turn left at the T intersection. The road soon dead-ends at a gate. Next to the gate is an unmarked pullout where you can park if you want to save a few minutes of walking.

From the pullout, walk onto the paved trail that starts on the other side of the gate. Pass the intersection with the Pioneer Tree Trail; this is where you'll end the hike. The wide, flat trail, which used to be a railroad bed, is popular with cyclists. There's a lot of traffic noise from busy Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, just across the creek, but it's an easy and pleasant walk.

Just before the footbridge over Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, look for the Pioneer Tree Trail to your right. Take this trail, which starts out level and soon begins climbing at a very gentle gradient through second-growth redwoods. The traffic noise recedes a little as you climb, and redwoods give way to a mixed hardwood forest.

The Pioneer Tree Trail

The trail switchbacks a few times and soon reaches the Pioneer Tree, an odd and not very impressive cluster of several small trunks around a larger, gnarled redwood. Continuing on, the trail winds through a few small ravines and enters a lush second-growth redwood forest. The redwoods become more impressive and you'll soon notice a few good-sized old-growth redwoods just off the trail to your right.

The trail begins to descend and makes a hairpin right turn. This is the point where you really enter the old-growth grove. Perfectly straight and elegantly-fluted redwoods stand on the hillside to your left. This area has apparently never been logged, despite being very close to Samuel P. Taylor's logging operation. A little creek trickles down the ravine, right next to the trail. Ferns and redwood sorrel cover the ground.

After just a few steps, the trail crosses the creek over a culvert and the old-growth grove ends. The ravine narrows and the trail descends back to the paved bike path.

The Pioneer Tree Trail