Redwoods Ramble

Redwoods Hike on the San Mateo Coast

If your idea of a great winter wander is walking among coastal redwoods without encountering many other people, then head to the San Mateo Coast’s Butano State Park. Get an early start for the 9.5-mile Canyon Loop hike, one of the park’s classics. From the visitor center take the Jackson Flats Trail to Canyon Trail.

Banana slugs and California newts are all over these trails during winter and especially after rains. Also all over: redwoods and Douglas fir! Keep hiking above Little Butano Creek and eventually you’ll emerge onto the ridge. Soak in some sunshine if you’ve got it, and bask in the beauty of giant second-growth redwoods on surrounding hillsides.

Return via Indian, Doe Ridge, Goat Hill, and Año Nuevo Trails. Combining these gives you fantastic views of the surrounding hillsides (the calypso orchid should be flowering in full force from February to April) and more redwoods. Finish on Año Nuevo Trail, which descends by switchbacks to the visitor center.

This is a fantastic all-day hike. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for the trail. If you want to extend the trip, campsites are available throughout the park and can be reserved by contacting the park or through their website. The park has a $10 day-use fee which can also be used at neighboring parks if you choose to visit multiple parks in one day. Pick up a trail map at the visitor center or use the online brochure. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View
  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View
  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View