{"id":12180,"date":"2021-01-14T14:32:16","date_gmt":"2021-01-14T22:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/?page_id=12180"},"modified":"2025-09-15T10:16:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T17:16:11","slug":"portola-redwoods-state-park","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/visit\/portola-redwoods-state-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Portola Redwoods State Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Portola Redwoods State Park<\/h1>\r\n

Explore Redwoods and Waterfalls in a Peaceful Park<\/h3>\r\n

Off Highway 35 in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Portola Redwoods State Park remains quiet and peaceful despite its proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area thanks to the long, winding approach to its hushed forest canyon. The Park’s 2,800 acres drop from ridgetops to a natural basin of shaded redwood forest and huckleberries. The towering redwoods and waterfalls on Pescadero and Fall Creeks can be admired from Portola Redwoods 18-miles of trails. Many plants and wildlife live in the habitat provided by the Park’s creeks and old-growth redwoods<\/a> including black-tailed deer, coyotes, mountain lions<\/a>, and endangered marbled murrelet<\/a>, coho salmon<\/a> and steelhead trout.<\/p>\r\n

Sempervirens Fund helped create Portola Redwoods State Park<\/a> in 1945 and continues to protect land for people and wildlife to enjoy in the Park for generations to come.<\/p>\r\n

Donate Now <\/a><\/p>\r\n

photo by\u00a0Silencetheshadows.<\/p>\r\n

Sequoia Nature Trail<\/h2>\r\n

This easy 1.5-mile loop under the shade of redwoods along Pescadero Creek has interpretive signs that offer information about the surroundings making it a great option for curious minds and families with small children. The trail begins near the Visitors Center and typically takes less than an hour. The footbridge crossing the creek is removed during the winter due to larger water flows.<\/p>\r\n

\"Portola Portola Redwoods Pescadero Creek by Laura Hamilton \"Portola Portola Redwoods Tip Toe Falls by Wayne Hsieh<\/p>\r\n

Tip Toe Falls<\/h2>\r\n

An easy hike 1.6-mile out and back on Iverson Trail, which connects to Sequoia Nature Trail, climbs to Tip Toe Falls, a 6-foot waterfall fed by Fall Creek<\/a> which Sempervirens Fund is working to protect. Described by many hikers as magical, the fall tumbles over a mossy cliff into a circular pool. The roundtrip hike typically takes about two hours.<\/p>\r\n

Peter’s Creek Trail<\/h2>\r\n

Peters Creek Trail is an 11.9-mile loop trail through lush redwood and tanoak forests. The long hike with two sections of climbing are rewarded by 1.5-miles through an awesome old-growth redwood grove. Sempervirens Fund preserved 33-acres next to the Peters Creek Trail<\/a> for people and wildlife to enjoy forever.<\/p>\r\n

\"Portola Portola Redwoods Old Growth by Elaine With Grey Cats<\/p>\r\n

Plan Your Hike<\/h2>\r\n

Address:<\/strong> Portola Redwoods State Park<\/a>, 9000 Portola State Park Road, La Honda, CA 94020<\/p>\r\n

Hours:<\/strong> 6am-Sunset (in severe weather the park might be closed), Visitor Center: 9am-5pm<\/p>\r\n

Directions:<\/strong> click here for Google maps directions<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Park Activities<\/h3>\r\n