SUNDAY DRIVE
Sam McDonald County Park
What you’ll see: Nestled in the redwoods of the Peninsula south of La Honda is little-traveled Sam McDonald County Park. The park features trails through mostly second-growth redwood forest, with one old-growth monolith, and also a grassland ridge with views to the west toward the coastal hills. The park is also linked by trail to neighboring Heritage Grove.
Trail to Heritage Grove: The trailhead is across Pescadero Road from the parking area. A new trail leads 2 miles into Heritage Grove, a 37-acre grove with trails amid a sprinkling of oldgrowth giants.
A stellar 6-mile loop: At the northern end of the parking area, look for the trailhead for Forest Trail. This is routed 1.1 miles through redwoods and along the top edge of a canyon with Alpine Creek far below. You then emerge at a junction with Old Stage Road. Turn left, walk 0.1 of a mile, cross Pescadero Road and continue on the other side on Ridge Fire Road. The route then climbs up a short, steep hill, where views are revealed of Butano Rim to the west, and in 1.3 miles, you arrive at grasslands (the Jack Brook Horse Camp is off to the right). Continue ahead 0.7 of a mile and, on your left, look for the cutoff trail signed for Heritage Grove. That descends 400 feet into Heritage Grove. A short spur leads into the grove and back. Turn toward your starting point (still Heritage Grove Trail) and arrive in 1.7 miles at Pescadero Road. Cross the road to return to the parking lot.
Trail signs: New trail signs at junctions correspond to new county park maps. Some loop trails have been renamed so rangers can quickly identify specific areas. Cost: $6 parking per vehicle. Map: Available at trailhead, PDF at website.
Dogs, bikes, horses: No dogs. No mountain bikes on singletrack trails, but they are allowed on ranch-style roads. On Towne Ridge (a service road), stay clear and slow for horses.
Facilities: No facilities currently open. A restroom at the parking area is closed until water infrastructure is repaired.
Contacts: San McDonald County Park, (650) 879-0238; San Mateo County Parks, (650) 463-4020, http://parks.smcgov. org.
HOW TO GET THERE
GPS: Use 13435 Pescadero Creek Road, Loma Mar.
From San Francisco: Take Interstate 280 south for 30 miles to Woodside and Exit 25 for Highway 84. Take that exit 0.2 of a mile to Highway 84/ Woodside Road. Turn right on Woodside Road and drive 1 mile to Woodside. Continue through Woodside and drive 12.5 miles (straight ahead on Highway 84 at Sky Londa) to La Honda and continue a half mile to Pescadero Creek Road. Turn left and drive 1.1 miles to the junction at Redwood Triangle. Bear right (still Pescadero Creek Road) and drive 0.5 of a mile to the park entrance and parking lot on the right.
Note: Other routes available on Highway 84, Skyline Boulevard/ Highway 35 and Highway 1.
Drive to Heritage Grove: Out of La Honda, at Redwood Triangle, turn left on Alpine Road and drive a short distance to Heritage Grove on the right.
Distances: 20 miles from Half Moon Bay, 36 miles from Fremont, 47 miles from San Francisco, 53 miles from Sausalito, 57 miles from Dublin, 58 miles from Berkeley.