Pescadero Creek County Park has so many hiking opportunities it is necessary to make numerous excursions to really get to know this park. The park itself covers 6,486 acres of forest and mountains. You can also take trails into adjacent Sam McDonald County Park, San Mateo County Memorial Park, and Portola State Park. There is also a trail that links this park to Big Basin State Park.
On Saturday, April 30 I lead my Foothill-De Anza College class on a 4.8-mile outing from the Tarwater Trailhead on Camp Pomponio Road. We headed downhill on the Tarwater Trail, pausing at a huge old fire-scarred redwood, and then continued to the remains of the Moore, Fisher, & Troupe lumber mill, built in 1915, where we examined an iron boiler that was left behind. We then checked out the Tarwater Trail Camp and then enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the banks of Pescadero Creek. After lunch we continued on the Tarwater Trail Loop and stopped to see where tar is seeping out of the earth in Tarwater Creek. We also stopped at the site of a pioneer homestead, where one building and a row of pear trees remain. We saw lots of beautiful Douglas iris and mule ear flowers along the way.
TO GET THERE...From Highway 280 take Page Mill Road west (uphill) to Skyline Boulevard, where it turns into Alpine Road. Continue on Alpine Road and turn left (south) on Camp Pomponio Road, which takes you to the trail head parking lot. To find Camp Pomponio Road look for a sign to the County Correctional Facility and to Pescadero Creek County Park.
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