Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Today I lead my College of San Mateo class on a 5+mile field trip through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, near Felton. The weather was perfect and the wildflowers were blooming.

We started at the main parking lot, just south of Felton. From there we walked through the small old-growth redwood grove, pausing to examine the ancient trees and the plants that grow on the shady forest floor. From there we took the River Trail along the San Lorenzo River and then hiked uphill on the Eagle Creek Trail. We stopped to examine a big old gnarly redwood that was probably spared because it has too many burls and fire scars to make good lumber. We headed south on the Pine Trail and paused for lunch at the observation platform, with views of the surrounding mountains and Monterey Bay. We also observed the unique vegetation of the sandhills ecosystem. We descended on the Ridge Fire Road and turned right on the Rincon Fire Road, left on the River Trail  and Pipeline Road back to the old-growth redwood grove. After finishing the old-growth loop, we walked across the parking lot to the Roaring Camp Big Trees Railroad property, where we examined some nineteenth century sawmill equipment.

This is the first time I have used this route for a field trip, but it will not be the last.