Big Basin Hike to Mount McAbee Overlook

Today was one of the hottest days of the year, but it didn't deter my De Anza College hiking class from a 5.5 mile trek through the Big Basin redwoods and on to the the overlook atop Mt. McAbee.

We started with a brief tour of the Big Basin Redwoods State Park park headquarters area, where we paused for a photo op at the "Auto Tree" (which doesn't allow autos inside the tree anymore), and then to the 1930's era visitors center, where we admired a large photo taken by park founder Andrew P. Hill.

Next, we toured the Redwood Loop Trail, which visits some of the most impressive trees in the park, including the Mother of the Forest and the Father of the Forest. We then left the city slickers behind as we crossed Opal Creek  and charged uphill on the Skyline to the Sea Trail. At the top of the first ridge we headed west on the Howard King Trail and then uphill on the Hihn Hammond Fire Road, which took us to our lunch stop at the Mount McAbee Overlook. Because there was no fog on the coast, we enjoyed spectacular views of Waddell Canyon and the Pacific Ocean. Because it was so hot we all found shady spots to sit while eating lunch.

After lunch we headed downhill on the Howard King Trail and the Hihn Hammond Road and then followed the Hihn Hammond Connector Trail back to the Skyline to the Sea Trail and on the the trail head.

TO GET THERE... From Skyline Boulevard take Highway 9 southwest and turn west on Highway 236 at Waterman Gap or at Boulder Creek.