A One Way Downhill Hike at Wunderlich County Park

My College of San Mateo class enjoyed a 5.6 mile one-way hike from Skyline Boulevard to Woodside Road in Wunderlich County Park in Woodside. We descended approximately 1,500 feet. This route will take you through the entire 940 acre park from top to bottom.

First, we met at the main parking lot on Woodside Road at 9:15 am. Because this is a very popular park on weekends it is advisable to arrive early. There is parking along Woodside Road if the parking lot is full.

We then carpooled about seven miles to a small parking area on the west side of the road near where Bear Gulch Road East intersects Skyline Boulevard. From there we carefully crossed Skyline and proceeded downhill on the Alambique Trail. We then turned north on the Bear Gulch Trail and paused for lunch at The Meadows. After lunch we continued down the Bear Gulch Trail and turned left on the Redwood Trail, which took us to a reservoir at Salamander Flat. This reservoir, which gets its water from Alambique Creek, was developed in 1904 to provide hydroelectric power for the Folger estate.  There is so much duck weed covering the water that we couldn't see any newts.

From there we continued downhill on the Madrone Trail and turned right on the Bear Gulch Trail, which took us to the historic Folger stable (1905), which has been restored and contains a small museum. From there we car shuttled the drivers back to their cars at the starting point on Skyline Boulevard.

Along the way we saw red honeysuckle berries, yerba buena, rose hips, bay nuts, stinging nettle, second-growth redwoods, Douglas fir, and many other plants.

TO GET THERE... From Highway 280 take Woodside Road west and south. The

park entrance is about 2 miles beyond the town of Woodside.