We started by posing for photos at the impressive burnt-out ancient redwood to the left of the park headquarters. Then we entered the visitor center to appreciate the panoramic photo taken by park founder Andrew P. Hill in 1900 during an expedition to scout out the proposed park. From there we walked the Redwood Loop Trail to enjoy the sight of some of the most magnificent redwoods in the park, including the Mother of the Forest and the Father of the Forest. As far as I know, the Father of the Forest is the largest tree in the Bay Area.
From the Redwood Loop Trail we crossed the bridge over Opal Creek and then charged uphill on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail. At the Middle Ridge Road, on top of the ridge, we took the Howard King Trail to the Hihn Hammond Road and then hiked uphill to the Mount McAbee Overlook at 1,739 feet elevation, where we stopped for lunch. This is a great spot to enjoy views to the southwest into the Waddell Creek watershed and on to the Pacific Ocean. This canyon was named "La Canada de la Salud" (Canyon of Health) by the Portola expedition in 1769 because sick soldiers got well after resting there for a couple of days.
After lunch we took the Howard King Trail through a knob cone pine forest and enjoyed beautiful views of Pine Mountain. At the intersection with the Hihn Hammond Road we proceeded downhill on the road to the bridge over Opal Creek and then headed north on the Hihn Hammond Connector Trail and the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail back to the parking lot. There are some magnificent old-growth redwoods along this part of the trail.
TO GET THERE.. From Skyline Boulevard take Highway 9 southwest and turn west on Highway 236 at Waterman Gap or at Boulder Creek.
