A gorgeous hike to Peters Creek Loop amid tall redwoods. This route adds an additional 3.6 miles along Slate Creek Trail for a 16-mile hike.

Location: Portola Redwoods State Park

» Redwood Hikes Map for this Route: An excellent quality map by Dave Baselt for free. Thanks Dave!

» Official State Parks Map: A map showing all the trails but hard to read.

» Redwood Hikes Map: Annotated trail map of Portola Redwoods State Park and Pescadero Creek County Park, Second edition, 2008. This is an excellent map sold by Dave Baselt ($6.95 in Dec 2011). This map is useful for exploring a bunch of parks: Portola Redwoods, Pescadero Creek, Sam Macdonald.

» Redwood Hikes Map: Bay Area Trail Map: Saratoga to Big Basin, First edition, 2010. This is an excellent map sold by Dave Baselt ($6.95 in Dec 2011). This map is useful for exploring many parks in this area. Highly recommended for avid hikers.

The popular route to Peters Creek Loop is described in detail at RedwoodHikes.com (Peters Creek Loop). Please refer to two maps: first and second for the hike. Many thanks to Dave Baselt for these maps. The extended route includes an additional 3.6 miles along Slate Creek Trail from Slate Creek Trail Camp to Ward Road.

To Ward Road: From Park HQ, find the trailhead for Summit Trail. Follow Slate Creek Trail (1.4 miles) to reach an intersection with Summit Trail. Continue along Slate Creek Trail (1.3 miles) to reach an intersection with Bear Creek Trail. Slate Creek Trail Camp lies very close to this intersection. Continue along Slate Creek Trail (1.0 miles) as the trail meanders next to Slate Creek for the first time. Finally, cross Slate Creek and continue along Slate Creek Trail (0.8 miles) to climb almost 600 ft to reach an intersection with Ward Road.

To Peters Creek: From Ward Road, retrace your steps along Slate Creek Trail (0.8 miles) to reach a bridge over Slate Creek. Continue along Slate Creek Trail (1.0 miles) → right on Bear Creek Trail (2.6 miles) → loop around Peters Creek Loop (1.0 miles).

Along Peters Creek Loop, we had to cross the creek twice. In winters, especially after rains, the creek has plenty of water but the water level is not too high. The first crossing was tricky to find because the trail on the other side of the creek was not visible. The second crossing was easy to locate.

To Park HQ: From Peters Creek Loop, follow Bear Creek Trail (2.6 miles) → right on Slate Creek Trail (1.3 miles) → left on Summit Trail (0.8 miles) → right on paved road inside the park (0.5 miles) to reach Park HQ.

Notes: In Feb 2010, the Visitors Center was closed, no maps were available and the restrooms were also closed due to shortage of funds. So take a map with yourself to explore this beautiful park.

Location: (Park HQ) along Portola State Park Rd, La Honda, CA 94020 . No street address. Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Directions: From I-280, take Page Mill Road 8.6 miles to Highway 35, cross the road and continue on Alpine Road for 3.8 miles. Turn left on Portola State Park Rd (there is a clear sign at the intersection of Alpine Rd and Portola State Park Rd). Drive for 3.5 miles to reach park headquarters.

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: $10 per car (last visited: Feb 2010)

Capacity: Several cars

Latitude: 37.252505     Longitude: -122.218378