Awesome hike through varied terrain in Butano, including redwoods, creeks and ridges.

Location: Butano State Park

Location: 1500 Cloverdale Road, Pescadero, CA 94060 . Parking area is not visible in Google Maps.

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: $10 per vehicle (last visited: Nov 2010)

Capacity: About a dozen cars.

Latitude: 37.201783     Longitude: -122.339287

» Official Trail Map: Acceptable quality map but does not have mileage information of diferent trail sections.

» Redwood Hikes Map for Butano: An awesome map by Dave Baselt. Thanks, Dave! This map also shows the 1.7 mile long Candleabra Trail, which is missing in the official trail map.

» 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.

To Trail Camp (5.3 miles): From the parking lot behind entrance kiosk, follow Jackson Flats Trail (0.8 miles) → left on Mill Ox Trail (0.2 miles) → right on Butano Fire Road (1.8 miles) to reach an intersection with Jackson Flats Trail. Continue along Butano Fire Road (2.5 miles) to reach Trail Camp.

To Entrance Kiosk (7.6 miles): At Trail Camp, continue along Butano Fire Road (0.4 miles) to reach a junction with Olmo Fire Road. Continue along Butano Fire Road. Within a few steps, turn left on Ray Linder Memorial Trail (0.6 miles), which loops back to Butano Fire Road. Turn right on Butano Fire Road (0.2 miles) → left on Olmo Fire Road (1.0 miles) to reach a junction with Indian Trail. Continue along Olmo Fire Road (0.3 miles) → right on Doe Ridge Trail (keep an eye out for this intersection) (1.7 miles) → right on Goat Hill Trail (0.5 miles) → right on Butano Creek Trail (0.6 miles) to reach a bridge over Butano Creek. Cross the bridge and continue along Butano Creek Trail (1.4 miles) to reach a paved road. Turn right on the paved road (0.1 miles) → left on Olmo Fire Trail, then an immediate right onto Six Bridges Trail (0.7 miles) to reach the entrance kiosk.

Notes: In Dec 2012, the western section of Jackson Flats Trail presented many obstacles. A storm had felled many trees. All other trails were in excellent condition. Jackson Flats Trail goes through a forest, completely shaded. On the way back to the entrance kiosk, Olmo Fire Road offers great views of Santa Cruz Mountains in the south. Doe Ridge Trail is a fantastic trail going through redwoods. Butano Creek Trail is another fine trail that meanders next to Little Butano Creek, crossing it a few times.

Forested trail through redwoods.

A short loop through forest

Gorgeous valley views along the eastern section of the fire road, between Butano Fire Road and Indian Trail. The western section is wooded.

Beautiful, shaded trail through redwoods

Gorgeous trail running next to Little Butano Creek.