10 best redwood parks on the San Francisco Peninsula

Just minutes from San Francisco and San Jose, these parks offer an easy escape into nature

San Francisco, with its glittering high-rises and autonomous cars, sometimes feels like a future world—a frenetic twin to the nearby tech mecca of Silicon Valley. But between these two modern hubs lies the Peninsula, a verdant rise of coastal mountains and forests that divides the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay from the wide-open Pacific Ocean.

Drive or bike only a few twisting miles up the flanks of the Santa Cruz Mountains and you’ll soon enter a world of towering redwoods, crystal clear streams, and golden peaks rising above the mist. It’s a portal to a slower, quieter past and a much-needed respite from the 21st century buzzing below. This is ideal redwood territory, home to deep fern-lined canyons that welcome cooling fog in summer and seasonal creeks and waterfalls in winter. But the giants that thrive here are just an echo of the grand forests that once carpeted these hills.

Peninsula redwood timber was first shipped from the aptly named town of Redwood City in 1850, and logging eventually claimed almost all the easily reachable old growth. Today, a scattering of ancient redwoods remain, surrounded by thriving second-growth offspring that serve as a reminder of the resilience of these magical trees. Thanks to the efforts of several conservation groups, including Save the Redwoods League, these groves have been permanently protected for the local residents: deer, coyotes, gray foxes, black-tailed jackrabbits, mountain lions, and elusive American badgers.

There’s so much to explore here. You can wander through misty redwood forests, climb high into sunbaked oak chaparral, and even skirt ocean-facing cliffs—sometimes all on the same hike. There are trails for horseback riding and mountain biking. There are meadows that feel like they were created solely for quiet contemplation. There are campgrounds where you can fall asleep counting stars peeking through the redwood canopy high above. There’s something for you, no matter who you are.

1. Phleger Estate

This redwood forestland was once owned by attorney Herman Phleger, who served on the board of Save the Redwoods League. The Phleger Estate passed into the hands of the National Park Service in 1990 with financial help from the League—it’s now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We love the Phleger Estate because it’s so quiet. It’s a short hike to the estate from the main parking lot at nearby Huddart County Park, but few visitors make the trek. You’ll likely have the place all to yourself, hearing only your thoughts and the wind through the trees.

2. Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve

Save the Redwoods League helped establish this preserve back in 1984, and it’s easy to see why when you’re knee-deep in ferns, hiking next to the gin-clear Purisima Creek, redwoods towering above. This preserve is on the Pacific Ocean side of the Peninsula, so the canyons are lush and wet, often dripping with collected fog. Watch your step—with all that moisture, this is banana slug heaven. Purisima is Spanish for “purest,” and on a spring day, with water flowing and wildflowers blooming, you’ll understand how the area earned its name. The preserve features an ADA-accessible section on the Redwood Trail, which includes a lovely picnic area.

3. Wunderlich County Park

With 17 miles of public equestrian trails, Wunderlich County Park is a must-see for those who prefer viewing redwoods from horseback. Even better, it’s home to the magnificent historic Folger Stable, which offers trail rides, riding lessons, and the Carriage Room Museum to explore. (Yes, that’s Folger Stable as in Folgers Coffee—the coffee magnate James Folger II kept a summer estate here.) Wunderlich is also just 10 minutes from Highway 280, making it one of the most easily accessed redwood parks on the Peninsula.

4. El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve

Purpose-built singletrack for mountain biking in the redwoods? Yes, please. There are 34 miles of multiuse trails here, open not just to cyclists, but to hikers and equestrians too. There’s plenty to see along the way, including otherworldly sandstone formations called tafoni. Don’t miss the Methuselah Tree, a massive gnarled redwood thought to be at least 1,800 years old. It stands just across Skyline Boulevard from the preserve’s main parking area. The nearby Sierra Morena Trail features an accessible section through a mixed conifer forest.

5. Windy Hill Preserve

If you want to experience the variety of Peninsula ecosystems along one trail, this is your place. It’s also one of the few preserves in the area that allow dogs on trails. Grab your pup and head for the Hamms Gulch Trail, which winds through a gorgeous forest of second-growth redwoods before climbing all the way to the top of the ridge at Skyline Boulevard. On windy days, you can watch paragliders soar above the treetops. Also near the top of the park, a short ADA-accessible section of the Anniversary Trail offers excellent views and picnic tables.

6. Sam McDonald County Park

This park is special for three reasons. First, it boasts nearly 40 acres of old-growth redwoods—a rarity on the Peninsula. Second, you can overnight here at the charming Sierra Club hiker’s hut. And third is the park’s namesake: Sam McDonald, Stanford’s first Black administrator and a beloved local figure. McDonald became one of the first Black landowners on the Peninsula in 1917, when he bought the property that would one day become this park. To see the old-growth redwoods, hit the Heritage Grove Trail for a gorgeous 8-mile round-trip hike. Overnight stays at the hut can be booked three months in advance.

7. Memorial County Park

If you live near the Peninsula and are looking for a quick family camping trip, remember Memorial County Park and its big 150-site campground. Campsites do fill up quickly though, so try to book ahead. The campground is in a magnificent redwood grove and is a wonderful place to fall asleep beneath the redwood canopy, listening to owl calls softly echoing through the trees.

8. Pescadero Creek County Park

This is a big ’un. Pescadero Creek Park contains more than 8,000 acres of woodlands, with access to several other parks and reserves on our list. It’s remote and has no roads leading to the park’s center, so it’s rarely crowded and has a true wilderness feel. One of our favorite sections is the Pescadero Creek Loop, a 6-mile hike through lush second-growth redwoods—though an ancient redwood more than 40 feet in circumference looms here, too. Make a backpacking trip out of the experience by camping in one of the park’s two trail camps.

9. Portola Redwoods State Park

For an uncrowded hike to one of the Bay Area’s most pristine old-growth redwood groves, head for the Peters Creek Loop Trail—an 11-mile adventure with magnificent redwoods as your midpoint reward. But you don’t need to rack up the miles to enjoy Portola: The park offers gentle trails and a family-friendly campground too.

10. Butano State Park

Butano State Park is a beautiful place to hike while experiencing the resiliency of a coast redwood forest. Much of the park burned in the 2020 CZU Fire, but a new forest management strategy, carefully developed by the League and many partners, is helping to preserve the surviving trees while restoring the forest’s health and fire resilience.

DINING WORTH A DETOUR

Alice’s Restaurant

At the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Highway 84, Alice’s is a Peninsula melting pot of hikers, classic car enthusiasts, Spandex-clad cyclists, and leather-clad bikers. (In decades past, the restaurant was a favorite haunt for countercultural icons such as Ken Kesey, Joan Baez, and Hunter S. Thompson.) Surrounded by redwoods, the outdoor patio is the perfect place to enjoy a burger and a beer after a long day on the trail.

Buck’s of Woodside

This Silicon Valley spot draws outdoor enthusiasts and venture capitalists alike with its old-school menu and zany decor (don’t miss the diorama “10 Great Redwoods”). Buck’s specializes in breakfasts, so it’s a perfect place to carbo-load before lacing up your hiking boots.

Duarte’s Tavern

Duarte’s has been around longer than many of the Peninsula’s redwoods—it opened in 1894. This Pescadero institution serves rib-stickin’ American fare, with a nod to the Pacific Ocean just miles away. Food Network star Guy Fieri can’t get enough of Duarte’s crab cioppino. The artichoke soup, made from artichokes grown in the on-site garden, is legendary.

The Mountain House

This cozy restaurant just off Skyline Boulevard is a fine-dining dream, serving elegant meals inside a glass-encased dining room right smack in the middle of a redwood grove. The bar also serves great food in a more laid-back atmosphere. Fun fact: Neil Young was once a fixture at the Mountain House and filmed the video for “Harvest Moon” here.