Contour Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek

Contour Trail connects the current (January 2021) end of the usable portion of Blackhawk Trail, to Ridge Trail, thus providing a route out of Blackhawk Canyon where Blackhawk Trail ends.

As its name implies, Contour Trail follows a topographic contour line and is basically flat. Entirely in the forest, Contour Trail starts in the dense redwoods, at the bottom of deep, dark Blackhawk Canyon. The trail travels on a steep forested hillside, the northern hillside of the Blackhawk Canyon valley. As Contour Trail heads towards Ridge Trail, the hillside drops off to the right/southeast, as the creek at the canyon bottom, cascades downstream, moving away from Contour Trail. Leaving the canyon bottom behind, the redwoods give way to a mix with other trees, and the trail emerges from the darkness into sunshine.

Contour Trail ends after a short 0.4 miles, at Ridge Trail near its midpoint.

Redwood forest at the trail start, changing to mixed redwood forest as it nears Ridge Trail.