Big Tree Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Wildlife

A parking fee is required at the main parking lot off of Pescadero Creek Road. Bathrooms can be found there, as well as a small ranger station and day use areas.

Begin at the main parking area of Sam McDonald County Park off of Pescadero Creek Road (parking fee required, bring cash). Take the Towne Fire Road about 0.1 mi until you reach signed junction #18 (be careful crossing the road here!). The Town Fire Road continues right (southeast), while a narrow singletrack forks left (east). This is the start of the Big Trees Trail.

The trail traverses the hillside past old-growth redwoods for about 0.1 miles, before reaching some switchbacks. The trail ascends quickly and reconnects with the Towne Fire Road again at junction #19. Continue on the Towne Fire Road left (south).

The trail follows the Towne Fire Road for about 500 feet until it passes a large green cistern on the left and reaches junction #20. Take the singletrack trail downhill (left). Here, the Big Tree Trail departs the Towne Fire Road for good and descends through the redwoods, reaching a bridged creek crossing after about 500 ft. On this section of trail, the creek and bridge are pretty, but the redwoods are less impressive (mostly second growth) than the earlier section. The trail continues to descend, steeply in some areas, for another 0.3 miles, until it terminates at the Heritage Grove Trail at junction #21. You can follow the Heritage Grove Trail left (west) about 0.2 miles to return to the main parking area.

Flora include old-growth coast redwoods and other trees typical of the area (large Douglas firs, tanoaks, toyons, madrones, California Bay, maples, etc.). Ferns, trillium, huckleberry, redwood sorrel, and several flowers are common ground cover. In the rainy winter many strange and cool fungi can be found. Watch out for poison oak - while not common on this particular trail, it can be found throughout the park. Fauna include california banana slugs, lots of birds (acorn woodpeckers, dark-eyed juncos, chickadees) deer, etc.