Portola Redwoods State Park and it’s neighbor Pescadero Creek Park are hidden gems of the Bay Area. Tucked between Silicon Valley and the coast, getting to these parks involves a long winding drive that makes you feel like you’ve left the city behind. But this effort pays off with fewer crowds in the wildly popular hikes surrounding San Francisco.

We had planned to complete the Peters Creek trail, hoping to see the third largest old growth stand of Redwood trees, but we learned that the trail was covered with poison oak and it was almost a guaranteed chance of getting it if we attempted this hike. So, we followed the ranger’s suggestion and chose a loop that would cover ground through both parks and allow us to see a variety in the parks. Despite being a state park, Portola feels more wild and less groomed than Pescadero. We followed the Coyote Ridge Trail into Pescadero where we picked up the Shingle Mill Trail to complete our loop. Both parks were shaded, keeping us cool throughout the hike. Dotted with spruce trees and redwoods, this hike offered a beautiful introduction to the forests of the area. Personally I loved the wildflowers sprinkled throughout the parks. And while they were impossible to photograph, the bird watching was plentiful!