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Peters Creek Loop Trail

A Hidden Gem

Trail on Bear Creek, Peters Creek in Portola Redwoods State Park, Coast Ranges near Los Trancos Woods, CA

The Peters Creek hike features a descent into one of the Santa Cruz Mountains’ incongruously lush, redwood-filled canyons. This particular canyon, although not completely unlogged, is in unusually good condition. The redwoods aren’t immense, but there are some pretty good-sized trees, and the grove has an unusually plush carpet of redwood sorrel that gives it a lush and very attractive appearance. Getting there requires a challenging 5 mile walk each way through hilly, partially-logged redwood uplands, but it’s a pleasant walk and the old-growth grove is a rewarding payoff. There are also some isolated large redwoods on the way.

The main drawback of this hike is the lack of variety; the entire hike is wooded and the middle part passes through unexceptional uplands clogged with a dense tanoak understory. This hike can also be more exhausting than the elevation profile suggests: the steep climb at the beginning combined with a second steep climb halfway through has a way of sapping your energy.

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