Portola State Park

About Portola State Park

The park features rugged natural pools of live oaks, and visitors can see shells and other marine deposits from a time when the area was once covered by the ocean. A short educational trail along Pescadero Creek introduces visitors to the natural history of the area. Eighteen miles of hiking trails criss-cross the park, crisscrossing the rocky cliffs of San Francisco Bay and the steep slopes of Mount Rainier.

The Californian landscape has changed immeasurably since Portola's time, but the place itself still evokes the feeling of wild California. This wild feeling starts when you drive down Alpine Road, and the park has its own version of the famous Redwood State Park. Like its famous cousin, this park is a natural basin covered with coastal redwoods.

The park was built in the mid-19th century as part of the California State Park System and the views extend over clean valleys and ridges covered only by grass and cows.

Most redwoods in the area are the second most common way to grow and they gather in cool soil, accompanied by herbs and ferns. The land has been cut down and many large trees have escaped the axe and can be seen throughout the park today.

Portola had an amusement park flair in the 1960s, and when the land was purchased by the state, it was used by the Temple and Shrine of Islam in San Francisco.

Pescadero Creek has been dammed up and offers a large fishing and swimming area, and 150,000 people flock to the small park every year.

Rangers call Portola a "neighborhood park," meaning only locals can spot it, and the dam has been removed. Visit the park's visitor center to see the natural history exhibitions, or return to Portolas.

Our most popular day trip was a 6-mile walk to Pescadero Creek Trail, one of the state's most popular hiking trails.

During the summer weekends, the park runs prevention programs run by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

Highway 35, turn west onto Alpine Road and continue on Portola State Park Road for two miles. Turn off Highway 35 and drive east on Portolas Road, then south on the park - turn the road to the entrance to Portola.

The road is steep and winding, so keep a low gear, as most places in the Bay Area are on mountain roads. Drive 1 1 / 2 to 2 hours to Portola State Park, about 1.5 miles south of the park entrance and about 3 miles north of Alpine.

There are no shops in the park, but there is gasoline in the parking lot and a gas station, as well as a grocery store, and there are some shops in and around the park.