In August the monthly trail run ventures deep into the Santa Cruz Mountains directly over the 'hill' from Palo Alto. The dense forest will protect us from the Summer sun. We last ran Portola in '05.
When Saturday August 2, 2008. Meet at 8:15am for an 8:30am start. Carpool will leave at 7:40am from the Park&Ride lot at 280 and Page Mill Road.
Where Portola Redwoods State Park, 9000 Portola State Park Rd. #F, La Honda, CA 94020-9717 Bring $6 per vehicle for the parking fee.
More park info can be found here.
How to get there.... Take Page Mill Road all the way up to Skyline Boulevard (8.6 miles from 280) and cross Skyline. Continue down for 3.4 miles on Alpine Road. Turn left onto Portola State Park Road for another 2.5 miles. Pay the fee at the Park Headquarters and continue across the bridge to the Ramada Group Day Use Area, where we will meet.
Google Map
What A long (about 11.1 miles, 2000 feet vertical) and an intermediate run (about 5.2 miles, 1000 feet vertical).
This is a remote trail run and each runner must carry at least one water bottle.
To avoid having to search for lost runners we ask every runner to find other runners of approximately the same running ability to form a group. The runners in each group must be able to account for their partners to make sure nobody is left behind.
As usual, there will be a potluck after the run, so please bring food or drink to share.
Why dense Redwood forest, perpetually cool temperatures, soft trails, perfect August running. Join us...
Mapwise, the internet hasn't arrived at Portola. The park suggests that you send them $1 and they will mail you a map. Internet maps are nearly non-existent and poor. But for a reference point, our directions use the names on the map in the
online Portola State Park brochure (page 3). And even that map is difficult to read. Not to worry your trail run leader will have readable printed maps to hand out before the run. As usual The
Google Maps Terrain View of the park is also illuminating. All distances are approximate.
| Short Run: 5.2 miles |
| SEGMENT | MILES | TOTAL |
| Service Rd. towards Iverson's cabin | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| cross Old Haul Rd. | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| Continue on Portola Trail | 1.4 | 2.2 |
| R on Ridge Trail | 0.8 | 3.0 |
| L on Old Haul Rd. | 0.1 | 3.1 |
| R on Bridge Trail | 0.6 | 3.7 |
| short and long runs part ways here |
| R on Pomponio Trail | 1.0 | 4.7 |
| L on Iverson Trail | 0.2 | 4.9 |
| R on State Park Rd to Start | 0.3 | 5.2 |
| Long Run: 11.1 miles |
| SEGMENT | MILES | TOTAL |
| Service Rd. towards Iverson's cabin | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| cross Old Haul Rd. | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| Continue on Portola Trail | 1.4 | 2.2 |
| R on Ridge Trail | 0.8 | 3.0 |
| L on Old Haul Rd. | 0.1 | 3.1 |
| R on Bridge Trail | 0.6 | 3.7 |
| short and long runs part ways here |
| C on Bridge Trail | 0.4 | 4.1 |
| R on 2nd Tarwater Loop Trail | 2.3 | 6.4 |
| L on Upper Coyote Ridge Trail | 1.1 | 7.5 |
| L on Coyote Ridge Trail | 1.0 | 8.5 |
| L on Upper Escape Rd. | 0.3 | 8.8 |
| L on connector to Slate Creek Trail | 0.2 | 9.0 |
| L on Slate Creek Trail | 0.9 | 9.9 |
| R on Summit Trail | 0.8 | 10.7 |
| R on Service Rd to Start | 0.4 | 11.1 |
