September 2014 PARC Monthly Trail Run --- Portola Redwoods State Park

Portola Redwoods State Park & Pescadero County Park

Sunday, September 14, 2014

In September, PARC's Monthly Trail Run ventures deep into the Santa Cruz Mountains directly over the ridge from Palo Alto. Even this year, water may be flowing in the creeks and falls, that wind thru lush ferns and majestic redwood trees. This is a mostly-shaded course with a waterfall and a historic cabin site (with a who-dunnit mystery). The route wanders into neighboring Pescadero Creek County Park. These totally beautiful trails are well-worth the slightly longer than usual drive from Palo Alto. And, as an added bonus, the trails were improved last year removing much of the trailside poison oak, and providing access to The Big Tree!

When Sunday, September 14, 2014. Meet at 8:20am for an 8:30am start. Carpools will leave promptly at 7:40am from the Park&Ride lot at 280 and Page Mill Road.

Where Portola Redwoods State Park. Bring $10 per vehicle (exact change) for the parking fee (carpool to save money!). Allow a few extra minutes to pay the fee.

How to get there Follow this Google Maps route, or set your GPS to lat=37.25263, lon=-122.21845. Take Page Mill Road all the way up to Skyline Boulevard (8.6 miles from 280) and cross Skyline. Drive down Alpine Road for 3.2 miles. Bear left onto Portola State Park Road (try not to miss this!) for another 3.4 miles. Pay the $10 vehicle fee at the Park Headquarters and then turn around and go back the way you came, about 200 feet, to the Madrone parking area on your right.

What This month we only have the single 10 mile route. However, there are several junctions where runners can opt to cut back for a shorter run. We'll discuss this at the pre-run briefing. We bring along 15 or so trail maps (like the one below), or print one for yourself. 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. As usual, there will be a Runner's Potluck after the run, so please bring food or drink to share.