Portola Redwoods State Park

Phone Number

(650) 948-9098

Max. Trailer Lengths

Trailer: Up to 21 Feet
Camper/Motorhome: Up to 24 Feet

Park Hours

Day use hours: 6am-Sunset (In severe weather the park might be closed.)
Visitor Center: Monday through Sunday 9 am to 5 pm


Dogs Allowed?

Yes
Dogs allowed only on campsites and paved roads.

Driving Directions to Portola Redwoods SP

From Highway 35, turn west onto Alpine Road, go 3 miles, and turn onto Portola State Park Road. The road dead ends in the park. Use low gear as both these roads are steep and winding.
Due to mountain roads, expect a 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive from most Bay Area locations. There is no gasoline available at or near the park. There is no store in or near the park.

Online reservations are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reservations can be made 6 months in advance beginning at 8:00 a.m. PST via the website, by mail, or by calling the toll free telephone number at 1-800-444-7275. Due to seasonal volume, access to the ReserveCalifornia website and the telephone line may at times be limited.

Trail Camps

For more information and reservations for Slate Creek, please visit the Santa Cruz Mountain State Parks Backcountry Trail Camp Page.

Upcoming Park Events

No events scheduled at this moment.

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
En route Campsites
Environmental Campsites
Family Campsites
Group Campsites
Hike or Bike Campsites
Primitive Camping
RV Access
TRAIL USE
Hiking Trails
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Interpretive Exhibits
Swimming
Museums
Family Programs
Geocaching
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available

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Trail Closures

All trails are open except for the Old Haul Road, which remains closed following fire damage in 2020 to neighboring Pescadero Creek County Park.

Please check the Trails and Hiking page for details on trail closures and current conditions.

Visiting Portola Redwoods

Redwoods in Portola Redwoods SPThe road leading to the park's 2,800 acres drops from a ridgetop into a deeply shaded redwood forest, offering a hushed getaway from the suburban bustle of nearby Silicon Valley and the South Bay Area. The visitor center, with its couches and fireplace, feels like a wilderness lodge. Eighteen miles of trails follow meandering creeks, where moisture-loving coast redwoods stand tall among ferns and huckleberries. Waterfalls on Fall and Pescadero creeks tumble down mossy banks over rocks and woody debris.

The park has a 55-site family campground, 4 group campsites, and a trail camp for backpackers. It also protects some of the most remote and scenic redwoods in the region, the Peter’s Creek Grove.

 

Basic Park Information

FEES - There is a $10 vehicle day-use fee. [Regular Sized Auto: $10 (Senior $9, age 62 or older); Bus Parking (10-24 passengers): $50; Bus Parking (25+ passengers): $100]. For camping reservations and fees, please visit www.reservecalifornia.com

NO CELL RECEPTION within the park and the surrounding area. Due to this, ridesharing services are not recommended.

DOGS are permitted only in campsites and picnic areas and on paved roads and the Upper and Lower Escape Roads. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet and attended at all times. At night they must be confined with their guardian inside a tent or vehicle. Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed in the visitor center or on hiking trails or dirt roads.

FIREWOOD is available for purchase at the park office or from the camp host. Please do not gather wood; the health of the forest depends on the nutrients provided by fallen wood.

HORSES are not allowed on any hiking trails. Old Haul service road is open to equestrians and cyclists - it winds through redwoods, out of the park to Memorial County Park.

BICYCLING is not allowed on any hiking trails. Old Haul Service Road heads through Portola’s redwoods through Pescadero Creek County Park to San Mateo County Memorial Park. One of the  most scenic beginner rides in the Bay Area, it’s a 10-mile round trip, accessed via the service road near the Iverson Cabin site. Paved roads excepted, this is the only route at Portola Redwoods State Park that allows bicycles. Helmets are required for riders under 18 years of age and recommended for adults.

DRONES are not allowed in the park. To protect wildlife and cultural resources, and for the safety and welfare of visitors and staff, the park is closed to the use of Model Aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and Gliders in flight.

BRING PLENTY OF GAS & SUPPLIES - The nearest gas station is in Sky Londa (14 miles away at the intersection of highways 84 and 35) and the nearest groceries are in Sky Londa and La Honda (9 miles away on Highway 84).

WEDDINGS, PARTIES, AND SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS please call (831) 335-6324 or email mtnspecevent@parks.ca.gov.

CRUMB CLEAN - Jays, ravens, and crows are attracted to food left behind by campers and picnickers. These birds eat the eggs and chicks of the marbled murrelet, an endangered seabird that nests in old-growth forests along the coast. Leave no food out--not even a crumb.

ACCEPTING  NEW  VOLUNTEER  APPLICATIONS!

Looking to share your love of these parks with the public? Or are you more interested in helping out behind the scenes, patrolling the backcountry and reporting trail conditions to park staff? Opportunities abound here at Castle Rock and Portola Redwoods State Parks!

Go to our Volunteering page for more information or apply now to be a part of our parks family!

                              Two female volunteers doing trail work at Portola Redwoods SPTwo female volunteers sitting together on a break while patrolling the trails at Castle Rock SPA male volunteer prunes overabundant bushes and trees at Portola Redwoods SPTwo women hiking at Castle Rock SP as part of the California State Parks Backpacking Adventures program

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Santa Cruz District Wilderness Patrol program is seeking new volunteers! Volunteer responsibilities include roving interpretation, basic trail maintenance, visitor services (rules and regulations), and resource conservation (eg. invasive plant mitigation and interpretation of prescribed burns and areas impacted by wildfire). Wilderness Patrol Volunteers can patrol in Wilder Ranch, Henry Cowell, Nisene Marks, Portola, Castle Rock, or Big Basin State Parks, and are expected to work an average of at least 5 hours per month and should be able to hike at least 3 miles over varied terrain.Training begins mid May of 2022! To apply, please submit this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yOB6SFga1-_dajvPcy6Ns1f-i_wUhnvrYN9iGFE90CM/edit?usp=sharing

Looking for your next adventure?

California State Parks Backpacking Adventures offers naturalist-led backpacking trips through the Santa Cruz Mountains each summer, including our NEW "Cars-BA" trip to the Big Basin basecamp! Online registration opens March 1 at 9am. 


View our guided hikes and other public programs schedule and make a reservation by visiting our Parks Events page!

Crumb Clean Campaign

This park is Crumb Clean! Watch this short video to learn about the marbled murrelet, an endangered bird that nests in the park, and how you can protect it. Vea el video en español aquí.

Visitors are required to watch this short video about the impact human food has on park wildlife.


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