Portola Redwoods State Park Provides Visitors with Their California State Parks Supports Equal Access
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Our Mission Portola The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and n a natural basin of education of the people of California by helping I Redwoods to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological mixed evergreen forest diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities just a short drive from State Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. San Francisco, Portola Redwoods State Park provides visitors with their California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who own secret place. need assistance should contact the park at (650) 948-9098. This publication is available in alternate formats by contacting: CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369. (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Discover the many states of California.™ SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp Portola Redwoods State Park 9000 Portola State Park Road La Honda, CA 94020 (650) 948-9098 © 2011 California State Parks t Portola Redwoods State Park, silence PARK HISTORY Aand tranquility rule. The 2,800-acre park Native People is situated in the craggy, rough terrain of a The people who first occupied this deep canyon. Located within the populous area were given the name “Costanoan,” San Francisco Bay area, Portola Redwoods meaning “people of the coast,” by Spanish offers a hushed getaway from suburban missionaries. Today their descendants bustle. First- and second-growth coast prefer the name “Ohlone.” redwoods stand tall among thick ferns and The ocean, forests and streams provided redwood sorrel in gullies and on north the Ohlone with plentiful sources for food slopes. The park’s high ridges and south- and shelter. These skilled hunters and facing slopes are covered by Douglas-fir and traders bartered such items as shells and live oaks. shell beads. They also traded items of food Photo courtesy of The Bancroft Library Among the redwoods, Pescadero and and abalone shell fishhooks with other Gaspar de Portolá expedition Peters creeks flow along fault lines to form native groups living nearby. “Discovery of the Bay of San Francisco” picturesque Tiptoe Falls. Fall Creek, a The Ohlone made some of what they Painting by Walter G. Francis, 1909 tributary of Pescadero Creek, tumbles eight needed from what they could find. Mussel feet down a mossy bank into a small pool. shells became spoons, and blobs of used fire to control their grasslands and Continuing downstream, Fall Creek asphaltum (natural black tar that washed woodlands, causing oak trees to produce reaches the lower segment of the falls, up on beaches) were used to waterproof more acorns and attracting wild game to the enters another pool, cascades six feet cooking baskets. Asphaltum could also bind new growth. Once they began using shell over sticks and rocks, then continues its chert (a quartz-rich rock) points to arrow beads for money, the Ohlone restricted downstream journey. shafts made from animal bones. production of the beads to avoid inflation. The native people carefully managed Eventually overcome by the influence their resources and their economy. They of Santa Cruz Mission, forced labor, and segregation by gender, the Ohlone could not maintain their way of life. Newly introduced diseases killed them by the thousands. Some went to work on local Spanish ranchos. Today, descendants of the original Ohlone people work together to achieve federal tribal recognition. European Contact In 1769, the expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá missed today’s San Mateo County coastline and discovered another bay that they named San Francisco. Seven years later, Juan Bautista de Anza’s expedition came through the area; Anza’s group members traded with native people in villages along the way. The first recorded European settler in Climate change affects all living things the area was Danish immigrant Christian within the redwood forest. Experts fear that Iverson, reputed to have worked as a Pony the area’s increase in average temperature Express rider. Iverson’s cabin site lies in the and decrease in thick summer fog and rain southern area of the park. In 1889, Iverson will endanger redwoods and the forest life sold his property to lumberman William that depend on the redwood environment. Page, who established a lumberyard. Page RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES built a haul road, now known as Page Mill Come prepared for any type of weather. Road, which once connected the mill to the The park gets 40 to 60 inches of rain per Embarcadero in modern-day Palo Alto. year, and the summer months can be foggy In 1924, the Masonic Lodge’s Islam Shrine and cool. acquired the property. The Shriners agreed Visitor Center—The accessible visitor with Page’s philosophy that “the property’s center features interpretive and educational natural beauty would be maintained.” displays with a diorama and a sales area. Because membership had dropped by 1945, Group Camping—Portola Redwoods State the lodge sold the property to the State of Park has four group campgrounds. Ravine California to create a new state park. Group Camp holds 25 people, and the NATURAL HISTORY Hillside, Point and Circle Group Camps This area is a natural stream basin in a each hold 50 people. complex geological area along the San Camping—52 family sites, one accessible Andreas fault. Huckleberries dominate the site and four walk-in environmental sites redwood understory growth, while ferns, may be reserved from late spring through redwood sorrel and other shade-tolerant mid-autumn. No campsites have hookups. plants grow For site-specific camping information and along the reservations, visit www.parks.ca.gov or call creeksides. (800) 444-7275. California wax Trail Camps—Six sites at Slate Creek Trail myrtle, tan Camp are available from late spring through oak, madrone, mid-autumn. Trail camps are limited to six California bay people per site. Fires are not permitted, Banana slug laurel, big leaf but backpacking stoves are allowed. Bring maple and knobcone pine are among the your own drinking water or a stream water park’s tree species. Native ceanothus shrubs filter. For trail camp reservations, call bloom as late as midsummer. Big Basin Redwoods State Park at State- and federally threatened coho (831) 338-8861. salmon and threatened steelhead trout live Four first-come, first-served pedestrian in Pescadero Creek. State endangered and and bicycle sites are located at the federally threatened marbled murrelets Huckleberry Hike and Bike Campground. nest high in the redwoods. Black-tailed Hiking—Eighteen miles of hiking trails deer, raccoons, gray squirrels, coyotes and range from easy to strenuous. The easy mountain lions call Portola their home. ¾-mile Sequoia Nature Trail begins near picnic areas, paved roads and the Upper in winter. However, even leafless stems can and Lower Escape Roads. Dogs must be cause a serious reaction. Stay on trails to under human control at all times. During the avoid poison oak. day, animals must be on a leash no longer Nettles—Growing in damp areas such as than six feet and enclosed in a tent or stream banks, nettles have large spear- vehicle at night. Except for service animals, shaped leaves with stems up to six feet tall. dogs are not allowed on hiking trails or the Tiny, poison-filled nettle hairs can inflict a visitor center. painful reaction if even lightly touched. Bicycles—Single-track trails and designated NEARBY STATE PARKS hiking trails are closed to bikes and • Butano State Park horses. Old Haul service road—for hikers, 1500 Cloverdale Road equestrians and cyclists—winds through Pescadero 94060 (650) 879-2040 redwoods to Memorial County Park. • Castle Rock State Park Visitor center Firewood—Firewood may be purchased 15000 Skyline Blvd. at the park office. Please do not gather Los Gatos 95030 (408) 867-2952 park headquarters and crosses Pescadero wood; the health of the forest depends on • Big Basin Redwoods State Park Creek. The half-mile Old Tree Trail is also the nutrients provided by fallen wood that 21600 Big Basin Way considered an easy hike. decays and forms mulch. Boulder Creek 95006 (831) 338-8860 The moderate three-mile Slate Creek Quiet hours—Quiet hours are from 10 Trail wends through redwoods to the Page p.m. to 8 a.m. Do not operate generators Mill site. A steep 10-mile hike on Bear between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. Sounds should This park is supported in part through the Creek Trail leads to a 1.3-mile loop on not be audible beyond your campsite at any Portola and Castle Rock Foundation Peters Creek Trail that traverses an ancient time of the day or night. 9000 Portola State Park Road, Box F redwood grove. Fishing—No fishing is allowed in the park. La Honda, CA 94020 Picnicking—Picnic areas are near the visitor Ticks—Ticks are common in this area; center. To reserve the 75-person Ramada some may be infected Group Picnic Area, call (831) 335-3455. with Lyme disease. Tuck ACCESSIBLE features in cuffs while hiking and check for bites. One reservable Portola campsite, the visitor Yellowjackets—Attracted center and restrooms, and one picnic site to meat and sugar, these are accessible. Currently, no trails are wasps live in cavities wheelchair-accessible at Portola Redwoods or underground. They State Park. Accessibility is continually deliver repeated, painful improving throughout California State Parks. stings. Notify staff if For updates, call (916) 445-8949 or visit you find a nest where http://access.parks.ca.gov. yellowjackets are flying in PLEASE REMEMBER and out. Use extreme care during the last few miles Poison Oak—Leaves in of the drive to the park; the road downhill is groups of three may be narrow and steep.