It’s worth driving to San Mateo County to see Huddart Park. Although the park is at the north end of our Santa Cruz Mountains, the drive up curvy Skyline and down winding Kings Mountain Road is a treat. Although some hikers find its picnic facilities, running water, and large open playfields a bit too urban and popular, once out on 24 miles of forested trails through 974 acres, you’ll find plenty of solitude. You’ll also find plenty of shade under redwoods, Douglas fir, oaks, and madrone.

If you want to lengthen your trek, Huddart is surrounded by open space, with trails to Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space to the west, Wunderlich County Park to the southwest, Edgewood Park to the northeast, and Phleger Estate preserve to the northwest.

It was this last preserve that interested me the most. Although Phleger Estate is a 1,227-acre parcel in the Golden Gate Recreation Area, the only public way into its trails is via Huddart Park, so only hikers can see it. That was enough for me.

I didn’t see any estate buildings, but as I walked down into a deep ravine, I encountered weeping wet redwoods, colorful fungus, and a dark-shaded single-track trail along a fast gurgling stream, West Union Creek. I was soon strolling along the San Andreas Rift Zone. The trees steamed water vapor under narrow rays of thin sunlight. The broken redwoods littering the riparian corridor were scattered like giant pickup sticks. I was traveling through a northern rain forest, and I liked it.

I liked the greenness, wetness, coolness. I liked the surprisingly bright colors of fungus on the forest floor and trees. I liked the ferns, moss, and wet bark. Most of all, I liked experiencing the timelessness of an ancient forest. It was better than Avatar’s Pandora; it was real.

Getting there
The fastest way to reach Huddart Park is north on Highway 280, then west on Woodside Road (Highway 84), and right on Kings Mountain Road to the Huddart Park entrance. The more interesting way to reach the park is north on Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35), past Woodside Road (Highway 84), a turn right on Kings Mountain Road, and left at the park entrance.

If you are a non-senior, pay $5 at the entrance. (Seniors enter free on weekdays.) Be sure to have exact change. Follow the signs to the Zwierlein Picnic area-where you can park.

Walk through the horse-trailer parking area. You’ll see a sign that directs you to Bay Tree Trail. When you reach Crystal Springs Trail, turn left. On the same signpost, you’ll see an arrow pointing to Phleger Estate. Follow the Phlegar signs on Dean, then Richards Road Trail where you’ll turn left. After a short uphill, turn right on Miramontes Trail. You are now in the Phleger Estate preserve.

You descend through dark forest to West Union Creek, where you’ll see elegant preserve signage. It was at this spot that I saw a lizard slowly crawl into my photograph of a little red mushroom. Along the way the vegetation is lush with sword ferns and giant trees, but it’s easy walking on a relatively smooth and flat path.

After a pleasant amble along the creek for about a mile-and-a-half, you start a climb of easy switchbacks that take you to the intersection of Mount Redondo and Raymundo trails. (Just before this intersection, I photographed some beautiful fungi.)

Unfortunately, these trails were not on my Huddart map, so I reluctantly retraced my steps back to Zwierlein for an up-and-back hike of about five miles. Later, I found a map that revealed a longer but more interesting loop. To continue on, take Mount Redondo Trail, and turn left on Lonely Trail (What a great name!) up about two miles to the Skyline ridge and trail, then back down by Richards Road, then right on Crystal Springs Trail for about seven miles to the main Huddart Park parking area.

Chickadee Trail and Sequoia Day Camp
If this sounds too ambitious, walk the Chickadee Trail. The trailhead is to the right of the park entrance booth. The trail is about a mile long and almost all level and smooth. When the trail splits, take the left branch. Several benches offer rest stops. Enjoy some nice views of the Bay Area Peninsula and San Francisco Bay. Close up, you’ll see a wide range of native plants, including bay trees, ceanothus, chamise, coffeeberry, coyote brush, madrone, manzanita, oaks, and toyon. Watch for but don’t touch the plentiful poison oak.
This trail was once a loop, but a bridge connecting the two branches is now closed. Don’t tell anybody, but if you look up to the right, you can see log rails of the other branch. It’s a short climb up to the second branch, which you can follow back to the entrance. Some day, a new bridge and nature signs will make this an even better experience, but Chickadee Trail is still a nice walk for families and reluctant hikers.

To visit the Sequoia Day Camp turn right at the first paved road on the right after the park entrance. Shaded tables and benches provide a pleasant spot for lunch or a rest before driving home.

For more information
For more about Huddart County Park, visit www.smcoparks.org, or call park headquarters at 650-851-1210. For a Phleger Estate trail map, visit www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map-phes.pdf. Tip: be smarter than me. Always carry a local trail map.

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