TrailStompers.com: San Francisco Bay Area Trail Running

Imagine a park that offered redwood tree-filled canyons, grand coastal views, and well-maintained trails.  Now imagine that, even on the most beautiful day of the year, you could have the park almost to yourself.  Why imagine?  Just check out Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, in the hills above Woodside.  Purisima Creek OSP is truly a beautiful place, and easily accessible from Skyline Blvd, just north of the Kings Mountain Road junction.  As an added bonus, because Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP is just across Skyline from Huddart Park, the two parks can be combined into several challenging loop runs. 

Update 1/10/10!!  They changed the name of the "Soda Gulch Trail" to "Craig Britton Trail."  The maps still list the trail as "Soda Gulch" however!

The Dirt:

• For the official web site with a good trail map click here.
• Although currently not available (?), a good topo map can be purchased for $1 from Virtualparks by clicking here.
• For driving directions to the main entrance/parking via Google maps click here.  (Note: the North Ridge entrance is another 2 miles farther north on Skyline.)
  

Extras:

• A long loop run (15+ miles) can be done by combining Huddart Park and Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP.  Refer to the Huddart/Purisima Super-Loop run for more details.
  

This run is a great introduction to the Soda Gulch area of the park, and offers ocean views on a clear day.  To make this run a loop, the first 2 miles of the run are along the shoulder of Skyline Blvd.  The run starts at the main park entrance off of Skyline Blvd.  If you are driving up Kings Mountain Road from Woodside, turn right at Skyline and drive about 1/2-mile to the parking area on your left.  Begin the run by running north along Skyline Blvd (north is the same direction you were driving, i.e. away from Kings Mountain Road).

• 0.0 mi: Start running along Skyline Blvd.
  
• 0.6 mi: Pass Kings Mountain Fire Station on your right.  (Note that the fire station has a hose out back for water.)
  
• 2.0 mi: Turn left into the North Ridge parking lot.  Continue past the bathroom onto the North Ridge Trail.  Veer right to get on the North Ridge singletrack trail (instead of the fire road).  On a clear day, you can see the coast from this trail.
  
• 2.5 mi: Cross over the North Ridge Trail fire road and get onto the Harkins Ridge Trail.  You will descend, then climb.
• 3.1 mi: At the top of the climb, veer right to continue on the Harkins Ridge Trail.  You will start descending again.  Keep an eye out for the Craig Britton Trail (formerly Soda Gulch Trail) on your left.
  
• 3.4 mi: Turn left onto the Criag Britton Trail (formerly Soda Gulch Trail).  Over the next 2.6 miles, you'll see coastal views and redwood-filled gulches.  This trail is awesome!!
  
• 6.0 mi: Trail ends on the Purisima Creek Trail (fire road).  Turn left and start climbing steeply for the next 1.8 miles.  you'll know that you are almost done when you can smell the stinky outhouse near Skyline!
  
• 7.8 mi: Back at car!

This run includes one of the best climbs on the Peninsula - Whittemore Gulch Trail.  For almost 2 miles, the trail follows a stream, then switchbacks up to a ridge that offers spectacular views.  To make this run a loop, the first 2 miles of the run are along the shoulder of Skyline Blvd.  The run starts at the North Ridge entrance off of Skyline Blvd.  If you are driving up Kings Mountain Road from Woodside, turn right at Skyline and drive about 2.5 miles to the North Ridge parking area on your left.  Begin the run by running south along Skyline Blvd (south is the same direction from which you came, i.e. back towards Kings Mountain Road).

• 0.0 mi: Start running along Skyline Blvd.
  
• 1.4 mi: Pass Kings Mountain Fire Station on your left.  (Note that the fire station has a hose out back for water.)
  
• 2.0 mi: Turn right into the main park entrance.  Continue past the (stinky!) bathroom onto the Purisima Creek Trail (fire road).  You will steadily descend all of the way to the bottom of the park.
  
• 3.8 mi: Pass Craig Britton Trail (formerly Soda Gulch Trail) on your right.  Keep descending on the Purisima Creek Trail.
  
• 5.1 mi: Pass Grabtown Gulch Trail and Borden Hatch Mill Trail on your left.  Stay on Purisima Creek Trail.
  
• 6.1 mi: At the lower park entrance.  Turn right by the information sign and continue to the start of the Whittemore Gulch Trail (don't turn onto the Harkins Ridge Trail accidentally!).
  
• 6.2 mi: Start climbing up the Whittemore Gulch Trail.  There are a few very steep sections, but most of the climb for the next few miles is moderate.
  
• 8.4 mi: Shortly after the switchback section, turn right to stay on the Whittemore Gulch Trail.
  
• 9.0 mi: Trail ends on the North Ridge Trail (fire road).  Continue upwards on the North Ridge Trail.
  
• 9.5 mi: Turn left at the small fence to get on the singletrack section of the North Ridge Trail.
  
• 10.0 mi: Back at car!