PORTOLA REDWOODS & PESCADERO CREEK PARKS: POMPONIO TO TARWATER

PORTOLA REDWOODS & PESCADERO CREEK PARKS: POMPONIO TO TARWATER

Hike Date:  Saturday, November 7, 2026

Leader:  Gary Weiss | gary@sfhiking.com  | 415 279-5570

Carpooling Meeting Times:  8:25 AM from SF OR Rockridge, departing shortly afterwards.

Please only show up at the carpool meeting place if you've arranged to meet your ride or driver there.

Rating: Level 3

Mileage: 10 miles

Elevation Gain: 1850'

Description: (The Tarwater Parking Lot will be closed until further notice, apparently for the misguided plan to fill the potholes on the road!  In a sense, the hike is better since we begin at the bottom and do all the climbing before lunch.  We'll begin near the Visitor Center at Portola Redwoods SP where we'll pay the entry fee before parking about 30 - 40 yards back up the road at the Madrone Parking Area.  This change only adds .4 miles to the hike, making the hike ~ 10 miles.)

Beginning deep inside the redwood forest within Portola Redwoods State Park (this park, thankfully, was unaffected by the devastating CZU Fire of 2020) we'll remain under stunning tree cover on the canyon floor for the first couple of miles before beginning the steady but relatively gradual climb up to the old (very photogenic - see above) barn and the now closed Tarwater parking area via Bear Ridge, Canyon and Tarwater Trails.  From here we'll begin the descent through the redwoods back to the cars.  All in all it's an especially beautiful hike.  

There's an option to reduce the length by 2 miles if the weather isn't cooperating, or for those interested in a shorter hike."

Sorry - dogs not allowed.

Bring / Wear:  Please bring water (nowhere to fill up), lunch, snacks, sturdy hiking shoes, LAYERS and hiking poles if you use them.  And chocolate!

Weather Policy:  Check with hikeleader in the event of questionable weather.

Trailhead Meeting Place: PLEASE DOWNLOAD YOUR MAP BEFORE LEAVING THE CITY!   (Ask me if you're not sure how to do this.)

There are many ways to get to Skyline Blvd. (#35). From there you'll be taking Alpine Road west.  After a while the road splits.  You'll stay straight onto Portola State Park Road.  Take this all the way to the Visitor Center.  After paying your $10 per car fee ($9 if 62+) you'll need to drive about 100 yards back up the road to the Madrone Parking Area - across from the Iverson Trailhead.

Google Maps Link 

Trailhead Meeting Time:  10:05 AM, departing at 10:20 AM.

Total driving distance, there and back: 104 miles from SF; 131 miles from Rockridge.

Passenger Carpool Fees from SF: $16;  From Rockridge BART: $21

(I will inform you of carpooling arrangements by late Thursday or early Friday.)