Parks Near Portola Redwoods

The closest parks to Portola Redwoods State Park are three San Mateo County parks on Pescadero Creek (Memorial, Pescadero Creek and Sam McDonald), the Midpeninsula open space preserves on Skyline Ridge, and three more state redwood parks: Castle Rock, Butano and Big Basin. Rules differ at every one. Castle Rock, Russian Ridge, Pescadero Creek and Sam McDonald do not allow dogs at all, and Butano's campground has been closed since the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire.

The County Parks on Pescadero Creek

San Mateo County runs an 8,020-acre parkland just west of Portola, joined to it by the Old Haul Road:

• Memorial County Park: old-growth redwoods, 126 campsites, a nature center and camp store; $6 per vehicle; dogs only at the reservable Huckleberry Flat camping area.
• Pescadero Creek County Park: long trails and fire roads, open to horses on all trails; no dogs.
• Sam McDonald County Park: 850 acres of redwood forest and open ridge with ocean views; $6; no dogs.

Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

Russian Ridge is a Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District preserve of more than 3,000 acres on Skyline Boulevard, at the top of the road you take down to Portola. It is the opposite of Portola's shaded basin: open grassland ridges known for spring wildflowers (mainly poppies and lupine, then later blooms in May and June) and for raptors such as red-tailed hawks and golden eagles. The Bay Area Ridge Trail passes Borel Hill, the highest named point in San Mateo County, with a 360-degree view.

• Hours: a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. The Mindego Hill area closes on Red Flag Warning days.
• Parking: the main lot (37 spaces) is at the northwest corner of Skyline Boulevard and Page Mill/Alpine Road; the Mindego lot on Alpine Road has 20 spaces and a restroom. Midpen warns that spring weekends fill up.
• Rules: no dogs, no camping, no fires, no swimming or wading; bikes on designated trails only, helmets required.

Castle Rock State Park

Castle Rock, at 15000 Skyline Boulevard in Los Gatos, sits on one of the highest ridges in the Santa Cruz Mountains, with sculpted sandstone, rock climbing and 34 miles of trails that link to the Skyline to the Sea Trail.

• Hours: day use 6 a.m. to sunset.
• Fee: $10 per vehicle ($9 seniors 62+).
• Dogs: prohibited throughout, except service animals.
• Note: there is no visitor center or store.

Its backcountry trail camp is part of the same State Parks reservation system as Portola's Slate Creek camp.

Butano State Park

Butano, at 1500 Cloverdale Road near Pescadero on the coast side, was created in 1957 to protect coast redwoods from logging. It has more than 4,000 acres and 40 miles of trails, from the 1.5-mile Little Butano Creek Trail to the 9.5-mile Canyon Loop.

• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset.
• Camping: the Ben Ries Campground is closed indefinitely because the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire damaged the water system. The Butano Trail Camp is open to backpackers by reservation.
• Dogs: in the campground and paved areas, not on park trails.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Big Basin is listed by State Parks as one of Portola's nearby state parks. After the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, State Parks says all trail camps in Big Basin are closed because of extensive fire damage; the Skyline to the Sea Trail is open from Castle Rock to the Big Basin day-use area. Check the official Big Basin page for current access before you plan a trip.

Which Nearby Park Is for You?

• Old-growth redwoods and a bigger campground: Memorial County Park.
• Open views and spring wildflowers: Russian Ridge.
• Rock formations and climbing: Castle Rock.
• Camping with a dog: Portola's own family campground (dog rules).
• A long ride or horse trip: Old Haul Road into the county parks.