Plan Your Visit
Plan for a remote park. Portola Redwoods State Park is open 6 a.m. to sunset, costs $10 a vehicle, and sits at the end of a steep mountain road 1½ to 2 hours from most of the Bay Area, with no gas, no store and no cell reception. Arrive with a full tank, food, water, warm layers and a downloaded map. Every visitor is asked to watch the park's short crumb-clean video and leave no food behind.
Before You Go
What to Bring
- A full tank. Nearest gas: Sky Londa, 14 miles.
- Food and water. No store in or near the park; groceries at Sky Londa or La Honda, 9 miles.
- Layers and a rain shell. The park gets 40 to 60 inches of rain a year, and summer can be foggy and cool under the redwoods.
- Offline maps and confirmations. There is no cell reception; download the brochure map and your reservation first.
- Long pants and tick checks. Ticks, poison oak and stinging nettles are all common.
- Cash or quarters for the campground's pay showers (25 cents for two minutes).
When to Go
- Late spring to mid-autumn: family camping season, when sites can be reserved.
- May to July: leopard lilies bloom along the creeks and trails.
- May 15 to October 15: seasonal bridges on the trail map are in place.
- Rainy season: the creeks and waterfalls carry the most water, but storms can close the park and some bridges are out. Call ahead.
Accessibility
The visitor center and its restrooms, one reservable campsite and one picnic site are accessible. A section of the Sequoia Nature Trail, 0.18 miles each way, is an accessible compacted-gravel path to a bench at a Pescadero Creek overlook, mostly under a 5% grade, with accessible parking behind the visitor center. Visitors who need help can call the park at (650) 948-9098 before arriving.
The Crumb-Clean Rule
Jays, ravens and crows that learn to raid picnic tables and campsites also eat the eggs and chicks of the marbled murrelet, an endangered seabird that nests in Portola's old-growth trees and lays one egg a year. State Parks requires visitors to watch a short video about it, and asks everyone to leave no food out, not even a crumb.
Things Not Allowed
- Drones and other model aircraft
- Fishing anywhere in the park
- Gathering firewood (buy it at the park office)
- Bikes and horses on hiking trails
- Dogs on trails, dirt roads or in the visitor center
Full list on rules and regulations.
Programs and Events
State Parks posts guided hikes and public programs on its online events calendar. The visitor center has exhibits, a diorama and a sales area. For weddings, parties and special events, call (831) 335-6324 or email mtnspecevent@parks.ca.gov.
A Simple First Day
- Stop at the visitor center and its exhibits.
- Walk the Sequoia Nature Trail and the Old Tree Trail.
- Picnic near the visitor center (crumb clean).
- With energy left, walk part of the Slate Creek Trail, or plan the Peters Creek Grove for a return trip with an early start.
Plan Your Visit FAQ
Is there food at Portola Redwoods State Park?
No. There is no store in or near the park. The nearest groceries are at Sky Londa and in La Honda, about 9 miles away.
Is Portola Redwoods wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The visitor center, restrooms, one campsite, one picnic site and a 0.18-mile section of the Sequoia Nature Trail are accessible.
What is the best time to visit Portola Redwoods?
Late spring to mid-autumn for camping and the seasonal bridges; May to July for leopard lilies; the rainy season for waterfalls, if the park is open.
Can you fly a drone at Portola Redwoods?
No. Drones, model aircraft and gliders are not allowed in the park.