Huddart County Park

Location

Huddart County Park is located at 1100 King's Mountain Road in Woodside. To get there, take the Woodside Road exit from Hwy 280, and drive West on Woodside Road. After about 1.5 miles, turn right onto King's Mountain Road. The park is very clearly marked, in about 2.4 miles, to the right.

Park in the first parking lot, for all trail access except that of Skyline; walking to trailheads from here is easy.

To access Skyline (Summit Ridge) Trail, there are two gates along Highway 35, on the right (East) side of the highway after Kings Mountain Road. The first gate is about 0.3 miles after the intersection with Kings Mountain Road, across from Purisima Creek Redwoods Parking (which you can use) and the second gate is about 0.8 miles after the intersection with Kings Mountain Road.

Attractions:

Huddart Park is packed with amenities for picnicing, play (several volleyball/badminton nets), performances (an amphitheatre), as well as enjoying the park via hiking and running. Parking, bathrooms, and water fountains are plentiful.
Bicycles are allowed only on paved roads.
Hiking trails meander through the mossy, fern-laden woods; this is a great place to take in new spring growth or autumn leaf fall.
Wildlife is plentiful and includes deer, rabbits, coyote, squirrels, and varied birds. This is also a great place to find a banana slug.
Stroll the flat, short Redwood Trail in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve after your hike, if using the Skyline Trailhead; Purisima is just across Skyline.

Limitations:

No dogs are allowed.
No smoking permitted.
Stay on the trail to avoid ticks and poison oak.
Small trails with switchbacks can get muddy and then rutted with excessive use, as this is a very popular hiking location. Horse traffic also yields some trail damage.

Season:

Year round, about 8 am to sunset.

Fees:

5 dollars per car, year round.

Maps & More Information:

Maps are posted at a few kiosks throughout the park. Maps can be picked up upon entry to the park, near the ranger's kiosk.
San Mateo County's Website on Huddart Park: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/department/home/0,,5556687_12313305_12328471,00.html
San Mateo County's Map of Huddart Park: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/vgn/images/portal/cit_609/14772367huddartparkmap.pdf

Handicapped Access:

Chickadee Trail was designed as an all-access trail, but upon our last visit, the surface was pot-holed and covered with debris from the trees, making it difficult to navigate, at times. As long as it is repaired, it will be suitable for wheelchairs. Most small trails are not suitable for wheelchairs.

Recommended routes:

Chickadee Trail:

Note: As mentioned above under Handicapped Access, this trail was in need of maintenance when last visited. Typically, it would be suitable for a small-wheeled stroller, but in it's state, we found operation of one difficult.

Begin at the Chickadee Trailhead just inside the park, across from the first parking lot. The trail begins in a shady Redwood grove and continues gradually downhill along paved path. The path gives way to fine gravel / dirt and heads downhill, crossing a bridge. The trail loops back uphill, ending at the Redwood grove. Total distance is about 0.7 miles.
Service/Campground Trail to Richard's Road:
From the first parking lot, walk North along the road further into the park, following signs to Madrone. The road is blocked with a gate, but continues to be paved, as a service road. Continue past the gate, along the service road, which veers left (Southwest), crosses McGarvey Gulch Creek, then veers right (Northwest). Following an intersection with Canyon Trail, continue on the left-most trail, along Campground Trail. Follow the trail past intersections with Crystal Springs, and continue until you reach the Toyon Camp Area and wide Richard's Road. Follow Richard's Road to the right. To finish the hike:
- Only route for small wheeled strollers: Continue along Richards Road as long as you would like, then head back the way you came. Distance ranges from 2.5 to 5.1 miles, depending on distance along Richards Road. There are service and park roads from the South end of Richards Road back to the parking area, but these are steep in spots with narrow shoulders, so they are not safe with car traffic.
- Take Chaparral Trail to the right in about 0.4 miles. Follow it for about 0.4 miles until its junction with Crystal Springs Trail. Take Crystal Springs Trail to the left and cross McGarvey Gulch Creek. Just past the creek, continue on the right-most trail (Crystal Springs) and follow it to Werder / Zwierlein Areas. Walk along the road back to the parking lot. Distance is about 2.6 miles.
- Take Crystal Springs Trail to the right in about 0.7 miles. Follow it South to Werder and Zwierlein Areas, which it will reach in about 0.5 miles. Walk South along the road to the parking lot. About 2.5 miles.
- Continue along Richards Road until it ends, at the East Meadow. Just past the gate, turns right to follow Bay(Big) Tree Trail Northwest. It ends near the Ranger Station; take the road North to the parking area. Distance is about 3 miles.
Skyline to Richards Road Trail:
From the second Skyline Blvd gate (see Location), walk down the trail and take the left-most path to follow Richards Road. Continue to Toyon Camp Area. To finish:
- Return back the way you came (distance is about 2.5 miles) or continue down Richards Road and then return the way you came (distance is up to 5.5 miles).
- Turn right along the access road at the West side of the camp. It will become Campground Trail. Cross McGarvey Gulch Creek. Follow it until it intersects Dean Trail, then take Dean Trail to the right. The trail will cross the Archery Fire Road (which can be taken very steeply to the right to shorten the hike a bit) twice, then cross McGarvey Gulch Creek. Follow it until the intersection with Crystal Springs Trail, where it ends. Take Crystal Springs Trail left. It will intersect Richards Road when it ends. Turn left and retrace your steps back to the Skyline Gate. About 4 miles.
- Turn right along the access road at the West side of the camp. It will become Campground Trail. Cross McGarvey Gulch Creek. Follow it until it ends, then take the park road to the Miwok Area. At the West side of Miwok, take the service road (Archery Fire Road). Follow this road until it intersects with Summit Ridge / Skyline Trail. The first Skyline gate is at this intersection. To reach the second one, turn right and continue along Summit Ridge / Skyline Trail. About 4.25 miles.
Crystal Springs Trail to Richard's Road to Bay Tree Trail Loop:
From the first parking lot, walk North to Zwierlein Area. Follow Crystal Springs Trail left, passing the edge of the Zwierlein and Werder Areas, heading North. Where it intersects Dean Trail, turn right onto Crystal Springs. Follow this trail for about 0.2 miles, then turn right onto Richards Road. Follow Richards Road until it ends at the East Meadow. Just past the gate, turns right to follow Bay(Big) Tree Trail Northwest. It ends near the Ranger Station; take the road North to the parking area. Distance is about 1.8 miles.