- Location: Redwood Regional Park
- Route: Start on Brindle Trail and follow Brindle Trail along the stream to Orchard Trail. Turn Right, and climb up the twisty, steep Orchard Trail. Turn Right on to French Trail. Follow French Trail to Chown Trail, and turn Right on to Chown. Follow Chown down to Stream Trail, and take the Stream Trail back to the parking area.
- Mileage: 5 miles, 681 feet elevation gain
- Difficulty Level: Moderate, for some steep climbs.
- Description: The initial walk on Brindle trail offers a beautiful display of mingling, twisted bay trees and tall, reaching redwoods. The flat, smooth trail runs along Redwood creek. The steep climb up Orchard trail reveals old madrone filled with character, and relatively young redwoods and clusters of oak and bay trees. The lower part of the trail can be slippery when wet. The trail is hard sandstone in parts as you climb. French Trail is a park favorite. It's best in winter and spring, when the moisture fills the air, and the rain soaked redwood bark reveals deep contrasts between the bark and the mosses. The trail goes along a hillside, giving hikers a view of the forest from higher up in the canopy. While this redwood forest was originally logged in the 1800's, the dependents of the massive giants now populate the park and mingle with oak, madrone, and the occasional invading cluster of Eucalyptus. Roots pop up along the trail like giant knuckles. On a misty forest day, you can almost see faces in the knots and burls of the madrone. Chown Trail is a nice descent through a rich, redwood forest. Mossy bays glow on a wet, winter day. Great hike with a friend...
- Trail Map
- Trailhead and Parking: Redwood Gate, Redwood Regional Park
Scenes from the hike:
French Trail Loop
Redwood Regional Park