Portola Redwoods State Park
🌲 Bay Area’s Hidden Old-Growth Redwood Sanctuary — 18 miles of trails through ancient redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the remote Peters Creek old-growth grove, a 1,200-year-old “Old Tree” standing 305 feet tall, the ghostly Shell Tree (destroyed 1989), and camping with zero cell reception — total digital detox one hour from Silicon Valley
An hour south of Silicon Valley — down a steep, winding road through the Santa Cruz Mountains near the tiny community of La Honda — the 21st century simply stops. There is no cell reception at Portola Redwoods State Park. No Wi-Fi. No notifications. Just 2,800 acres of old-growth and second-growth coastal redwood forest, 18 miles of trails, a cathedral-quiet campground beneath trees that were already ancient when Columbus sailed, and the kind of silence that most Bay Area residents have forgotten exists.
The park protects several remarkable individual trees and groves, including the Old Tree — a 1,200-year-old redwood standing approximately 305 feet tall — and the remote Peters Creek Grove, considered one of the most pristine old-growth redwood stands in the entire San Francisco Bay Area.
Remarkable Trees
| Tree/Grove | Details |
|---|---|
| The Old Tree | 1,200 years old, ~305 feet tall, 0.6mi RT easy hike |
| Peters Creek Grove | Remote old-growth — 12-13mi RT strenuous hike, 1.3mi loop in grove |
| The Shell Tree | Charred remnant of 2,000-year-old, 17ft diameter redwood (destroyed by campfire 1989) |
Trails — 18 Miles
| Trail | Distance | Difficulty | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Tree Trail | 0.6mi RT | Easy | 1,200-year-old redwood |
| Sequoia Nature Trail | 0.75mi loop | Easy | Interpretive loop, Shell Tree access |
| Summit Trail | Varies | Moderate-Strenuous | Climbs through redwood, fir, tanoak forest |
| Peters Creek Grove Loop | 12-13mi RT | Strenuous | Bay Area’s finest old-growth grove |
Camping
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Family Sites | 55 sites among redwoods |
| Group Sites | 4 group campgrounds |
| Trail Camp | Backcountry camping available |
| Season | April through October |
| Amenities | Restrooms, coin-operated showers (bring quarters) |
| Cell Service | NONE — total digital detox |
| Reservations | ReserveCalifornia or 800-444-7275 |
Essential Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 9000 Portola State Park Road, La Honda, CA |
| Hours | 6 AM to sunset |
| Fee | $10/vehicle |
| Access Road | Steep and winding — allow extra time |
What happened to the Shell Tree at Portola Redwoods?
The Shell Tree was a massive coastal redwood — approximately 2,000 years old and 17 feet in diameter — that stood along the Sequoia Nature Trail. In 1989, an out-of-control campfire ignited the tree, destroying it from the inside. Today, only the charred outer shell remains standing. The Shell Tree serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of fire safety in old-growth forests.
