Sunday Drive: Sam Mcdonald County Park

What you'll see: The easy cruise into the redwoods of the south Peninsula followed by the 4-mile Ridge Trail Loop provides one of the region's best easy drive-and-hike adventures. The drive weaves from Woodside to Skyline and beyond to La Honda and into the redwoods of the south Peninsula. Your destination is oft-overlooked Sam McDonald County Park.

Redwoods: Near the parking area, a gorgeous second-growth forest dominates the slopes of the Alpine Creek Canyon. Just south of the parking area, across Pescadero Creek Road, is the trailhead for the short Big Tree Loop. The nearby Heritage Grove (on Alpine Road) is a 37-acre preserve of mammoth old-growth redwoods and provides a side trip.

Views: Towne Ridge breaks into open foothills to the south, with great views to the west of Butano Ridge and beyond to the coast.

Map/rules: Map available at trailhead. No dogs. No bikes on single-track trails. On Towne Ridge, watch out for horses on weekends.

4-mile loop: At the northern end of the parking area, take the Towne Trail. It is routed through redwoods, then loops to the left and climbs to the road. Cross the road (the trail becomes a service road), and continue up more steeply, a 700-foot climb from the parking area, to Towne Ridge (for views). You'll eventually see a horse camp on the left. Turn left on the Towne Trail, descend to Big Tree Loop on right, and then cross the road to return to the parking lot.

For the ambitious few: Trails are linked to adjacent Memorial and Pescadero Creek county parks, Portola Redwoods State Park, and beyond to both Long Ridge Open Space Preserve and Butano Rim.

Cost: $5 parking per vehicle.

Contacts: Sam McDonald County Park, (650) 879-0238; San Mateo County Parks, (650) 363-4021, eparks.net (a portal to the county parks site).

How to get there: From San Francisco, take I-280 south and drive 20 miles to Woodside and the exit for Highway 84/Woodside Road. Take that exit, turn west (right) on Woodside Road, and drive 2.8 miles to Woodside. Continue straight on Woodside Road/Highway 84 for 10 miles (continue straight at Sky Londa at Skyline) to La Honda and continue a short distance to Pescadero Road on left. Turn left and drive 1.1 miles to Redwood Triangle and Pescadero Creek Road. Bear right and drive 0.7 of a mile to park entrance and parking on right.

Heritage Grove: At Redwood Triangle, turn southeast (right, if emerging from Sam McDonald; left, if approaching Sam McDonald from La Honda) on Alpine Road and drive short distance to Heritage Grove on right.

Coastal option: From Half Moon Bay, take Highway 1 south for 10 miles to San Gregorio and Highway 84. Turn left on 84 and drive 8.3 miles to Pescadero Road. Turn right and drive 1.1 miles to Redwood Triangle and Pescadero Creek Road. Bear right and drive 0.7 of a mile to park entrance on right.

Facilities: Restroom available at parking.

This article appeared on page B - 10 of the San Francisco Chronicle