Leonard Redwood Grove–Father-of-the-Forest, 4 sights is an 8.7-mile out-and-back in Big Basin Redwoods State Park near San Lorenzo Park, CA. The route passes Leonard Redwood Grove before reaching Father-of-the-Forest at the turnaround, 4.4 miles in. It climbs 1,509 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 81/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi971 – 2,264 ft · steepest grade: 19%9.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Butano Fire Road 37.21570, -122.23200
Nearest town San Lorenzo Park, CA
Directions
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Leonard Redwood Grove–Father-of-the-Forest, 4 sights
8.7 mi · ▲ 1,509 ft · 3 hr 39 min
Elevation 972–2,264 ft
Out & Back · Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Trailhead: Butano Fire Road · 37.21570, -122.23200
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 87°F / low 61° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Johansen Road, heading SW.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Middle Ridge Road, heading SE.
- 2.7 miSharp right onto Dool Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Skyline To The Sea Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Redwood Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 400 ftPass Father-of-the-Forest.
- 150 ftReach Leonard Redwood Grove, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Skyline To The Sea Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Dool Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Middle Ridge Road, heading NW.
- 2.7 miContinue straight onto Johansen Road, heading NW.
- 0.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
91% dirt9% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 87°F61°
Feels like81°Precip0%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity21%
Hourly temperature
90°60°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue
83°58°
Wed
79°50°
Thu
79°49°
Fri
88°59°
Sat
84°54°
Sun
76°48°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 7:30 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Butano Fire Road Trailhead
- Cutter Scout Camp Pond–Butano Fire Road, 3 sights 2.2 mi · ▲ 386 ft
- Connector Trail & Middle Ridge Road 2.7 mi · ▲ 423 ft
- The Statue Of Responsibility & Middle Ridge Road 8.2 mi · ▲ 1,509 ft
- Middle Ridge Road & Sunset Trail 9 mi · ▲ 1,714 ft
- Johansen Road–Sandy Point Lookout Trail, 3 sights 9.6 mi · ▲ 1,504 ft
- Marion Jones Grove–Anderson Landing Road, 3 sights 12.9 mi · ▲ 2,486 ft
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Hikes near San Lorenzo Park, California