Buzzards Roost–Leonard Redwood Grove, 5 sights is a 13-mile out-and-back in Big Basin Redwoods State Park near San Lorenzo Park, CA. The route passes Leonard Redwood Grove before reaching Buzzards Roost at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It climbs 2,688 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi942 – 2,264 ft · steepest grade: 16%13.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Butano Fire Road 37.21570, -122.23200
Nearest town San Lorenzo Park, CA
Directions
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Buzzards Roost–Leonard Redwood Grove, 5 sights
13 mi · ▲ 2,688 ft · 5 hr 41 min
Elevation 941–2,264 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.
- 0.3 miPass Leonard Redwood Grove.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto SttS/Hihn Connector Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miSharp right onto Pine Mountain Trail, heading NW.
- 1.1 miSharp left, heading S.
- 450 ftReach Buzzards Roost, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miSharp left onto Pine Mountain Road, heading NW.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto SttS/Hihn Connector Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp right onto Skyline To The Sea Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Dool Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Middle Ridge Road, heading NW.
- 2.7 miContinue straight onto Johansen Road, heading NW.
- 0.7 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
60% dirt40% 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 1.0 mi in (~25 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
- Leonard Redwood Grove–Father-of-the-Forest, 4 sights 8.7 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
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