The hook
A gentle gravel rail-trail through the redwoods on the bed of an old logging railroad, which most Bay Area riders never find.
01Why it's worth it
Hidden in the redwoods of Pescadero Creek and Memorial county parks, between the coast and the peninsula, the Old Haul Road runs about six miles on the grade of a narrow-gauge railway that once dragged logs to the mills. It's dirt, nearly flat by the brutal standards of these mountains, and shaded the whole way by big second-growth redwoods along a creek. For anyone on a gravel or mountain bike it's the quiet, car-free alternative to grinding a paved climb, a lovely stretch of forest that links the parks. On foot it's an easy redwood walk. Either way it feels a long way from any road even though it isn't.
02How to experience it
Pick it up from Memorial Park or the Portola Redwoods side. The grade is gentle, which makes it ideal on a loaded gravel bike as part of a coast loop, or a flat shaded hike. Check park hours and any seasonal or storm closures before you rely on it.