San Mateo County Parks
I know it’s crowded. I know that rollerbladers and baby strollers run rampant here. But at least it’s not without good reason. The Sawyer Camp Recreation Trail is a just-plain-perfect paved bike trail -- long enough to make you feel like you got some exercise, and diverse enough to provide both scenic views and interesting local history.Here’s a tip: Make your trip on a weekday, or early in the morning on a weekend, and you have a decent chance at a few miles of solitude.
At the trail’s northern end at Hillcrest Boulevard, a plaque announces that this spot was Captain Gaspar de Portola’s first camp after his discovery of San Francisco Bay on November 4th, 1769. From this auspicious beginning, you ride south, skirting the southern end of San Andreas Lake. The trail passes through bucolic marshlands, then travels the length of Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir. Interpretive signs explain everything from the rather unstable geology of the area (the trail parallels the nearby San Andreas Fault) to the local flora and fauna.
A highlight is the Jepson laurel tree at 3.5 miles, named after one of California’s noted botanists, Willis Jepson. At about 600 years old and 55 feet tall, it is the oldest and largest laurel tree in California.
The ride is an easy cruise; you probably won’t even shift gears for most of its length. The scenery is “classic Bay Area,” with fog streaming in over the ridge above the lakes on summer afternoons. Marshes and meadows along the trail often have deer grazing in them. On one trip, I counted 15 deer, as well as numerous snowy egrets and red-tailed hawks.
The Details
Length: 12 miles round-trip (can be cut shorter)
Difficulty: Easy
Best Season: Good year-round but least crowded in winter
Highlights: Wildlife, lakes, history
Map: A free trail map is available at the trailhead
Trail Guide: Easy Biking in Northern California (Foghorn Outdoors)
Park Information: San Mateo County Parks and Recreation, (650) 363-4020
Getting There: From Millbrae CalTrain station, take SamTrans bus #33B to Crestview Drive at Larkspur Drive. Ride your bike west on Larkspur, heading under the freeway to trailhead. The trail here is dirt. If you are on a road bike, turn left (south) on Skyline Boulevard and ride a half-mile on pavement to Hillcrest Boulevard. Turn right and pass under the freeway; the paved trail begins here.
