San Mateo County Parks describes Pescadero Creek Park as a vast parkland of 8,020 acres. The figure covers Sam McDonald, Pescadero Creek and Memorial county parks together. Pescadero Creek flows year-round and is a major steelhead spawning stream, and the county says it may be restored for coho salmon.
What it's like
Wikipedia describes the park as dominated by Pescadero Creek and redwood forest, with 26 miles of trails. Horseback riding is popular, and many riders start from Jack Brook Horse Camp in Sam McDonald Park. Backpackers can use hike-in camps. Hiking trails that cross the creek have no bridges, only stepping stones, though fire-road crossings are bridged. That's worth remembering in a wet winter.
The park borders Portola Redwoods State Park, with trails between the two. A trail easement across private land connects it to Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
An odd bit of geology
According to Wikipedia, the park sits on a deposit of natural gas and oil. Gas sometimes bubbles up near Hoffman Creek with a strong smell, and crude oil seeps into Tarwater Creek and Jones Gulch Creek, staining the rocks.
A park that almost wasn't
In the 1970s there was a plan to dam and flood the valley. The public opposed it, and also opposed a later county plan for campgrounds, a visitor center and picnic grounds. Today the park has basic campsites and trails, many first built by Scouts, plus old logging roads now used as fire roads.
The county's park page lists forest-health projects in Pescadero Creek Park, including a first phase that treated 40 acres. Check it for closures before you go. Nearby: Memorial County Park and Sam McDonald County Park.