Sawyer Camp Trail: A walk in the woods that's freeway-close
Historic Sawyer Camp Trail was heavily used even in the late 1800s, when it served as a main route for horse-drawn wagons and the Millbrae-Half Moon Bay stagecoach. Leander Sawyer owned the land and reputedly sold food to picnickers near the spot that’s still a favorite of picnickers, the Jepson Laurel area. The difference is that instead of coming on horses and stagecoaches, most picnickers now arrive on foot or bicycle via the Sawyer Camp Trail.
It’s San Mateo County’s most popular recreation path, with nearly 1,000 people using the path on an average day. They walk, run, bike, skate or ride a horse (that hasn’t changed) alongside two reservoirs and the unspoiled woodlands between them. There is no trace of Sawyer’s old home. In fact, the appeal of the trail is that because it’s on protected watershed lands, not one building can be seen on the entire six-mile length, only the reservoirs and tree-covered hillsides. Yet most of the way, you’re only a half-mile from Highway 280.
There’s street parking, restrooms, maps and a water fountain at both ends of the trail, but the south end is by far more popular because it’s flat. Starting there, at Skyline Boulevard and Crystal Springs Road near Hillsborough, you’ll follow a trail thick with walkers and lined with benches. For three miles, the path snakes through the woods, crosses creeks, and periodically straightens out to provide sterling views of Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir (which provides water to four Bay Area Counties) and the Coast Range ridge beyond it. The constant variety sets it apart from straight-line bike paths where the scenery never changes.
Most trail users turn around where the trail starts climbing at the 3.5-mile post (Jepson Laurel). But they miss out on fern-covered hillsides, a great workout and a fine view of another watershed reservoir, San Andreas Lake, which you cross over on an earthen dam. After two rigorous, half-mile climbs, you’ll reach the northern end of the trail at Hillcrest and Skyline Boulevards in Millbrae.
Along the path you’ll encounter diverse flora and fauna as you pass through oak woodland and mixed evergreen ecosystems. You’re likely to see deer, cottontails and squirrels, but very unlikely to spot a coyote or mountain lion, despite the ominous trail warning signs.
Sawyer Camp is an ideal path for a family bike ride because you needn’t worry about cars. The flat, seven-mile roundtrip to the Jepson Laurel picnic area is perfect. But do bring helmets for everyone; it’s the law for kids under 18 and common sense for adults. The path is also perfect for runners because posts marking every half-mile let you track your pace. Walkers account for most trail users, and most cyclists and skaters watch out for them by honoring the 15 mph speed limit.
HelloSanFrancisco tip: Demolition of a bridge near the southern trailhead means that from August 2010 until 2013, you’ll need to exit Highway 280 at the Black Mountain/Hayne Road exit and drive south on Highway 35 to the southern entrance. Fortunately, this detour only adds a few minutes to the driving time.
Posted by Bob Cooper
