Ox Trail to South Creek Trail Loop

This is a short hike up along the hill then down along the creek, with redwoods and wildflowers.

Location: Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Length: 2.0 miles
Difficulty: easy
Shade: shaded
Parking: main parking lot at Camp Taylor ($8/vehicle, pay at park entrance)
Public Transportation: bus 68 (Stagecoach) stops near the park entrance
WC: at campground/parking lot
Dogs: not allowed on hiking trails, only in developed areas and Cross Marin Trail

Link to park website

Hiked: May 2021

Trail Route & Notes

Begin this hike by crossing the bridge from the Camp Taylor parking lot to the campgrounds on the other side of the creek. Turn right on Cross Marin Trail, and keep walking along the wide, paved road until you see a sign for Orchard Hill Campground on your left. Walk up the hill and you’ll see Ox Trail to your right. Ox Trail follows parallel to Cross Marin Trail for about 0.7 miles. You’ll see signs posted directing you downhill and back to Cross Marin Trail.

You can walk directly back along Cross Marin Trail, but we decided to hike the two little South Creek Trails that run parallel to Cross Marin on the creek side.

This is a pleasant little hike, but not the most exciting. Still, it was better to hike on the narrow Ox Trail than on Cross Marin, where there are frequently bikers and dog-walkers. So as a combination, it’s not too bad; you can enjoy the redwoods on Ox Trail and then the creekside walk coming back along South Creek Trail. In spring, both trails have a lot of wildflowers.

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