River Trail Hike

Following the San Lorenzo River from the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park office, the River Trail is an easy 2-mile hike to Box Car Beach and Rincon Fire Road. Multiple river access trails cut off from the main trail, so swimming and fishing holes are abundant. Paralleling the Pipeline Road most of the way, traffic along this trail can be quite heavy as joggers and dog walkers utilize this path also. 

Because the route follows the river, visitors will find the hiking easy going with minimal elevation changes. This portion of the trail is surrounded by willow, buckeye, oak trees and shrubbery. After reaching Box Car Beach, the trail is lined with towering redwoods, luscious green ferns and clover. An occasional mushroom can be found growing on fallen and rotten trees. This enjoyable hike is a good introductory trail that leads to more adventures. If you are still up for more adventure, check out the Big Hole Rock, Buckeye, or Eagle Creek trails. They all connect in or around Box Car Beach.