Sylvan Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The trailhead is located in the picnic area at the main entrance to the Edgewood Park and Nature Preserve. You can park in the lot or along Edgewood Road and then make your way toward the picnic area. There is a road to a private residence to the lefthand side of the fence, while the path leading to the Sylvan Trail stays on the righthand side of the fence. The Sylvan Trail breaks off to the left and begins to climb away from the parking lot.

The trail follows the edge of the preserve as it begins to climb the hillside. Private residences sit to the left and provide a reminder of what the whole area could have become if the preserve had not been created. Roughly a tenth of a mile into the trail, the Baywood Glen Trail takes off to the right and climbs to the Franciscan Trail. The Sylvan Trail continues straight ahead through the woods as it climbs the hill. On the left hand side of the trail, the hill drops steeply into a ravine as the trail as wildflowers can be seen on the hill above the trail on the right. After .5 miles, the trail climbs up a series of switchbacks and begins to emerge from the woods. Views of the surround hills and homes begin to come into view. Around .9 miles, views of the South Bay and features like Blair Island, Dumbarton Bridge, and Redwood City spread out before you.

Climbing gently for the last tenth of a mile, the trail emerges at a wide intersection with the Serpentine Trail. Going straight ahead will allow you to follow the Serpentine Trail to the Sunset Trail. If you go to the right, the Serpentine Trail will take you to the open fields of the preserve where you can take either the Old Stage Road or the Edgewood Trail back to the parking lot and your car.

The trail ascends through the woods, offering opportunities to explore various trees. There is a palm tree, an odd sight in the preserve, just before the Baywood Glen Trail cuts to the right. Wildflowers can be seen at the upper ends of the trail.

Deer can be seen feeding in the fields in the morning and evenings, and rabbits can be seen in the woods. Other animals call the preserve home, but aren't seen often along this wooded trail along the preserve's boundary.