Blackhawk Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek

The Blackhawk Trail trailhead is found in the forest at the end of the parking area on the east side of the park road.

Blackhawk Trail follows a seasonal creek downstream, running along side of it. The creek and the trail are both at the bottom of Blackhawk Canyon, a steep sided, heavily forested canyon dominated by redwoods. The undergrowth is dense and especially lush at the canyon bottom. Many beautiful ferns are along the trail and creek. It is quite dark down here even on a sunny day because the valley walls are so steep and the forest is thick.

Starting off on the north side of the creek, Blackhawk Trail crosses the creek at the 0.45 mile mark. The trail grows darker as it descends. After 0.6 miles, Contour Trail is reached. Currently (January 2021), this is as far as one can go on Blackhawk Trail. Beyond this point, the trail is being repaired and re-routed due to landslides. When this work is done, Blackhawk Trail should reach Ridge Trail very near the Ridge Trail start. It should be a very beautiful, dark dramatic trail when repaired as it runs the length of the Blackhawk Canyon bottom.

Mixed redwood forest, mostly redwoods. Lush, dense creekside vegetation, beautiful ferns.