Bald Knob Trail

Dogs No Dogs

There are no services or restrooms in this area, so make sure that you bring enough water and food for your hike. Parking can fill up throughout the day as there is limited parking along Tunitas Road, so it might be best to arrive early to find a spot.

To access the Bald Knob Trail, park in one of the pull outs along Tunitas Creek Road (there's room for about 12 cars) and hike out the Grabtown Gulch Trail for three tenths of a mile, and then turn left and take the Borden Hatch Mill Trail for two tenths of a mile.

At this point, the Bald Knob Trail breaks off to the left and starts to climb gently up the hillside away from the Borden Hatch Mill Trail. The trail runs along the ridge for roughly a quarter of a mile. If you hike this trail in the morning, you can catch the sunlight coming through the trees and fog moving over the hillside, allowing you to get some nice photos.

The trail starts climbing more steeply uphill for the next three quarters of a mile as it weaves its way through the forest via a series of long switchbacks. This trail is covered by shade for the entire length, so even if it is in the heat of the day, this trail provides excellent cover from the sun.

After a mile, the trail levels off and runs along the ridge along a narrow dirt track that is easy to hike. This is the best part of the hike even though the views to the left are obscured by the forest. It's a nice hike out to the end of the trail, where the the Bald Knob Trail meets up with the Irish Ridge Trail.

From the junction, you can descend down the Irish Ridge Trail for great views of the Pacific Ocean. To get back to your vehicle, you need to retrace your steps as this is an out and back trail.

You may encounter deer in the woods, but there aren't a lot of fields for them to feed in here. Smaller animals can be seen along the trail. Squirrels can be seen and heard along the trail. Birds can be seen perched on tree branches. Smaller animals yet, like the Banana Slug, can be seen on the trail and along the trail, so watch your step. Ferns and various mosses are prevalent on this trail thanks to the moisture in the area.