Clearcut Forest - Tarwater Loop Trail - Pescadero Creek County Park in San Mateo County, California

This is an interesting hike called the Tarwater Loop Trail is not far from Portola Redwoods in Pescadero Creek County Park in San Mateo County, California. The landscape shows the signs of definite human habitation and destruction caused by the saw mills in the late 19th Century. From small buidlings, to the shingle mill in the heart of the redwoods, this trail is fascinating and full of surprises.

The creek really does have black tar oozing out from the ground, and the destruction caused by the Shingle mill is still very visible throughout the forest. Near the very end of the trail and the video, an old growth Pacific Coast redwood is still standing, and one of the largest I have ever seen. The devastation of the forest comes to full light when you witness what must have been the massive scale of the forest here. Obvious signs of clear cutting all over the park.

If you have ever wanted to see nature taking over after human habitation, this park will leave you happy. The Shingle mill is still very visible, and the iron is not going anywhere for many more years. This is one of the most historical hikes in the bay and is definitely worth a visit.

The video highlights the scene with the use of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (Spring Rounds). I find this piece fitting for the beautiful contrast presented by the new growth and the reminants of old destruction. Walking through the forest I could not help feeling the loss, that all of these new trees great ancestors were once all killed in a massive human driven calamity in a very short period. No matter the short time it took to cut all the trees down, the evidence is only slowly being swallowed up by time and new growth.

The Tarwater Loop is easy to do and only around 4.8 miles with an elevation change of 700ft. Visit and witness some Bay area history, many people would rather forget about today.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Clearcut
• forest
• tarwater
• loop
• trail
• pescadero
• creek
• county
• park
• san
• mateo
• california
• 2009

[floydstinkyboy]

pretty much every valley has been chopped all the way from there to Petersburg. aarrghh!

nice moooovie thanks