Sprig Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Wildlife

Although the park map and this description call this Sprig Trail, ALL the signposts along it call it Sprig Lake Trail.

The Sprig Trail trailhead is found on the northwest side of the Mt. Madonna County Park parking area in the southeast corner of the park.

Sprig Trail immediately enters the mixed redwood forest and begins climbing a ridge on the ridge's north side. Enjoy the shade, redwoods, and soft, needle covered path, as there aren't really any views in the thick, dense forest. This climb lasts for the first 1.3 miles and is rather steep in places. As one climbs, the steep sided valley of Blackhawk Canyon drops off to the north and the ridge rises to the south. The ridge top is reached at the 1.3 mile mark, the trail levels out and becomes flat for its remaining 1.6 miles as it continues to travel in the beautiful mixed redwood forest.

Sprig Trail passes Valley View 2 and 3 drive-in camps in a half mile stretch from the 1.5 - 2.0 mile mark. The campsites are close by in the woods to the left/south and their occasional picnic tables can be seen. At the 2.0 mile mark, Sprig Trail passes Giant Twins Trail on the left.

Sprig Trail then comes to its only open section, a brushy open one tenth mile stretch, with manzanita interspersed with the brush. Re-entering the forest and continuing on one passes yurts to the left/south for about a quarter mile starting at the 2.3 mile mark. These yurts are part of the Valley View 1 drive-in camping area.

After the yurts, at the 2.6 mile mark, Sprig Trail pops out of the forest at a parking area on the east side of the park road. To continue on for another 0.3 miles to the end of Sprig Trail, cross the park road and head to the far/north end of the parking area on the west side of the park road. Here there is a trail signpost marking where Sprig Trail picks up again as it re-enters forest. (Note: For those running Sprig Trail in the other direction - eastbound, there is also a trail signpost on the south side of the parking area east of the park road, where Sprig Trail popped out of the forest, thus showing eastbound runners where they can pick up the trail after crossing the road.)

Continuing west after crossing the road, the forest is slightly different now. There are eucalyptus trees scattered in with the now scarcer redwoods and other vegetation. A short 0.3 miles after crossing the park road, Sprig Trail ends at Bayview Trail.

Predominantly mixed redwood forest. A few manzanita in a short open, brushy stretch. The exception to this is west of the park road there are also eucalyptus trees. Deer.