Large portions of the redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains are second-growth, shaped by a legacy of logging that began in the mid-1800s. Unlike old-growth forests with their towering, centuries-old trees, second-growth forests are characterized by thinner, shorter trees and a more open canopy.
The mid-19th century brought a wave of logging to the Santa Cruz Mountains, driven by the demand for lumber during California’s Gold Rush and subsequent urban expansion. During this time, vast tracts of old-growth redwoods, some over a thousand years old, were felled. These majestic trees, with their massive trunks and complex ecosystems, were largely lost to the logging industry.
Today, the redwood forests in Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve bear the marks of this past. Instead of ancient giants, the preserve features second-growth redwoods, younger trees that have regenerated from the stumps and root systems of their predecessors.
What is the Elbow Tree?
However, not all old-growth redwoods were cut down during the logging era. The Elbow Tree is a distinctive coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) located in Purisma Creek Redwood Preserve. It is named for its unusual growth pattern, where the trunk bends sharply, resembling an elbow. This unique shape likely resulted from environmental stressors, such as a fallen branch, another tree leaning against it, or a natural disturbance during its early growth years.
Unlike the straight, towering trunks typical of most redwoods, the Elbow Tree’s distinctive form makes it a natural landmark. Trees like this were often spared by loggers during the intense harvesting of redwoods in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as their irregular shapes made them less suitable for lumber. As a result, the Elbow Tree is one of the few remaining old-growth trees in the preserve.
Hiking to the Elbow Tree from Grabtown Gulch Trail Head
Located about 1.3 miles on Tunitas Creek Road off of Highway 35, Grabtown Gulch trail head is a remote access point into Purisma Creek Redwood Open Space Preserve. There are about three parking spots located as roadside parking immediately near the trail head.
Hiking to the Elbow Tree from Grabtown Gulch trail head is about 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometers) each way. This is an out and back hike that takes you up to views of Half Moon Bay and the Pacific Ocean from the top of the ridge before dipping slightly down to the location of this old-growth redwood tree.
As you make your way along the trails to the Elbow Tree, keep an eye out for one of the forest’s most iconic residents: the banana slug. These bright yellow, slow-moving creatures are often found on the trails, so be sure to watch where you step.
From the trail head, hike along Grabtown Gulch Trail about a third of a mile to the first junction and take a left on to Bordon Hatch Mill Trail. Bordon Hatch Mill Trail takes you through the lower redwood forest that is filled with large ferns. Ferns are a common sight in redwood forests. These shade-loving plants are adapted to thrive under the dense canopy, where sunlight is limited.
At the next junction, take another left on to Bald Knob Trail. The mixed redwood and Douglas-fir forest is much drier and thinner along this compact dirt single track trail. Tanoaks and madrone trees can also be seen from the trail.
Stay on this trail for about 1.5 miles until you reach Irish Ridge Trail on the left. Along the Irish trail is a clearcut area, a remnant clearing that was one of the old mill sites.
Look towards the west as you hike along the Irish Ridge Trail to see views that span over the rolling hills and on towards the Pacific Ocean.
Irish Ridge Trail gradually descends lower until it connects with Lobitos Creek Trail. At the junction, hike to the right. The Elbow Tree is about 100 feet further up that trail.
The Elbow Tree is much larger than the second growth redwood trees around it.
Like many old-growth redwoods in this fire-prone area, the Elbow Tree has a basal hollow. A basal hollow, also known as a “fire scar” or “cavity,” is a large hollow space at the base of a tree.
The basal hollow likely formed during a fire that swept through the area, burning into the heartwood at the tree’s base. Coastal redwoods are incredibly fire-resistant due to their thick, tannin-rich bark, which protects the living tissue beneath. However, intense or repeated fires can create openings in the bark, allowing flames to reach the inner wood. Over time, the exposed area can be hollowed out by further decay, animals, or natural weathering.
Once you are down admiring this old growth redwood tree, simply reverse hike back to the trail head. The roundtrip hike clocks in at a little under 7 miles (or 11 kilometers).
