Sawyer Camp Recreation Trail – Jepson Laurel loop from Highlands-Baywood Park

01:11

11.4km

60m

Running

Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: March 18, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

299 m

Sawyer Camp Recreation Trail

Highlight • Trail

See komoot.de/highlight/172571
The 15-mile Crystal Springs Regional Trail is one of the best mostly paved bike trails with few cars in the Bay Area. It spans from San Bruno to Woodside and is routed along three gorgeous lakes and connector links amid riparian woodlands. On Sundays, you can combine the San Andreas and Sawyer Camp segments to south of Highway 92 to Cañada Road, which is closed to cars for Bicycle Sundays (See komoot.de/tour/11413421 ).
Speed limit: 15 mph, difficult for high-end road bikes to stay below; hikers: please don't stand and talk in the center of the trail.

San Andreas segment: From Skyline Boulevard south of San Bruno Avenue the trail drops to the head of San Andreas Lake, with pretty views across to the west of the wilderness slope of Montara Mountain. It rides along the lake 2 miles to an access point near Larkspur and 0.6 miles to another (at Hillcrest) where it connects to the Sawyer Camp segment.
Sawyer Camp segment: This is a gorgeous, easy bike ride, where you drop 400 feet over the span of 6 miles to Crystal Springs Dam. The route descends into riparian woodlands for 2.5 miles to Jepson Laurel picnic grounds, then runs along Crystal Springs Reservoir for 5.2 miles. You can continue another 1.7 miles to Cañada Road for Bicycle Sunday (no cars).
Cañada Road/Crystal Springs segment: South along Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir for 2.1 miles to the Pulgas Water Temple. It continues another 2.1 miles past Filoli Botanical Center and Phleger Estate to Edgewood Road
- sfgate.com/outdoors/sundaydrive/article/Crystal-Springs-Trail-links-lakes-woodlands-4723374.php
- parks.smcgov.org/crystal-springs-regional-trail

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3.11 km

Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir

Highlight • Lake

Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir is part of the Crystal Springs Reservoir system, and provides water to the San Francisco Bay Area. The area surrounding the reservoir is rich in biodiversity, home to rare and endangered species like the San Mateo thornmint and the Marin Dwarf Flax. While recreational activities on the water are restricted to protect the watershed, the adjacent Crystal Springs Regional Trail offers scenic views for hikers and cyclists.

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