Blue Springs Trail

The Blue Springs Trail start shown here, is found at the parking area on the east side of the park road. Look for a signpost for Blue Springs Trail on the north side of this parking area off at the edge of the forest. Follow the arrow pointing the way onto Blue Spring Trail. Blue Springs Trail immediately enters the mixed redwood forest and starts its long climb up Mt. Madonna as it heads towards the center of Mt. Madonna County Park. As the trail climbs the forest becomes almost entirely redwoods and lush undergrowth. Redwood Trail is crossed at the 0.3 mile mark. After about a half mile the trail's high point is reached and the trail is basically flat for its remaining mile. At the 0.5 mile mark, an unmarked trail (Upper Miller Trail) is on the right and a gate straight ahead. Also there is unmarked trail to the left - this is Blue Springs Trail. Therefore, turn left to continue on Blue Springs Trail. Almost immediately Blue Springs Trail crosses the Park road and re-enters the forest, and another unmarked trail to the right (Manzanita Group Camp Access Trail) appears. Stay left here to continue on Blue Springs Trail. Shortly later (0.7 mile mark), at a signed trail junction, is Meadow Trail on the right. Stay left here to continue on Blue Springs Trail. Continuing on in the redwoods, Blue Springs Trail circles around a picnic area on the right from the 0.8 - 1.25 mile marks. Along this stretch, several paths on the right, mostly unnamed, lead to the picnic area. The named trail access to the picnic area is Blue Springs Access Trail at the 1.1 mile mark. Also along this stretch are trails to the left - Bayview Trail at the 1.05 mile mark, followed by an unnamed trail almost immediately, and then a man-made clearing on the left. Additionally, an unpaved road is crossed at the 1.15 mile mark. At the 1.2 mile mark, the trail emerges from the forest into a meadow where the picnic area can be seen to the right. Leaving the picnic area behind, Blue Springs Trail goes through meadows on the edge of the forest for its remaining quarter mile. Along the way the park road is crossed, followed by Meadow Trail at the 1.3 mile mark, and Tan Oak Trail at the 1.4 mile mark. Blue Springs Trail ends after 1.5 miles at a paved intersection complete with a stop sign and a GIGANTIC multi-trunk redwood in the middle of the paved road! OMG!