Monthly French Hike – Huddart Park (Redwood City)

Join the Alliance Française Silicon Valley for our monthly French hike, led by Thomas Célérier. This November, we’ll explore Huddart Park, a peaceful redwood forest just minutes from downtown Redwood City. Known for its towering trees, fern-lined paths, and soft forest floor, this park offers a cool, shaded escape and a true immersion in the natural beauty of the Peninsula—an ideal setting for walking, chatting in French, and reconnecting with nature.

We will follow a 7.7 km loop along the Crystal Spring and Dean Trails, featuring rolling terrain and moderate effort, perfect for hikers who enjoy a steady pace, scenic woodland views, and friendly company. After the hike, participants are invited to stay for a potluck picnic. Bring your lunch or something to share AFSV will provide a mini-fondue to add a warm and delicious Alpine touch to the afternoon!

About Huddart Park – A Redwood Haven on the Peninsula

Located on the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Huddart Park is one of the Bay Area’s most cherished forest escapes. Spanning nearly 1,000 acres, it is a lush world of coastal redwoods, Douglas firs, tanoaks, madrones, and aromatic bay laurels that flourish in the cool mountain climate. Thanks to its dense canopy, the forest stays shaded and green year-round, offering a refreshing retreat just moments from city life.

The park’s trails wind through spring-fed ravines, moss-covered logs, and seasonal streams that nurture a rich variety of wildlife. Along the way, you may spot black-tailed deer, gray squirrels, foxes, quail, woodpeckers, Steller’s jays, hawks, and the region’s famous banana slugs gliding among the ferns. In the quieter stretches, the only soundtrack is birdsong, rustling leaves, and footsteps on the soft earth.

Huddart is also a remarkable ecosystem in motion: its redwoods can soar over 60 meters and live for centuries, hosting miniature worlds in their branches. The cool Pacific fog that drifts through the mountains acts as natural air-conditioning, nourishing the forest and keeping temperatures pleasant throughout the year.

Whether you come for sweeping woodland views, peaceful shaded trails, or a chance to slow down and breathe more deeply, Huddart Park offers an atmosphere that is both majestic and deeply calming a perfect backdrop for conversation, exploration, and community en plein air.

📌 Hike details

• Date: Sunday, November 16, 2025
• Time: Hike from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (meet at 9:30 am)
• Where: Huddart Park — Chickadee Nature Trail Parking
• Distance & Difficulty: 7.7 km loop — moderate
• Parking: $6 per vehicle (to be paid on site)
• Meeting Location: Chickadee Nature Trail Parking, Redwood City, CA 94062 (overflow at Zwierlein Lot)
• Limitations: No pets and no smoking
• Bonus: Mini-fondue at the end of the hike 🧀

🥖 What to Bring

• Comfortable hiking shoes and water
• Picnic or potluck contribution
• Layers — weather can change under the redwoods
• Optional: a beret to embrace our fun and convivial French spirit!

This outing is open to all levels of French speakers and lovers of French culture. Come walk, laugh, learn, and soak up the magic of Huddart Park… en français !