Foothill Trail

Foothill Trail is a 2.2-mile one-way route between the Cathedral Trees and Brown Creek trail junctions through old-growth redwoods. Its published 2.2-mile figure gives no direction convention; the connected Foothill path measures about 2.14 miles from end to end, so this guide treats it as one-way. The marked Cal Barrel Road access meets the route near the southern end, roughly 0.3 mile from Cathedral Trees and 1.8 miles from Brown Creek. Allow about 1½ to 2 hours one way. Walk the full Cathedral Trees–Brown Creek line and retrace it for about 4.4 miles; from Cal Barrel to Brown Creek and back is about 3.7 miles. Use the connecting trails if you want to make a loop.

From Cathedral Trees toward Brown Creek, the route runs north above Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. In places the tread is wide and fairly straight, with traffic audible through the trees. It feels more like a mellow corridor than a climb, though the grade rolls. The woods build toward Big Tree, one of the largest redwoods in Prairie Creek. The trail passes through the Big Tree area, so pause there before carrying on along the same line.

Near the Cathedral Trees end, Foothill passes through Rotary Grove, a short stretch of dense, sun-dappled old growth with a redwood that sends out several trunk-like reiterations beside the path. North of Big Tree, the route drops through the Big Tree Creek ravine on a wooden footbridge, then crosses Corkscrew Creek ravine on a long, high bridge. The Corkscrew crossing is the standout view; frame some of the ravine below the bridge if you take a photo.

The marked Foothill access is off unpaved Cal Barrel Road, about a quarter-mile from Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. The trail also joins Cathedral Trees, South Fork and Brown Creek. Big Tree Wayside is a second access, but parking there is limited. A 0.93-mile portion between Cathedral Trail and the Parkway is listed as accessible, with compacted aggregate and mostly gentle grades; that is only part of the full route. Several armored crossings can carry water during rain. Pets are prohibited on park trails; service animals are allowed.