Directions To FireDrums
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DIRECTIONS to FIREDRUMS and CUTTERS RESERVATION from, well, pretty much anywhere:
Check out the area on Google Maps
*(See note below for additional directions from Santa Cruz and the coast)
There are so many freeways in the Bay Area that it's next to impossible to make specific directions from every point.
Directions below begin at the intersection of Highway 85 and Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga, California. (aprox 7 miles southwest of San Jose Airport)
Below are more detailed directions to get you to the gathering. (courtesy of Krispy)
Though the overall distance is less than 25 miles, you will be driving on narrow, winding mountain roads, so allow for plenty of extra drive time.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!! Once you pass thru the town of Saratoga, you will be driving up into the Santa Cruz mountains. These roads are very windy and get more narrow and windy as you get further up the mountain. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME AND DRIVE SLOWLY!!!!! You're almost there, , , just relax and enjoy a very scenic and beautiful drive in the redwoods.
Highway 236 is a very narrow, single lane highway with no divider and many blind turns and corners. If you come upon traffic, slow down and pull over immediately and pass each other at a safe and sane rate. Do not stop on the side of the road! Bear in mind that oncoming traffic comes quickly. Traffic in the opposite direction cannot see you coming around corners, nor can you see them. Please be courteous on this road as it has a lot of traffic for its size. It is a state scenic route with a lot of tourist traffic, including RV's, campers, motorcycles and bicycles.
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Beginning at Highway 85 in Saratoga, California;
- Exit ‘'Saratoga Avenue''. At the end of the off ramp head southwest. (towards the town of Saratoga, CA)
(Saratoga Ave will pass through some commercial properties, then become residential and then take you through Old Town Saratoga. Saratoga Ave then becomes Highway 9 (aka Big Basin Way) at the intersection of Saratoga Sunnyvale Rd and Saratoga Los Gatos Rd.
There will be no signs for this, but you will know you are on the right path if you are heading uphill on a winding two-lane road. On your right hand side you will soon pass a small camping area called “Saratoga Springs.”)
- Follow Highway 9 for approximately 15 to 20 minutes thru a 4-way stop at the intersection of Highway 9 and Hwy 35. (aprox 9 miles from the start at Hwy 85)
- Continue STRAIGHT through the 4 way stop, remaining on Highway 9 for an additional 20 minutes to the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 236. This is another 4-way stop. (aprox 15 miles from Hwy 85)
- Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD through the 4 way stop once again. (You are now on Highway 236)
- You will know you are on the right path when the two-lane divided road becomes a single undivided lane and you are surrounded by redwoods.
Follow this road through the beautiful redwoods for about 20 minutes. Take your time and enjoy the air and scenery.
- Cutters and China Grade Road will be on your right hand side and will turn uphill. Look for a large sign indicating an entrance to Big Basin Redwoods Park on the opposite side of Highway 236.
- You are turning onto China Grade Road in the uphill direction. There is a small sign at China Grade Road indicating you are heading toward Cutters. Follow China Grade road for about another 15 minutes. It will begin as a patchy-paved road and eventually turn into a gravel-dirt road.
You will come to the entrance of Cutter Boy Scout Reservation. It is a green gate, with a sign that says Cutter’s Scout Reservation.
Continue another 7 minutes on this road to the greeters station!
You have arrived! Welcome to FireDrums ! ! ! ! ! !
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Approximate distances between intersections;
(Hwy 85 & Saratoga Ave) to Hwy 9 @ Old Town Saratoga = 1.8 miles
(Hwy 9 @ Old Town Saratoga) to Hwy 35 = 7.4 miles
(Hwy 9 @ Hwy 35) to Hwy 236 = 6.1 miles
(Hwy 236 @ Hwy 9) to China Grade Rd. = 4.7 miles
(China Grade Rd @ Hwy 236) to Cutters = 3.3 miles
Total distance = aprox. 23 miles.
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*Additional directions for those coming from Santa Cruz and the coast;
From US Highway 1 (Cabrillo Hwy) and Highway 9 (River Street) in Santa Cruz;
- Go North on Hwy 9 (River St.) thru Bens Lomond and Boulder Creek.
NOTE; UNLESS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, DO NOT TURN ONTO HWY 236 IN BOULDER CREEK!!!!!
(There is a more direct route, but the signs are easy to miss and the roads are extremely small and windy.
- Continue thru Boulder Creek on Hwy 9 until you come to the second intersection of Hwy 236. (about 20 miles from US 1)
- Turn left at the stop sign onto Hwy 236.
Follow this road through the beautiful redwoods for about 20 minutes. Take your time and and enjoy the air and scenery.
- Cutters and China Grade Road will be on your right hand side and will turn uphill. Look for a large sign indicating an entrance to Big Basin Redwoods Park on the opposite side of Highway 236.
- You are turning onto China Grade Road in the uphill direction. There is a small sign at China Grade Road indicating you are heading toward Cutters. Follow China Grade road for about another 15 minutes. It will begin as a patchy-paved road and eventually turn into a gravel-dirt road.
You will come to the entrance of Cutter Boy Scout Reservation. It is a green gate, with a sign that says Cutter’s Scout Reservation.
Continue another 7 minutes on this road to the greeters station!
You have arrived! Welcome to FireDrums ! ! ! ! ! !
Huge thanx and kudos to KRISPY for taking the time to help with these directions and descriptions!!!!!!