Ed Taylor Trail: Hidden Jewel of Burlingame

The Ed Taylor trail in Burlingame does not begin like other hikes. As my friend  and I looked for the entrance, we ran into the dilemma on how to find the darn thing! After walking up Adeline Drive from Hale Street, and not finding it right away, we realized that walking to the entrance was a bit further up than we had imagined.

After a three-minute stop to gather our senses and check our map, we realized we were on the right track and we found the entrance and the wooden sign that welcomed our eagerness to begin the trail.

As the trail begins, you descend into the canyon. The first thing I realized was the discrepancies between shading and light as you hiked through. You will first descend, therefore the towering trees will hover over you providing a cool shade.

My friend, who then remembered that he had hiked here years ago to climb a boulder, recalled that the creek that runs through Mills Canyon can be seen gushing at a higher rate earlier in the year; what we saw was probably a fraction of what the creek can be, though it was still fortunate to see moving water. In my opinion, there is nothing like the movement of water, whether creek, river, or waterfall, that fully integrates the experience of a day hike.

Immediately after encountering the creek you will have to ascend a few boulders. Doing this with a clunky camera in one hand is a little tricky, but with careful step-by-step navigation I made it. (Children under five might not be truly fit for this part of the hike. Older children can make it with help from adults). From there, relish in the beautiful quiet until you come upon the boulder which my friend instantly tried to climb (He made it!).

I admit, I was eager to see some type of wildlife but wasn’t sure what to expect or if I even would see any. A snake? A fox? Alas, we came upon beautiful blue dragonflies, the sound of chirping birds, and a cute but clumsy lizard which my friend described as an Alligator Lizard. In fact, he was able to gently clamp it in his hands. The lizard flicked its tongue as I touched its cold and leathery skin. We released our new found reptilian friend and he awkwardly scattered back into the brush. Who said Burlingame can’t get wild?!

Upon looping upwards, the sun warmly radiates downward as the shade dissipates and you walk through a trail of long-grass, cross a small bridge, and find yourself staring at a beautiful visage of the bay and the towns across it. Luckily for us, the day was quite clear, and there’s even a patch on a grassy knoll that is perfect for a picnic spot, as we could attest to unfortunately by some cans littered by past dwellers. You’ll also see the backs of houses lined up along Adeline here and there and one can only mesmerize at their view of the bay.

All in all, the Ed Taylor trail is definitely a hidden gem I would never have encountered without the aid of online hiking guides, and I am really glad for that. For something so genial and tucked away in a neighboring town, amidst the backdrop of busy El Camino and jumbo jets jeering in the sky, it’s quite the pleasure to frolic in a bit of nature paradise and how it can soothe the hectic, modern soul.

Have you hiked the Ed Taylor trail before and if so, how did it go? When’s the best time to go? See anything out of the ordinary? The more stories, the better for our community. Let me know by commenting below!