Back when I first visited Butano a year or two ago, I noticed that Big Basin was only a short distance to the east and wondered if there was a route connecting them. It turns out that there are actually two- the Butano Fire road and the Gazos Creek Road. The Butano Fire Road is an extension of China Grade Road (This is the right turn you pass while driving to Big Basin from the north) Gazos Creek Road runs from Big Basin HQ to the sea passing the site of the historical Sandy Point Guard Station. Both of these roads are popular with the mountain biking crowd.
With a few additional roads added, it was possible to combine the two into a lengthy 25 mile loop dayhike.
Small waterfall along Gazos Creek Road.
In my last entry, I noted the backcountry crime scene that I found on the skyline trail. This week, I think I found the culprit- this Middle Ridge redwood tagged as a "killer tree" with skull and crossbones flagging tape.
Killer Tree
The full set of pictures, map, and commentary are here.