We drove to the Purisima Creek Road Parking Area, arriving at 9:50 on Friday as the 5th car in the…read more7 spaces lot. Toilet at trailhead; out of TP by afternoon so BYOpaper just in case. Walking next to the creek was easy and tranquil. Looped up Craig Britton Trail for vista views. Had a trail lunch at a u turn. Later at Harkins Ridge Trail, we were treated to see and hear a beautiful bird pecking on a tree trunk. I think the best part of hiking this trail is the lack of people; we had the forest to ourselves. We finished this 7.4 miles loop in 4 hrs, including a lunch stop.

Did the Whittemore Gulch and Harkins Loop trail a few weeks back and boy oh boy, the the hike was…read moreamazing. Route was strenuous, as advertised but awesome. The hike was about 80% shaded in some of the most gorgeous redwood forests, with crisp woodsy air, and lots of flora and wildlife. Wooded trails were nice and cool, which afforded a welcome respite from the warmer ambient temperature (non forested). Saw a lot of banana slugs, some dear, and a bunch of flowers of different types-some endemic and sadly some invasive to the bay. The hike offered views of the bay (at the expense of no shade) on top of the ridge, which was neat. Elevation gain of the hike was approximately 1500 feet, which was gradual in some parts but more steep on others. Didn't use a hiking pole, but wish I did because my legs felt like jello afterwards! The hike which was advertised as around 7 miles took my friend and me about 3h45m (advertised recommended time as 4h-4h30m) with a bunch of rest breaks. Definitely would be back to explore the other trails and get a good dose of trees and nature.

One of the most enjoyable hikes and trails I've been on. It runs along the coast on the old…read morehighway. Very scenic the whole way, paved walking path, some moderate inclines nothing too crazy pretty much anybody should be able to do the hike. There are restrooms on each side of the hike at the start and trip back around to the finish. Basically a step up from a porta potty, there is hand sanitizer in there they were pretty clean could be a lot worse than what it was, kind of nice to find one there if you need it. The hike was extremely enjoyable. I highly recommend.

Epic Trail Coastal…read moretrail that was once part of the PCH and was long considered one of the most dangerous parts of the drive due to its high volume of accidents and Coastal erosion in the area. It became accessible to hikers after the bypass tunnel was (finally!!) completed in 2013 after being talked about since 1958. The Good: *Superlative views *Paved AC trail *Two parking lots; one at the south end and one at the north end of the tunnel. *Gradual and easy slope *Dog & Bike friendly *Restrooms at both ends The Meh: *Zero shade, which shouldn't be an issue since the CA coast is almost always cloudy and cold. The Ugly: *Very short at only ±0.8miles one-way Conclusion: Gorgeous but very short trail.

I think my mainest girl is trying to eliminate me. I don't know why, but she thinks I love taking…read morelong arduous hikes through the woods and huffing and puffing through beautiful scenery. Levity aside, this is a stunningly beautiful park to commune with nature. But be warned, if you're a novice (me), don't have broken in hiking shoes (me) or could be in better shape (also me), it will be challenging. Steep inclines and declines are the order of the day. Also plenty of banana slugs. The park is beautiful, the silence is eerily beautiful, and you will enjoy all of it.

A beautiful, family-friendly place to come for a hike. There is a dedicated parking lot at the…read moretrail entrance but you can also park off the highway if the lot is full. There is a public bathroom/elevated porta potty available to use at the entrance. There are multiple trails to choose from, some being steeper or longer than others. Most of the time, you are shielded from the hot sun by the tall redwood trees that give you cool shade and that give you beautiful scenery to look at as you're walking. Because there is lots of shade, you will see moss and lichen. This environment is great for banana slug spotting - we saw two on our walk and our kids got a blast out of it. We very much enjoyed our familiy excursion here to Purisima.

We went to the northern entrance of Fitzgerald reserve only to find out it was closed due to sea…read morepups. We drove a few minutes south to the other entrance and found street parking. We skipped the tree tunnel this time only because my kid was anxious to tide pool. We walked down the long flight of stairs to the beach to find amazing tide pools and a clean beach. No restrooms on this side, no dogs, no beach toys, no food (though I saw people with it), and no collecting. If you come here be sure to bring a well fitted hat, sunscreen (even on cloudy days), towel, water, and sturdy shoes. The tide pools rocks can be slippery so wearing shoes with grip can help avoid falls. I saw two adults slip in the 90 minutes we were there. I saw anemones, crabs, clams and so much kelp of all colors.

The Seal Cove Cypress Tree Tunnel is a quick and easy trail to explore, take pictures, and to…read moresimply just enjoy nature. Parking is free which is a plus--located near the Fitzgerald marine reserve, and there are public bathrooms to use as well. The trees do give off a spooky/enchanted vibe, but that's the cool thing about nature!

Beautiful fall colors…read more Wonderful little walk through the very quiet forest Different types of mushrooms everywhere! Banana slugs!

Sam McDonald Park was such a pleasant surprise! I loved the variety of trails and the peaceful,…read moreremote feel of the area. Parking was easy, though it's tucked away enough that you could easily pass by if you don't know it's there. Does have restrooms. Overall, a beautiful spot--I really enjoyed my time here!

Cowell-Purisima Trail -- where the Pacific Coast puts on a show!…read more Just south of Half Moon Bay, the Cowell-Purisima Trail unfolds like a love letter to the California coast. This 3-mile, one-way ribbon of well-maintained path (easy to moderate, with just a few short, steep bites) hugs dramatic bluffs as part of the legendary Coastal Trail -- and the views are nonstop. Walk it and you'll feel the ocean wind on your face, watch waves explode against cliffs below, and scan a panorama of green headlands that roll into blue forever. Wildlife is part of the cast: harbor seals bobbing in coves, pelicans gliding in formation, hawks circling overhead, rabbits darting through brush, lizards sunning on rocks, and wildflowers painting the trail in season. It's a living field guide out there. Parking is easy at both the north and south trailheads. From the northern lot, a half mile in you'll find a stunning wooden stairway that drops you down to Cowell Ranch Beach -- a secluded cove that feels like a secret reward. Heads up: poison oak and ticks like the off-trail areas, so stay on the path and you'll stay happy. This trail isn't just gorgeous -- it's rejuvenating. Go early, go slow, and let the coast do the talking.

Nice easy hike along the coast. In spring time the best views are at the beginning of trail. The…read morerest of the trail looks kind of the same.

GRASSHOPPER LOOP TRAIL REVIEW: The open space preserve is large, with many trails, but this review…read moreis just for the newly open Grasshopper Loop Trail (open June 2022). This is a great trail for older folks and little kids. It's pretty short (just 1.3 miles), flat, and mostly shaded. The start of trail is open but you soon reach a gate where you enter a redwood forrest. The path is very new and pristine. The redwoods are spectacular. Some of the trees were covered in a fuzzy type of moss (spanish moss or lichen moss?), so you'd think you were in the bayou or something. We were hoping to see more birds and butterflies, but didn't see any wildlife. Before we knew it, we reach another gate, where you exit the redwood part of the loop and back to the parking lot. If you wanted to extend the nice part of the trail, I suggest turning around when you reach the exit gate and backtrack through the redwoods again to the start of the trail. Overall, I enjoyed the redwood portion of the loop, but the loop was too short. Driving to the trail head involves driving through miles of winding roads with bicyclists popping up at every turn. It was not so fun to drive up here, so for a 30-minute hike, it wasn't quite worth it. There are many other trails to explore here, but there didn't seem to be much to see.

There are actually two, separate sections of La Honda Creek OSP, an upper section and a lower…read moresection. These are not connected, nor close, and they are entirely different, so it's too bad the Open Space system (and Yelp) has them lumped together as one. Most reviewers have just reviewed one section; I'll cover both. [UPPER SECTION] Access is off Skyline Blvd. As mentioned by others, this section is accessible through a free permit system, so some advance planning is required (See OSP website for details). It took only a day for me to obtain the combo for the gate lock, but others have reported longer. The good part of this permit system is that it keeps out the masses, so a hike here is likely to be full of solitude and quiet. I saw one other small group the entire time I was here. Ambiance: Ridgetop hills of mixed forest and meadows with views to the west. There's the typical selection of native trees here, but there are a couple of giant, old-growth redwoods you can visit as well. (Only one is shown on the map, but a few others are hidden off-trail). No bathrooms or amenities here. My main issue with this upper section is that it is quite small; it really isn't a place to do a big loop, only a small loop with a few there-and-back side trips. I visited every trail and only hiked 5.5 miles. I prefer to do more. (3*) [LOWER SECTION] Access is off La Honda Rd (Hwy 84) near the town of La Honda. No permits needed. At the entrance there's a newish, paved parking lot and a unisex pit bathroom. Ambiance: Rolling grassy hills with plenty of cattle - it felt very much like an East Bay hike to me. Trees are limited to a few, stream-side groves. Nice views of the ocean can be found here, though it will take 3 miles to reach that spot - and of course 3 miles back. You'll likely be sharing the view with cows (and dodging their patties). This lower section is much bigger than the upper section but still doesn't offer any full loops (only a "lollipop"). Nevertheless I enjoyed my 9-mile hike here. I may bring friends back, just to show them something new; but it's not a destination I need to visit often. My curiosity itch has been scratched, and grading on a curve against other OSPs, it's just OK. (3.5*) My Peninsula hike collection is here: (https://www.yelp.com/collection/qBI6U6Lz9LJQjnGjFW6ubg) Hiking Spot Checklist: -- Parking: Small, paved lot at both sections -- Bathrooms: None at upper section; Yes at parking lot of lower section -- Potable water: No -- Maps provided: Yes (except during covid) -- Highlights: Nice views to the west in both sections

Parking is at Devil's Slide which has about 6 spots. The starting trail (South Ridge Trail) is…read moremostly uphill for about a mile. It's not super steep but it's uphill the whole way. It comes to an area to look out at the beautiful Pacific. From there the trail descends sharply. This part I feel you'd really need hiking boots for it, as it was rocky and easy to slip. I even saw some people turn around at this point. It's not something for people looking for a casual stroll so from here you can turn around. If you brave this steep part, it brings you to a clearing that is breathtaking, looking out for miles. The water is so much bluer after the immediate coast and you can see downtown Pacifica's beaches, the elusive Shelter Cove, the bridge, and all the way to Marin. The hike is around 2.5 miles but if you want something longer you can take the Ace Trail which starts on the side of Ace Hardware which makes the hike a little under 4 miles. There terrain is totally different here as it's ensconced and trees and foliage. I like this trail other than the fact that it runs parallel to the freeway so you can always hear cars in the distance. This might be a better option for the weekend because there's more parking over here. On the way back, currently the Middle Ridge Trail is closed for habitat restoration. There is a sign telling you this but I later I connected to this trail from Arroyo Trail where there was no sign and took the second half of this trail. It was very overgrown and a little dangerous, so I'd recommend this hike as an out and back and not a loop. There isn't really any shade, thankfully Pacifica is always cool and foggy. This trail would be difficult on a hot day. This hike is beautiful but it's more strenuous than I thought it would be. If you want something easier and less steep hills, I'd recommend the Devil's Slide hike in the same parking lot because you get the same stellar ocean views with a very gradual grade.

This review is for a specific trail called Ace trail to Pedro Point…read more Cooler weather yielded great views; moderate hike with plentiful views galore. Some medium grade hills that could be slippery, gravelly but worth it.