One of our favorite reserve California sites! The final 20 miles drive there is a little…read moretreacherous but once you get there all is great. We had enough sun and sky for our solar and Starlink and site 21 was huge for our van camper. The pad was semi level so we only needed a few leveling blocks. There were many nice hiking trails and the bathrooms were clean. There were also dishwashing stations (but no hot water). It was a little strange to see all the teslas lol.

This is my favorite spot to go camping! It definitely gets harder to reserve here each year since…read moreevery available campsite gets booked so fast, but when we're lucky to secure a spot, I always have a great time. My friends and I reserved two campsites next to each other, site 46 and 48, and it was so fun. I love the shade and tranquility that the tall redwood trees provide and how scenic the trails are. Also really enjoyed walking through the Old Tree Trail and loved reading the informative placards along the way. Although I didn't attend them, there are always fun, all-ages-welcomed activities hosted by the park like a Twilight Stroll or Marshmallow Roasting which I appreciated. Definitely a very kid-friendly spot. Beware: super windy roads leading to the park, a lot of mosquitos at the height of summer (wear long sleeves!) and there is no reception which I think is a plus. Really forces you to fully unplug and take a break from screens. I usually bring my dog here since it's a dog-friendly campground though dogs are restricted from most hiking/walking trails here and didn't bring him this time; took advantage of this by finally hiking some of the trails I previously didn't get a chance to explore. Bathrooms are pretty clean and toilet paper is usually stocked. This time, the bathrooms by site 53 ran out of toilet paper around late Saturday night but was restocked the next morning. I also appreciated the camp hosts going to each campsite to check if we needed more wood, which costs $15/bundle. Overall, I'm giving 4/5 stars because site 48 was quite slopey so it definitely made sleeping at night an experience (gradually sliding down each hour). I've camped here about 5 times now at all different sites and a lot of them weren't very flat.

Discovered Pescadero Marsh Preserve today and wow! There are four trails in the marsh: Butano…read moreTrail, Round Hill Trail, North Pond Trail, and Sequoia Audubon Trail. Such a beautiful, peaceful walk!

Don't Marsh my Mellow…read more Update July 2025: the main Sequoia Audibon Trail is currently closed for construction until (allegedly) Oct 2025. There's a website to track the construction if you're interested: https://www.sanmateorcd.org/project/pescadero-marsh-habitat-restoration-and-resiliency-project/ In the meantime all the other trails are open and hikeable but be aware none of them actually connect and are all out-and-backs: 1) Butano Trail: access by parking in dirt lot on Pescadero Road. Put in 1958 Pescadero Creek Rd into your GPS. 2) Round Hill Trail: access at the end of Water Ln, by the park offices. 3) North Pond Trail: Access by parking at the north end of Pescadero Beach, and then you'll have to high-tail it across the PCH to get there. Normally, this Trail connects to the aforementioned Audibon Trail, but not with the current construction. Put in 18253 Cabrillo Hwy into your GPS for the parking lot.

I went there for part of the day and saw a dense redwood forest and fairly shady and a stream There…read moreare a couple of trails as you walk on the main road and I had no problem parking

Planned out a day trip including a stop at Pescadero first followed by a hike at Butano State Park…read more The park itself is quite small and cozy and it's easy to see why it's often referred to as one of the least known California State Parks, because you really do have to make an effort to come here. That being said, the road to the park is quite well paved and there should be no trouble accessing it. We unfortunately visited the park during one of the controlled burns. I would not recommend visiting at those times because the smell of smoke lingers for quite some time even though we visited over a week after the burn ended. There was even one area of the park that was still smoking. It's also sad to see the extensive damage from the CZU fire that ripped through this area back in 2020. But overall there are still tons of beautiful redwoods and the trails are well maintained. Also not many people visit this park so you'll have plenty of peace and quiet on the trails!

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.

Creek Squad…read more +2,900-acre preserve managed by Mid-Pen that features over 34 miles of trails across a variety of terrains. The Good: * Free to visit. * Restroom in the main parking lot * Horses OK * Mountain biking OK on designated trails (check signage and maps) * Main parking lot as well as several roadside parking lots available off Skyline Blvd (aka Hwy 35). * Trails are in pretty good shape for the most part, and they're mostly shaded from what we can tell. There are several loops of varying difficulties, so check AllTrails for suggestions. * Several points of interest to check out, including the Tafoni skulls and the Methuselah Tree. * Some of the largest banana slugs we've ever seen! The Meh: * Roadside parking fills up quickly on weekends. Lots of cars waiting when we left around 11:30-ish. * No dogs * No camping The Ugly: * Beware of the mountain bikers who come ripping through the trails like they own them. You'll usually hear them before you see them, so keep the music down. * Driving here is no picnic on very windy roads, so please take your time and slow down, especially on weekends where you'll see hordes of bicyclists on the Hwy. Conclusion: Fantastic park with some great trails, beautiful forests, and huge banana slugs!

This place is stunning ! There are so many trails to choose from, and a number of parking spots so…read moreeven during late morning my husband and I were able to find parking in one of the lots. We decided to just go see the giant sandstone, which did not disappoint ! I really appreciated how well the trails were marked so that you knew clearly where you were going. On the way to the sandstone, it was also coo lto see some ocean views as well as random open fields in the dense woods here and there. Definitely a worthy hike to try ! This place is stunning ! There are so many trails to choose from, and a number of parking spots so even during late morning my husband and I were able to find parking in one of the lots. We decided to just go see the giant sandstone, which did not disappoint ! I really appreciated how well the trails were marked so that you knew clearly where you were going. On the way to the sandstone, it was also coo lto see some ocean views as well as random open fields in the dense woods here and there. Definitely a worthy hike to try !

Beautiful and quiet park that is currently run by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Phleger…read moreEstate can be accessed via Huddart County park or by a roadside lot off Skyline Blvd. The benefit of parking at Huddart (albeit with a $6 parking fee) are clean restrooms and the fact you are doing most of the uphill at the start of your hike. Hiking in from Huddart, the crowds thinned and I only saw 3 other hiking groups the whole time-unusual for a beautiful Saturday in August. The park is well signed and I took the Miramontes trail which meanders along what is now a dry creek, gently uphill to a fork (again well signed) that points you to the Raymundo or Mt Redundo trails. I veered right to the Raymundo trail which is a steady but not too steep climb through mixed redwood forest and what is now a dry creek. Would love to do this trail again in rainier years to see the creek flowing and find newts and banana slugs. Still, despite a dry year, the trails were pretty green and lush. The Raymundo trail ends and another fork to the right can take you up to Skyline via the Lonely Trail or stay straight on the Mt Redundo trail which takes you back to the start of the loop and the Miramontes trail (which is out and back to Huddart County park). I headed back on Mt Redundo and it was a bit steep downhill with some roots and rocks making for uneven footing. It also has some steep ravines so mind your step. This part of the trail was eerily quiet and not as bright, so I was happy to get back to the Miramontes trail that led me back to the more well traveled Huddart County park. Really lovely park with some of the nicest redwood trails on the peninsula. Review #49 of 100 review goal in 2021

Fantastic hike next to the more well-known Purisma Creek. We took Lonely Trail, then Raymundo…read moreTrail, then Mt. Redondo trail and back up the Lonely Trail. It was about 6 miles. There's parking on Skyline Boulevard past Kings Mountain Fire Brigade -- just a handful of spots by the side of the road. It's downhill until you get to the juncture of Raymundo and Mt. Redondo, then straight back up again. My thighs were burning up and I had to stop and rest a bunch of times. Overall, the hike too about 3 hours and 15 minutes. My favorite part was the Raymundo Trail because you hike right next to a stream. There was plenty of water in the stream, probably because it has rained recently. Actually, most of the hike was next to a stream of some sort. You could hear water the whole time which was cool. Another great thing about this hike is that it's shady the whole way. Lots of pretty redwoods to look at. There were lots of very muddy parts on this trail. Also, the Miramontes trail, which connects Mt Redondo trail to Huddart County Park, was closed, due to the rain. We ran into three other couples on the trail during our hike. Very quiet trail! Really quite a hidden gem.

The hike along the Peter's Creek Trail and along Ridge Rd was a fun one. The duration was…read moreapproximately 2 hours given I stopped for photos along the way, and it was around a 4 1/3 mile hike in total. The creek is dried up for the most part, but at the base there are pools of water this time of the year. As you get further along the trail, there are far fewer people as it branches into different trails earlier on. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a moderately uphill/downhill hike.

Had a good experience hiking here!…read more Came on a Saturday around 9:45am to hike the Long Ridge loop. I was initially worried about the parking situation but thankfully it was not crowded at all! Easily found street parking by the Peters Creek trailhead. There happened to be an ultramarathon that day, so we ran into some runners and cyclists along the way, but for the most part we had the trail to ourselves. Not much of a view but the trails are well maintained. Mostly shaded and spotted some pretty wildflowers. We went clockwise which had a gradual incline and steep descent - I would recommend going the opposite direction to save your knees or go slow/bring hiking poles. Long Ridge Loop took us a little less than 2 hours to complete and I would say it is easy-moderate hike as my dad was able to do it comfortably. Definitely recommend downloading the AllTrails map prior as there are not many signs and we would probably would have gotten lost without it. Overall, I enjoyed Long Ridge and would recommend for beginners or anyone looking for an easy, quiet hike.

Deep New Sea…read more ±4.2k-acre state park and beach, that's located almost equidistant from Half Moon Bay (±32min drive) to the north and Santa Cruz (±26min drive) to the south. It is probably the preeminent place*** to see a pinniped rookery (i.e., elephant seals) in the state, as they accumulate here by the thousands** every winter to breed. The Good: *Tours available to get you as close as possible to the Elephant Seals and are REQUIRED btwn mid-Dec to the end of March. *April to early December you can visit the park without a reservation but the number of elephant seals will be drastically reduced and certain areas will be off‐limits without a docent. *We've done the tour here around three times and the docents are always fantastic and full of great info. *Nice visitor and marine education center you check into at the beginning of the tour with restrooms, displays, and some CA park swag to purchase. *Even if you're not here for the elephant seals, the ocean views are worth the drive alone in the off-season. *Picnic tables by the VC *Trails are a nice gentle four-mile round-trip The Meh: *No dogs allowed *No bikes *$10 entrance fee *Tickets are $10.99/adults ($7 + $3.99 processing fee) and nonrefundable *The area around Año Nuevo is very desolate, and there's not much around in terms of food, so bring a snack or picnic lunch with you so you're not starving by the end of the three hour tour. A three hour tour... The Ugly: *You'll definitely need to plan well in advance if you want to have a weekend tour during the breeding season. Don't think you can just book one the week of--you pretty much need to book in October when they release the tickets for sale, even as far away as March! Weekday availability is pretty good throughout the year, though, for obvious reasons. Conclusion: Fantastic place to get your learn on, enjoy some nature, and get in a few steps while you're at it. **Some years there could be up-to 10k elephant seals! ***Also, check out the Elephant Seal Vista Point in San Simeon (near Hearst Castle)

Great spot to stop and watch the sunset. You can either walk a trail up a small hill to get a…read morebeautiful view of the ocean, or walk down a short path to an area with picnic tables and viewing binoculars. Very clean and we felt safe.