One of the most enjoyable hikes and trails I've been on. It runs along the coast on the old highway. 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. read more

Devil's Slide Coastal Trail - Hiking Near Me - Pacifica, California

Epic Trail Coastal trail 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. read more

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Fantastic place for a hike with amazing views. The trail is easy on the legs but still a real visual treat. Parking is limited--there's a small lot right after the tunnel. It's great for everyone: little kids can run around, older people can enjoy a relaxed hike, and there are benches where you can sit and take in the beautiful scenery. read more

Devil's Slide Coastal Trail - Clear day , amazing weather - Hiking Near Me - Pacifica, California

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Devil's Slide Trail is a gorgeous coastal walk in Pacifica! It's about +- 2.0 miles round trip, paved, quite easy. A little back story about this trail : this stretch of road was once a dangerous, landslide-prone section of PCH, cars were rerouted through the Tom Lantos Tunnels, and now it's a scenic trail with benches, viewpoints overlooking the cliffs and ocean. There's not much shade so be aware of when you go visit! Cs it can get really hot. Parking is quite limited , but we were lucky enough to get a spot. Perfect for a quick hike, bike ride, or just a coastal stroll. read more

Nice easy stroll on a paved path. The views are spectacular and we even saw a humpback whale breaching out near one of the rocks that attract lots of birds. Make sure you bring warmer clothes because while it was 75 in the Peninsula, this walk dropped to 60° with a nice cool breeze. Definitely worth checking out this hike. Also, go check out the old WW2 observation bunker (can't miss it) near the beginning of the walk near the parking area. Really cool views. read more

Devil's Slide Coastal Trail - One of many awesome views along the devils slide trail. - Hiking Near Me - Pacifica, California

I drove over from Pacifica State Beach to explore this trail over the weekend, the south parking lot is on your right side, directly after you drive through the tunnel. Once you park, if facing the water, the Devil's Slide bunker is to your left, up a small hill, and the trail is to your right, as well as a restroom at the start of the concrete pathway. The trail has slight elevation and clear bike lanes and pedestrian lanes. What keeps it interesting is being immersed in the magnificent landscape and walking (or running) alongside the curves of the mountain. There are informational boards to learn about the surrounding nature and wildlife and history of the trail, and a few benches and viewpoints along the way. The place wasn't crowded on a Saturday afternoon, it was quite peaceful actually, a nice hike/jog, even on a foggy day. read more

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I love this historic trail with a good display of granite and sedimentary rock. Additionally, we were able to see a baby red-tailed hawk, ravens, snakes, whales, and multiple types of flora. As you travel down the coastal trail, the flora type changes with the amount of shade that is provided and I think that is so cool. Be warned that parking here is a bit of a nightmare with only 10-12 spots in one lot and around 15 in the other. The trail itself coming from south up to north was a bit more difficult than north up to south. It's not too strenuous but will get some heavy breathing. However, there are many rest stops and benched areas to catch your breath. It took about an hour to walk the trail and back Additionally, the bathrooms on either end are nicely maintained and even have a hand sanitizing station within. Overall, it's a great trail that I could recommend to most people to explore California. read more

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It's been forever since I last took this hike, and everytime I make time for it, it truly never disappoints. Especially when it's a clear day! Went here this past weekend to get some exercise, walk the dog, and show my SO one of the best hikes in the Peninsula. Something about walking alongside the old highway 1, enjoying the best views of the Pacific Ocean. The all concrete road makes for an easy hike, and there's plenty of benches and lookout points to soak it all in. Just a little over 3 miles round trip and a good way to spend 1-1.5 hours outdoors. Parking is really what can make or break the experience since it's so limited. Luckily this past time we got a spot right away, but it's not uncommon to have to wait, sometimes quite a bit of time. Overall, if you haven't done the hike, I suggest adding it to the list! read more

The hike is about 2.5 miles down and back. It's nice because it's not too long or too short and goes along the ocean the majority of the way. There is a slight grade uphill going south to north so it gives you some workout but nothing too strenuous. The only problem is that it's a paved surface because it used to be the old freeway before they closed it due to numerous landslides. I prefer a dirt path but the views of the ocean are worth it and being paved makes it very easy for bikers. There are a couple of lookout points and at the southern parking lot end is the Devil's Slide bunker which is worth checkout out. read more

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Nice loop for hike with ocean vibes and bird..always feel cool and mindfulness when hiking walking or biking around.. read more

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Took me a very long time making it out here. So glad we did. Park on the Half Moon Bay side, they have a larger car lot. Granted it's still not ideal for the amount of people that would like to walk here. You can chance waking up early and find a space, or ride your bike. The trail isn't long at 1.3 miles. What is so magical is the opportunity to walk along where I used to drive such a scary drive. Now saved by the most state of the art tunnel under the mountain you can drive after your hike. The trail allows anyone to take their time, look at the plants, wildlife and the ocean! It's truly amazing. There are two pit toilets on both sides, one drinking fountain with a bottle refill feature, and bike racks. This was well thought out. Along the trail there are a couple of areas you can sit down and relax. Tips: Bring layers, you never know what the weather will be like. Bring your camera. Dogs are allowed on a leash. Enjoy! read more

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At first, I thought this trail was all coastal with paved roads that have been closed down for vehicles, so easy pavement walking at an incline. But as you get into the trail, it almost requires some gloves, helmet, and a safety carabiner line for scaling the initial climb. Just kidding, you can really do it without all of thar gear but it is steep after the pavement strolling. Great views all around, plenty of greenery, plants, and tighter trails. read more

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Great and pretty short trail. There are a lot of flowers and wildlife. We spotted whales!

A fairly easy hike with inclines and declines. You are basically walking on pavement where cars use to drive on years ago. There's a small parking lot so best to get there early especially on weekends. There are restrooms by the entrance and it was the only one that we came across to so use it before you start on your hike. There's a great view of the ocean with some benches. If you bike, there's a bike tire station by the restrooms. It can get very windy up there so dress accordingly. read more

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It took a long time for us to get here for whatever reason or reasons. Considering it was a highway it seems pretty wild! Big native plants. Some dampness from the coastal overcast dripping at places. Steep cliffs of course. Great views. Amenities-pit WCs clean and not stinky at least on this morning. Parking-not enough...good thing we arrived early. read more

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Love this place. As you may already know this used to be Hwy 1 and they built a tunnel and made this road open for hikers/bikers. Road is 1.3 mile long one way and we have parking on both ends called North parking lot where parking spots are less and South parking lot where parking lots are better compared to North and have restrooms at both ends. There is a separate lane for Bikers and the hike itself is calm n peaceful with not many people. Recommend during the Day before Noon where u wont have issues with parking and if its hot day prepare with water and cap as there is no shade and there r some spots where it might get windy so just FYI. I parked at North and hiked to south and came back and there are some steep road but its manageable so just go have some fun with nature Be sure to check out the tunnel too and explore pacifica as it is amazing read more

Devil's Slide Coastal Trail - Hiking Near Me - Pacifica, California

One of my favorite hikes in the Bay Area! We started all the way at the Taco Bell Cantina, so the hike was about 6.7 miles, out and back. Not only are the views stunning, but you really get a little bit of everything here - woods that look like a jungle, a dirt path overlooking a horse ranch, incredible wild flowers, and of course the beautiful coast. Once you get inside the state park, you get a paved road and clean bathrooms. The hike itself isn't very challenging, as it's mostly flat with maybe one or two hills. It's dog friendly and there's a separate lane for bikers, as well. The best views are all the way at the end, by the Devil's Slide Gun Turret, but honestly the whole hike was impressively scenic. Highly recommend! read more

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Devil's Slide Coastal Trail is one of my absolute favorite trails within Pacifica. Although it's only a short 2.6 miles roundtrip, it's provides some of the most scenic views of the California coastline. It's crazy to think that this was once the old highway 1 where all of those rockslides occurred. Thank goodness for the bypass tunnels! Now everyone can enjoy this old beauty by foot. The path begins right before the entrance of the bypass tunnels and follows the old highway 1 road to the tunnels' end. It's completely paved and perfect for runners, bikers, and walkers alike. It's more of a brisk walking trail versus a hiking trail, but there are a few mild inclines that will get the heart pumping. Since it's completely paved, it's handicap accessible and also great for children and strollers. There are rest benches located throughout the trail that offer some super scenic vista points along the way. The views are what make this trail so amazing. I'm a sucker for coastal trails and this one definitely lives up. You'll have the cool breeze from the ocean waves and beautiful views of the coast throughout your short journey. This is a great place for a summer stroll because although it's completely exposed, there is always a nice breeze that will accompany you while you're on the trail. Parking is limited and often fills up throughout the day since it's a family friendly tourist attraction. There's a neat old abandoned war bunker that once served as an observation station during World World II at the end of the trail. The bunker itself isn't that attractive, but what you'll be able to see from this viewpoint is so beautiful. Gorgeous coastal views for days! There are also tons of connecting trails from Montara mountain, McNee Ranch, and the Pedro Point Headlands. It's definitely a place that you'll want to come back to again and again. read more

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Sat 5/22/21 hikes at Devil's Slide Trail from the Northern entrance. Got there little before 8am and the gate was open. Free parking both North & South entrance, not very many so need to go early. It's only 1.3 miles each way with a little bit of uphill 9% grade. Paved trail good for bikes & strollers. Saw a bunch of photographers taking pics of birds, one guy said for falcon nest, I didn't see it. Can be windy and cold so bring a light jacket. Vault toilets available on both sides. North has 2 unisex. South has 4 unisex. read more

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Lovely trail with a great view of the ocean! Abandon highway turned walking trail. It's dog friendly and saw many folks biking and taking baby on strollers. read more

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Beautiful views, a nice place to walk. Just be careful walking to the abandoned bunker, you get pretty close to the road. Wish they'd make it safer for people to walk there. Other than that, this place is great read more

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Pretty easy trail (about 1.3 miles one way) since it's paved and mainly flat. There's one portion where there's a 9% grade but it wasn't bad. There are a lot of benches along the way for people to rest or enjoy the view. We went around 1pm on a Saturday afternoon and got lucky with parking, we were able to get one right in front of the entrance. There's very little parking on both entrances. I thought this trail was really cool, I didn't know it was an old highway. The tunnel right next to it only opened in 2013 so it's fairly new! Great ocean views! read more

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I can't believe I've never walked this trail. I realized I've been in the vicinity many times over the years and just never realized this was here to enjoy. Parking is limited. The south lot has two sections. Although I didn't count, I'd say there's less than 30 spots overall, maybe less. We went on a weekday and still had to wait for someone to leave to get a spot. I can't imagine what a pain it must be on a weekend. There is also a north lot but that one looked smaller than the south lot. However, the walking trail is short enough that it probably doesn't take people more than an hour or so round trip so I bet there is a quick turnaround. It's all paved so very easy to navigate. If you start in the south lot, you'll go uphill towards the end of the first 1.3 miles. I preferred that because then the return to the parking lot was downhill. The views were lovely as you can see in the photos. It was super windy as can be expected so close to the water. Dress in layers because you'll break a little sweat on the uphill parts. There are restrooms and hand washing stations at the parking lot. The restrooms were just metal holes and smelled pretty bad so I wouldn't use them unless it was an absolute emergency. read more

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A wonderful way to get exercise and explore the beautiful coastline of Northern California. The California coastal Trail winds up and down the oceanside shore and takes you through some of the most stunning vistas in the country, perhaps the world. At times, you'll feel like you're on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, staring out at the turquoise blue waters of the Mediterranean. And now, especially during Covid, this is a fantastic way to get outside in a safe, socially distanced way. read more

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One of my favorite trails to take a nice decently long scenic walk. The trail is very breathtaking and at its finest more around sunset time. However, any time of the day is perfect in general for taking a walk here. Parking is limited. There are 2 bathroom stalls before you enter the trail. The trail is pretty wide so there's enough space to bike, and walk while social distancing. There are many rest areas to sit at a bench and look at the view. I admire how clean Devil's slide is as well. My bf and I love walking here around close to sunset hour because there a less people walking around and parking is a bit more available than during the day. read more

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Walkable trail with a slight slope. Beautiful coast and ocean views. Lots of small purple flowers and coastal birds. We went on a Friday and spent about an hour and a half walking the trail and admiring the scenery. Parking is limited. The south parking lot is slightly larger than the north one. We arrived around 8:30 am and there was still amble parking. But when we left around 10 am, the south side lot was full and cars were already queuing for a spot. Note that the south parking lot is separated into two lots: one "inside" closer to the trail and one closer to Highway 1. Definitely worth a trip, especially if you live in the Bay Area! read more

We heard about Devil's Slide many times and finally got to visit Devil's Slide. it was nice and the environment was pretty. We were expecting a dirt trail, but we realized that it was the old section of Hwy 1 and we just walked on the old road. That was a little disappointing but we should have known better. The old highway 1 was very flat with a small incline. Most people should be OK walking end-to-end. Parking was limited. Since the trail was very short, the turn-around time for parking is short. read more

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Cool foggy spot that was once part of PCH. As a recreational bike trail, though, maybe not. That's because the 1.3 mile bike path (and separate pedestrian path) is essentially just a steep hill, meaning it's a struggle to get up, especially if you are tempted to stop to look at the historical or scientific information plaques (i.e. "Look! It's Water", "What Different Birds Might Poop on Me?", "Thanks, Ohlone Tribe, We'll Take it From Here", etc), and it's a struggle to go down because gravity. It also doesn't help that nobody is enforcing the "bikes only" rule, as per the ranger with whom I spoke whose official position is "eh what can you do?" My favorite part of the trail was choosing to not return back up the hill but to instead go through the long, whistling wind tunnel via a fat bike path back to the beginning. Both sides of the trail (on opposite sides of the tunnel) have extremely limited parking. The beach side had maybe 20-26 spots at the trail beginning and 16 in a small lot of PCH. When we arrived there was a line of five cars waiting for a spot until a ranger dispersed us, claiming we couldn't stop there, which was stupid since any alternative (moving in circles, looking elsewhere, leaving and coming back, etc) would be far less safe or efficient. Maybe the next informational plaque should be "More Productive Things Rangers Could Be Doing". By the way, we parked a mile or so down PCH at Grey Whale Cove parking lot (more spots and faster turnaround) and rode our bikes up. Bonus: the odd-shaped, graffiti-covered Devil's Slide Bunker (aka Little Devil's Slide Military Reservation "fire control station") is atop a small hill, worth a look or photo op. I don't think I'd ride that short, hard-to-manage trail again, but considering it's clean and unique, with restrooms, ranger support, and great views, I still consider it a five-star must-see because it's free. read more

Ok ok ok... this spot is a highly sought after for its crazy ridiculous incline heavy hike with out the firest climb.. the roads are paved and the views of our immaculate bay area coast line are eye candy. Gotta get here at the right time cause parking is hit or miss as the lot only allows a select few amount of vehicles. So if you are gonna come with a huge party ... travel in 1 car. Bring plenty of water.. sunscreen and enjoy the hike and peace of mind. read more

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Great hike, full of "knock-out" views, plunging down the steep cliffs to the ocean! Amazing rock formations showing the folding of rocks which were once horizontal but due to pressure, plates moving, earthquakes and erosion.... they tell a story of change and upheaval! Views out to sea, miles of ocean. Parking is tough- enjoy this place on a weekday if possible! 2 parking lots (one is overflow" on the south entrance and one lot on the northern entrance. Each entrance has a bathroom and a gate. Interpretive signs at the entrance and along the paved trail. Stay out of the bike lanes if you are walking and stay on the trail - don't venture up the sandstone hills- they do slide and rocks break lose. Bring binoculars if you want to see the whales migrating in spring or fall time.... beautiful place to watch the ocean. Relax and enjoy, you'll leave the city and the cars behind! Several Benches along the trail. read more

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Beautiful trail! For some reason I thought it would take me through some hills or mountains but it's all well paved and flat for the most part. Great for bikers as well. It was clear and sunny when I came but super windy so bring a jacket with you! read more

Devil's Slide Coastal Trail - Hiking Near Me - Pacifica, California

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What a great find! This is a relatively easy hike on a paved trail along what used to be Highway 1 that was closed due to the treacherous road conditions along the ocean. Parking is limited but my nice husband dropped my son and I off at one end while he parked at the other end and met us halfway. One way is only about 1.3 miles and you are rewarded with gorgeous ocean views! There are occasional benches along the way and it is great for families and leashed dogs. While there, take a look at the rock wall to see cool demonstrations of coastal geology! There are clear separations of sedimentary layers and granite - one can understand why landslides happen in this area. read more

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A beautiful coastside hiking trail that offers plenty of space for hiking, walking, and biking! I'm from this area but had never visited this trail and was lucky to find a half empty parking lot upon arrival on a foggy afternoon. It is definitely a rough uphill walk and not for those who struggle going up a steep hill but still doable. Even on a foggy day, great views and the flowers along the trail are a delight! read more

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Nice easy hike along the coast on the old Highway 1, before they realize how dangerous it was from rock slides (hence the name, Devil's Slide). The "trail" itself is very well paved and about 1.3 miles one-way. There are benches along the way and a couple of informative signs. Toilets are both ends. You can combine this hike with Pedro Points Headland to add an addition 3-4 miles. Like typical Pacifica weather, your views are super dependent on whether you are fortunate to have clear skies as cloud coverage is the norm. Recommend having a couple of extra layers as temperatures are a bit cooler. Parking lot can be an issue during peak times. The south lot is a bit bigger, but come early or after 3-4pm if you want to avoid waiting for a spot. read more

There were maybe 1-3 spots open when we came on a Thursday around 1:45 PM. There isn't much to do besides this trail, so if it's full you might get lucky soon if you just wait for people to come back. There was a restroom at the south parking lot. We didn't use it or check if it was open. We did not go all the way to the north parking lot so unsure what their restroom situation was. No restrooms in between. Another reviewer recommended parking in the south parking lot to get the uphill part out of the way first. +10000 to this idea, especially if you or someone in your party don't hike much. I came with my parents, and doing the uphill first so we can go mostly down later made it a lot easier on them. It's not a big incline, but sun was out and there's not much shade along the way. A sign said 9% incline, I think geared towards bicyclists, if that tells you anything. There were maybe 3-4 areas that had benches if you want to rest. It's 1.3 miles one way, and you go back the way you came. So 2.6 miles max or less depending on where you decide to turn back. This used to be the highway before it was closed off to traffic so the new highway could be used. Therefore it's paved concrete the whole way which is nice. A gentlemen who seems very familiar with the area told us whales had been spotted recently, so that's pretty cool. We came during Covid times and brought our masks. I'd say people generally wore them. It wasn't too crowded though so 6 feet distance wasn't a challenge at all. Highly recommend as a good way to get some exercise in! ***** My Star Ratings: 1 Star - Terrible. Just thinking about it makes me angry. 2 Stars - Meh. Unlikely for me to return. 3 Stars - OK. Open to coming back, but wouldn't go out of my way to. 4 Stars - Yummy! Will definitely return if I haven't already. 5 Stars - AMAZING!!! Would plan my day or even a trip around eating here. read more

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Growing up out here in Bay Area, I had traveled occasionally on this stretch of Highway 1 or aka the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Though not through experience but rather through reputation, I had always heard of the troublesome past this stretch of road was known for. It was basically a paved highway (maybe a couple of lanes wide), that straddled the cliffside between Montara and Pacifica. Something similar you would run into say on the Mendocino Coast or even just outside of Bodega Bay. But this stretch was on fragile land which due to weather and basic erosion was literally crumbling little by little. So rock/land slides often impeded traffic here, thus given the name "Devil's Slide". To bypass this troublesome stretch, modern technology along with modern engineering took the route of going through the mountain versus going around it. 2 long tunnels were bored through the hill and now seems a much safer route, though I'm sure it took a long time and a lot of work. It was probably in the making most of my adult life. So as highway traffic is now zooming through those tunnels, the old road that still straddles the coastline is still there. Only now it is closed to auto traffic and is strictly for pedestrians and leashed doggies. Half of the road is designated for bikes and is pretty clearly marked. It is a smooth paved road though some pockets of the crumbling hillside may spill onto the road. 2 parking lots one at each end. They aren't that big, so busy times will limit you. The south end parking lot seems the ideal spot as there is a traffic light where the highway intersects. Very useful if you wanna go left as merging onto a busy highway isn't the easiest sometimes. By hiking south to north also leads you to go on an incline first, and a down hill for the way back. I tend to like that flow much better. The incline isn't crazy or anything but it is very gradual and steady for about a good mile. The trail is only 1.3 miles one way so a round trip should be a little over an hour, even given time for view gazing and pics. Glad to finally stopped to check it out, cuz walking that stretch was much more fun than driving it. And by intimately looking at that hillside, I was thankful that nobody has to travel around that anymore. Awesome break from the road with awesome views of the Pacific from a high vantage point. And glad to have viewed it with a historical perspective, bonus! read more

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When I looked this place up on Google, the directions to get here sounded like a Mission Impossible movie. There is a easy trail that goes up the bunker. The parking lot closest to the bunker is small 8 stalls with 1 being handicapped. It looked like there would be more across the way. It was abandoned in 1949, leaving an empty bunker on top of Devil's Slide. The earth at the top of the peak was removed for a construction project some time before 1970. read more

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PARKING Both parking lots have a main lodge right at the trailhead and a smaller lot right when you turn off the highway. The lots are about a hundred yards away from each other. North lot: ~8 spots in the main lot and one handicap spot, ~4 spots in the smaller lot South lot: ~14 spots in the main lot and one handicap spot, ~6 spots in the smaller lot Around 2:00 p.m. on a Sunday the North lot looked full. We kept driving to the South lot, which was also full; there was also someone waiting for a car to pull out. We waited by the trailhead for the next person to finish their hike and we asked if we could have their spot. This only took about 5 minutes. Every 5 to 10 minutes another car would come into the lot looking for a spot. AMENITIES: Restrooms at either trailhead, pretty clean. Around 5:30 p.m. we saw a ranger cleaning the bathrooms. There are a couple of spots along the trail with benches. Water fountains at either trailhead as well. LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY Not sure what the other reviews are talking about, this is really a very easy hike with a very slight and gradual uphill (going north), though I agree that if you would rather end on a downhill, start from the south lot. There is a paved path from the highway turnoff by the north lot that goes uphill into the Pedro Point Headlands, and we got a nice addition on our hike doing a loop there! TIME SPENT HIKING With two babies and a dog (ie a slow pace and plenty of stops), we were on the trail for 4.5 hours and hiked 5.2 mi. This included our ~3 mile addition in Pedro Point Headlands. SHADE/COVERAGE The entire devil's Slide trail is very exposed! No shade. Parts of Pedro Point Headlands have shade, particularly the Middle Ridge and Arroyo Trails that loop along the middle and north. The South Ridge and Bluff Trails are both pretty exposed. read more

Nice and easy 3 mile round trip hike. I came here with my mom on a Sunday around 11pm. The entire path is paved since it used to be part of highway 1. The views are amazing and the bunker on the south end of the hike is pretty cool too! I also enjoyed this hike because I was able to bring my dog :) read more

Devil's Slide Coastal Trail - Hiking Near Me - Pacifica, California

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What a great use of this old stretch of the PCH! An easy, paved trail a little over a mile with panoramic views of the Pacific. We arrived around 4pm on a Sunday and had no issues with parking. It seemed like the North entrance was less crowded (parking lots open at 8am). There are also bathrooms on both ends of the trail. There isn't much shade on the trail, so prepare yourself with water, sunscreen and a hat. Great hike! read more