This is a very nice location to stop and stretch your legs, not to mention an awesome place for…read morephoto opportunities!! There is some construction going on near the light house but you can still walk around it and enjoy all the wonderful views. There are walking paths that you can go on and walk down to the beach area when the tide is low as well there are also paths that you can take along the cliff area. Don't worry about parking as there is plenty and there is no parking fee to park your car. Overall this is a must stop to just walk around, take some pictures and take in Gods coastal creation, soooooo beautiful and peaceful.

driving from Union Square in San Francisco through Highway 1 to Big Sur, this was our first stop…read more The light house itself was under restoration. The lodging area and whalers cove is worth a stop along Highway 1 Perched dramatically on a cliffside on Highway 1 , the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is home to one of the tallest lighthouses in America. Tied as the tallest on the West Coast at 115 feet, it has been guiding mariners along the rugged Pacific coast since 1872. The site gets its unique name from the Carrier Pigeon, a Gold Rush-era clipper ship that famously ran aground on the foggy, jagged rocks just 500 feet from shore on its maiden voyage in 1853. While the historic white masonry tower itself is currently closed to the public for a major structural restoration project, the park grounds remain completely open and offer plenty to explore. Be sure to check out Whalers Cove which is a scenic, secluded beach nestled directly below the south side of the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. Piece of history: In the mid-1800s, it served as a bustling hub for shore whaling operations, where Portuguese whalers would spot migrating whales from the bluffs, row out in small boats to hunt them, and bring them back to the cove to process the blubber. Today, the cove is a protected, peaceful sanctuary where nature has reclaimed the shoreline. Lodgings at the Cove: HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel If you are looking to stay overnight right on the edge of the cove, the primary lodging option is the HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel. The accommodation is unique because it sits directly on the state park grounds, offering an incredible, budget-friendly coastal experience that feels like your own private estate. The Accommodations: The hostel is comprised of four historic, white-picket-fenced houses that originally served as the homes for the lighthouse keepers and their families. Guests can book affordable, straightforward shared dorm beds, or opt for private rooms within the houses. below. Note: Because of its unparalleled location right on the Highway 1 coastline and its highly affordable rates, rooms and beds at the hostel tend to book out many months in advance, especially for weekend stays.

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!

Ok, so technically this is the Cascade Ranch Unit of the Ano Nuevo State Reserve, but this inland…read moresection is worlds away from the main coastal unit a few miles south (famous for its seal colony). It's actually like a lesser-known version of Butano State Park a few miles north. Actually I think lesser-known would be an understatement. I know it's a cliche to say you don't want to review a place and give it away, but I actually felt that way about Cascade Ranch. However, I don't think obscure, hour-away hiking trails have much to worry about from Yelp fame, at least for now. The only road in is the unpaved, unmarked Whitehouse Canyon Road, just a couple hundred yards south of Rossi Road on the 1. You follow it in about 2 miles over the coastal savannah, finally entering a narrow, dark, and verdant canyon where you come to a pullout. From here, there's a single trail that climbs up a steep hillside through a very primeval redwood forest, finally reaching a ridgetop vista point after a mile or so, with a fantastic view of the coast stretching from Ano Nuevo to Pigeon Point Lighthouse. From here you can also hike into Big Basin and connect with the Skyline-to-the-Sea trail. Anyway, words don't do it justice, so I'll just refer you to the bahiker.com description and the photos. It's quite a short hike, though, and a long way from SF, so you might want to combine it with a visit to Ano Nuevo proper or Santa Cruz or something.

Legendary Bay Area ex-Yelper, Wes M. was certainly right about the Cascade Ranch Unit, and about…read moreWhitehouse Ridge Trail, in particular: it's a secluded hiking spot with truly enjoyable vistas once you reach the top. Starting from the canyon trailhead - located a few miles down an unsigned and bumpy dirt road off of Highway One - it's a short ascent of 1.5 miles to the top. The trail doesn't have a lot of signs, and you need to pay attention at the start to follow it right across a small creek before beginning the series of switchbacks that will eventually take you to the intersection of Chalks Road. Make a left at the road and follow the well-graded fire trail to the summit of Chalk Mountain where 360 degree views await. It's a pretty spectacular, if understated, place. Once the trail leaves the shade of the redwoods, the ridges are exposed fully to the elements, so it will get hot and windy, but that's part of the experience. On a clear day, you can see the Pigeon Point lighthouse, Butano Ridge, Big Basin, Ano Neuvo island, and even the peak of Montara Mountain far to the North. At around 1600 feet mere miles from the elephant seals and remote beaches near Gazos Creek, it's one of the best ocean panoramas I've encountered along the San Mateo county coast - probably the best between Montara and Big Sur, I'd say (although Irish Ridge in Purisima Redwoods Creek OSP would also get a vote, though it's not a full 360). And Chalk Mountain summit seems hardly ever to be visited. Or yelped about, for that matter. It's not a terribly long hike, if you don't get lost, leaving time to explore the beaches nearby and from there to speed home on the coastal highway. On our return, we had tacos (al pastor, fish, carnitas) and cerveza at the Mercado gas station/taqueria in Pescadero, which is always a treat even without all the fancy Harley Davidsons and Ducatis parked nearby. Not a bad way to spend the weekend, if you're up for a little adventure.

Such a cool neighborhood park with 3 different sets of slides and some shade. One set of slides is…read morea long run, old school metal with several dips and generally there is cardboard at the bottom you can use to help you get more lift. There is a kiddie playground, too. And there is a basketball half court. Benches and picnic tables for snacks. Nice views of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk in the distance.

A beautiful spot to sit in the shade and read, shoot hoops,or just gaze at the Boardwalk and ocean…read more Street parking only (including two handicapped spots), so try to come on a weekday. Several benches, but we take our folding chairs. Bring the dog -- they can be unleashed in part of the park. A functional restroom with two unisex stalls near the entrance -- an outside sink and soap dispenser complete the facility. I'm experiencing a profound sense of peace, despite the occasional screams from people on the rides at the Boardwalk.

Great spot for camping overnight! There's a two night minimum on holiday weekend. Otherwise one…read morenight is fine for regular weekends. The highway to get there (from sf and Redwood City) is really curvy and nauseous! Better if coming from pescadero Site A is louder but close to Wi-Fi. Site C and D is pretty peacefully quiet. C22 and C33 were spacious Super clean for a camp. Restrooms and showers are pretty good condition and not smelly, pay $0.50 for a shower. Restroom buildings are super brightly lit for safety and navigation in the dark. However light sleepers may find it too bright and should bring sleeping masks if you're near one of these buildings. Firewood $9 a bundle at front ranger kiosk. The lighter and less dense the better it burns Bring bug spray. Bees, mosquitos at night, flies. Other fun finds: banana slug and Rollie polly. Squirrels will steal your food if you leave unattended Amphitheater shows kids movies at night in summer! Kung fu panda the night I went

For our annual family camping trip, we switched up our usual favorites (Russian Gulch,…read moreMacKerricher) to try Memorial County Park, a spot a close friend has raved about for 30 years. We are so happy with our decision!The Pros:Amazing Staff: Tyler greeted us warmly and gave great information.Clean & Maintained: Campsites were pristine, bathrooms were clean, and the hot water in the showers was a huge plus (just bring your own towel).Kid-Friendly Nature: Surrounded by stunning redwoods, the kids loved spotting banana slugs, filling out nature activity guides, and wading in the clean creek.Great Atmosphere: It was wonderful seeing so many kids on bikes and scooters. There is no WiFi/cell service, which was a fantastic excuse to unplug (though you can get a signal at the learning center if needed). Since there were no weekday camp programs, we made our own fun playing charades at the amphitheater.The Cons:No Fire Ring: Our site in the Azalea loop didn't have one, which disappointed the grandkids. Luckily, the neighboring site was empty so we "borrowed" theirs.Departure Encounter: We had a brief interaction with a rude employee on our way out, which was a bummer after such a great trip.Overall, it was an excellent experience and we will definitely return!

Best place to see northern elephant seals in the wild. Fantastic, super knowledgeable naturalists…read more 10/10. We make a $20 donation after the tour. Wish we could donate more.

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.

From tennis/pickle ball courts to playgrounds to lots of sidewalks and grass, Sunrise Park has a…read morelot to offer for everyone! I appreciate how walkable it is and how safe it feels. Also added bonus that people seem to clean up after their dogs, which isn't always the case at other parks. There are always families and people of all ages enjoying it. The parking is abundant so you never have to worry about looking. This park has something for everyone :) If they added more tennis courts, it would be a 5! They only have two, and they are often taken.

This is a great park for all ages. My two year enjoys going from the younger side to the older age…read moreside. If you go in the morning, the slides might be wet so bring a towel just in case. There's a basketball court and a tennis/pickle ball court too. There's picnic tables under an overhead for sitting or lunch.

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.