In the summer and fall, brown pelicans skim the wave tops. In the spring, California gray whales migrate north offshore. Walk through the tangled garden of an old estate and through a century-old forest of wind-sculpted Monterey cypress trees. If you look up quickly, you may catch a harbor seal watching you.įrom the sheltered sandy cove at the south end of the Reserve, take the trail to the bluff tops to return to the parking lot. One of the more common algae is the brown, thirty-foot-long feather boa kelp. In quiet pools, look for hermit crabs, purple shore crab and starfish. At low tide the exposed tidepools and concentric rings of offshore rocks beckon you to explore. Harbor Seals bask on the beach at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve - Photo by Vito Palmisanoįitzgerald Marine Reserve is THE place to marvel at the diversity of Coastside geology and aquatic life. ( view on Google Maps) Check tide tables for low tide times. Take California Avenue off Highway One in Moss Beach. TidepoolsĠ.5 MILE LOOP, MODERATE. GOOD FOR: HIKING.įitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach. Plant lovers should keep an eye out for the rare Hickman's Potentilla, which only grows in one other place in the world, and Montara Manzanita, a species that's unique to the mountain. While the trail is wider and better maintained than it was in Portolà's day, it's quite steep in some sections, so inexperienced hikers may disagree with it's "moderate" difficulty rating, but most find the views to be worth the climb. You'll find very little shade along the trail, so be sure to bring plenty of water and sunblock (coastal fog does little to protect from the sun). In fact, Spanish Explorer Gaspar de Portolà's expedition first sighted the San Francisco Bay when they crossed this same mountain in 1769. On a clear day, you can see the peaks of Mount Tamalpais and Mount Diablo, as well as the Golden Gate Bridge. If you're up to challenge of the 1800 foot climb up Montara Mountain, you'll be rewarded with 360 degree views of the Bay Area. Montara Mountain Trail - Photo by Jennifer Jean North Peak Access Trail in McNee Ranch State Park. Park at the North Peak Access Road on the inland side of Highway One, a half mile north of La Costanera Restaurant in Montara. ( view on Google Maps) If this small lot is full, you can also park at Gray Whale Cove (featured above) and follow the Gray Whale Cove Trail for a mile until it meets the North Peak Access Trail. MountainTop ViewsĤ MILES, 1 WAY, MODERATE. GOOD FOR: HIKING, BIKING, HORSES, ON-LEASH DOGS. Gray Whale Cove Trail is one of the best places on the Coastside to see masses of spring wildflowers such as blue Douglas irises, bright pink wild hollyhocks and glistening yellow buttercups. Watch out for poison oak, which has three shiny reddish-green leaves.
Look for the gray-green thread-like leaves of coast sagebrush and the bright green, coarsely toothed leaves of coyote bush. To the north, looms gray-green San Pedro Mountain and inland hulks pristine Montara Mountain.Ĭalifornia coastal scrub vegetation lines the trail. Below you, the Pacific Ocean crashes against granite outcrops. Park at Gray Whale Cove State Beach on the inland side of Highway One, 1.4 miles north of La Costanera Restaurant in Montara. ( view on Google Maps) Gray Whale Cove Trail - Photo by Jennifer JeanĪ hike on Gray Whale Cove Trail will take your breath away. The trail is flat once you climb the gentle slope from the parking lot. Gray Whale Cove Trail in McNee Ranch State Park. Ocean and Mountainġ MILE, 1 WAY, MODERATE. GOOD FOR: HIKING, BIKING, HORSES. The trail is good for hikers and bikers, is paved with directional lanes for each, and provides benches and lookout points overlooking one of the most scenic coastlines of California. There is interpretive signage and observation scopes above the rocky cliffs. From this trail overlooking the Pacific Ocean, one can see a myriad of sea life and migrating birds. Park at either end. ( view on Google Maps) Aerial view of the Devil's Slide Trail, looking north toward Pacifica and Point Reyes - Photo by Vito Palmisanoĭevil's Slide Trail offers a hike with magnificent views following the old Highway One road. This trail is flat at the southern parking lot with a moderate uphill climb going north and then a moderate downhill slope to the north parking lot. Trail adjacent to the Devil's Slide Tunnel. Devil's Slide TrailĠ.8 MILES, 1 WAY, MODERATE. GOOD FOR: HIKING, BIKING, ON-LEASH DOGS. One hint: our magnificent Coastside weather is changeable, always carry a jacket on the trails. The Coastside invites everyone - hikers, bicycle riders, horseback riders - to explore its trails. On the Coastside, you can also stroll through three historic towns: Half Moon Bay, Princeton-by-the-Sea, and Pescadero.
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