Purisima Creek Trail

It’s another world out here, not far at all from the hustle/​bustle of SF.
Wide, well-​established trail.
Beware allergy season (it gets pretty bad on the trail), mosquitoes, and the mountain lion warning signs.

Went here for the first time with based on a friend’s recommendation. Whoa, we had no clue what we were in for. What I thought was going to a a 1 hour hike, was really a 3 hour hike, 7 mile loop. Hurt to walk 2 days later.
This is what we did, drove up the 92 to Skyline Blvd. Made a right into the first lot we saw. A few miles up the road is another parking lot, I didn’t want to drive that far. Should have. Parking is free!!! There is a outdoor bathroom. Walked
Northridge Trail — Whittemore Gulch Trail — Harkins Ridge Trail
What I abslutely didn’t enjoy was the Harkins Ridge Trail, it was nothing but all hills. We had to climb about 10 steep hills or more? Elevation of 600 to 2000 ft if you get my drift? Everything else was so beautiful and perfect. I think if I ever have the balls to hike Purisima again, I’ll park in the other lot. There are some really great vista points, take a moment to stop and look around.

Lots of redwoods, banana slugs and gorgeous wild flowers in spring. A lot less crowded than Muir Woods.

This is the perfect place to hike! It’s not the most advance hiking you’ll ever do, but it’s a good step up from the rookie-​hiker status. (Tips are at the end of this post if you don’t want to read about the experience)
My friend’s and I came on a wet Saturday morning at the end of March. The weather looked great as we passed through the city, but when we reached to the Purisima Creek Trail, it was all foggy and misty. The trail was extremely moist and muddy. Totally didn’t expect that, and the trail conditions might turn some people away, but my friends and I like the additional challenge. There were several different paths to take, which was great for different hiker levels.
We decided to take the Wittermore Glutch Trail down and the Harkins Ridge Trail back up (roughly 6.6 miles total, about 1000 ft elevation difference, and took us about a little over 3 hours). The Wittermore trail had a great rainforest vibe, especially with the moist air, wet path, and fog all around us. The Harkins trail was definitely tougher since it’s all an uphill climb. Not as forest-​y as the first trail, but a good workout nonetheless. The sun came out in the afternoon so the scenery was gorgeous. Another great thing about the this place is that despite the many hikers, there was not a single trash on the trail. On my regular hikes, you see litter all the time. This just shows how respected and cared for this place is. I definitely recommend both the trails. And I’ll probably come back to try the other trails too!
Now, onto tips…
TIP #1: There are no trash cans, even in the parking lot. Make sure you bring bags to throw away any trail mix wrappers and such.
TIP #2: If you’re planning on hiking in the morning, be aware of how muddy it can be. I suggest you leave an extra pair of socks and shoes in the car.
TIP #3: Take a map with you. You can easily get lost!
TIP #4: Unless you like going to the bathroom with nature, I suggest you go before the hike. Even if you don’t think you need to, do it. There is no bathroom stalls during the hike unless you reach the end of your destination.

Great trail, well-​paved, well-​marked, shaded, not too steep. It’s great! I really enjoyed this hike, although it’s basically like Big Basin. Not very dusty either, although some places were muddy. Would recommend!

The PCT — the Purisima Creek Trail, that is — is the main thoroughfare running arrow straight through the heart of Purisima Creek Rerdwoods Open Space Preserve. It connects two of the four main parking trailheads: Higgins-​Purisima at one end, Skyline Boulevard South at the other. While it lacks the scenic splendor of the canyonside ridge trails — North, Harkins, Irish — it serves as a vital connector to these steeper, more exposed routes. It is also an ideal spot to undertake a shorter excursion of a few hours or less, one that is suitable for all ages, fitness, and skill levels. Mountain bikers, equestrians, trail runners, hikers, and Sunday redwood strollers are all welcome here; its wide, well maintained dirt trail climbs gradually to the Skyline over about 6 miles, making a point-​to-​point with car shuttle a possibility. Trail runners and road bikers accustomed to non-​paved surfaces can also use the PCT to go from Silicon Valley all the way to Half Moon Bay and Highway 1. It’s an everyman and everywoman sort of trail, doing daily duty with impressive, hard-​working efficiency.
Plus, the creekside trail is gorgeous: towering redwoods, cascading creeks and incoming streams and gulches, fern-​covered slopes, sunlit miniature meadows where old redwood shingle mills once operated, ubiquitous banana slugs and occasional snake and salamander sightings, eye-​popping mushrooms in winter and pleasant blooming flowers and shrubs in spring and early summer, red and yellow leaves in autumn, and roaring waterfalls in winter rains — this PCT is definitely a local treasure.
Many visitors use the PCT as part of a 10 – 12 mile Eastside loop (i.e. one that traverses the rugged, chaparral-​topped canyon wall that ascends to the Skyline ridgeline of the Santa Cruz Mountains), a potentially challenging route that includes the Craig Britton, Harkins Ridge, North Ridge, and Whittemore Gulch trails. If you’ve already done that one, then I’d recommend that visitors looking for something new plan on a less well traveled, Westside loop using the PCT, Grabtown Gulch, and Borden Hatch Mill trails, ideally including time for an additional out-​and-​back side trip to the Irish Ridge ocean vista point (about ¼ mile South of the Bald Knob trail junction). This is possibly the best Pacific panorama in the entire preserve, since there is nothing blocking your view to the South all the way to the Pescadero Creek headlands and beyond, and you enjoy a more than 180-​degree view of the ocean and coastside. This part of the preserve is the most secluded, and the Irish Ridge and Bald Knob trails are for hikers and runners only. From the Irish Ridge vista point, another mile or two takes visitors to the Lobitos Creek trail spur, home of the most fascinating old-​growth 1000 year+ redwood, One-​Armed Jack (aka the Saluting General), whose fire-​scarred trunk sports a tree-​sized arm growing about 25 feet off the ground.
If you choose this option, give yourself 4 – 6 hours with half-​day hiking supplies and gear. Starting at the Higgins-​Purisima trailhead, I would take Grabtown up, since you get the steep bit done first (1000 feet elevation gain over 1.5 miles), then visit Irish Ridge and return on Borden Hatch MIll back to the PCT and starting point trailhead.
Even if you plan a trip less epic than visiting One-​Armed Jack, there’s always something slightly magical about exploring the quiet trails that follow meandering Pescadero Creek. Sometimes, it’s a California newt sighting (I once counted 200+ on the trail after the first big rain of the season — but never before or since), a new mushroom sprouting up, a particularly radiant patch of ferns, a fallen tree limb across the trail, or a wildflower in full bloom. It’s shady and serene in spring, pleasantly foggy sometimes in summer, yellow, red, umber, and green in autumn, and soaking wet in winter with deep, saturated colors. There is never a bad time to visit.
If the Silicon Valley/​Bay area lifestyle is starting to fray your nerves, and you find yourself checking your iPhone or Droid just a bit too often, consider some PCT walk therapy to heal from the hazards of an obsessively online existence (reading Unilocal reviews, of course, excepted). Cleanse your weary mind along the bubbling beauty of a clear-​flowing Pescadero Creek. Gaze in appreciative wonder at the immense scale and power of the Pacific Ocean while sipping herbal tea from your thermos while perched atop Irish Ridge as hawks soar overhead. Soak up the solitude on a quiet, uphill stretch of Grabtown Gulch as beads of perspiration start to soak the small of your back. Bask in gentle, warming rays of afternoon sunshine that stream through the mixed hardwoods on Borden Hatch Mill trail.
Serenity like this is meant to be preserved so that others besides oneself can partake of its purifying pleasures; and sharing the serenity is what persistently pretty places like Purisima are really all about. Hope you’ll enjoy the visit!

Me: Which trail did we hike last weekend?
Roommate: We did a few trails on our hike. Which one are you talking about?
Me: Uhmmm…
Roommate: The one when we first started, the one where we saw the newt, or the uphill one where you complained you had to poop for 3 straight hours?
Me: Newt.
Roommate: Purisima Creek Trail
The Purisima Creek Trail is an easy peasy trail… at least compared to the trail we took directly after it where we had at least 3 very worried and lost people ask us how to get back to their car. That trails sucks. I mean, it’s great for a workout if you’re already in peak physical condition… but if you aren’t (like me)… oh man. Good luck.
That info is important because it’s easy to walk from the Purisima Creek Trail into next week because some of the connecting trails are brutal. The Purisima Creek Trail, however, is great for pretty much anyone. Mostly flat, filthy with rad little banana slugs, there’s every shade of green, a small creek, and you might even see a few little newts along the way.
This trail was a lot more crowded with tourist and sun/​explorer hat types with walking sticks (re: old people), who seemed to really enjoy the leisurely stroll. The grade isn’t very steep and there’s a bunch of little walking bridges that go over the small creek. I’m not sure about the mileage but I think it’s accessible from a lower parking lot and you could prob just do a mile and be good if you’re looking for a small stroll… but again, beware of those extended trails because there’s certainly a few doozies in there.

Nice hike in the trees with great views into Half moon bay. Be aware, this is a hill. You’ll be going either up or down. There are several options so you can make it a long trip or a short one. We had a great time and spent about 2hrs with the kids (11−13yo)

Oh i love this trail. There are so many different little routes you can take you can make this an easy — moderate trip and it can be as short or long as you like. I hike alone and I feel the safest on this trail even though i go on a steep incline trail so there are not many hikers the people who go her are all respectable. It is such a great hike there are streams and amazing views. Parking is free and half moon bay is beautiful so you can hang around in the city after. I loved this trail and I always see Deer at the park so bring a camera!

What a gorgeous hike! We had a brilliant time doing the Whittemore Gulch Trail. The landscape changes often enough to keep you on your toes the entire way. You’ll see gorgeous redwoods, rolling hills that go all the way out to the ocean, rocky walls where there must have been an earthquake at some point, and more. It’s a fascinating place.
Dress for both sun and shade; the forest brings a pretty significant drop in temperature and can get a bit chilly.
Also, I highly recommend starting from the lower point. We started at the top from Skyline, and the last third of our hike was brutal. Great workout, but the last thing you want to see after two hours of hiking is a giant slope upwards. and another. and another… and… for the last hour. :)

Love this place. trails of almost shaded the whole way. Completed my hikes from all 3 entrance, with South entrance being the most challenging but not too bad.
Great for all season hikes

The trail head on the west entrance is about a 5 mile drive from Hwy 1 using Higgins Canyon Road. The road is narrow at some points, so be careful on the sharp turns. I did a 7 mile loop off the Purisima Creek Trail: Purisima Creek Trail to Craig Britton to Harkins Ridge Trail. The Purisima Creek Trail and Craig Britton were shaded and only steep in some parts. It was fun to see banana slugs along the trail too. When Craig Britton ended, I headed left to complete the loop. There was a sign at the split, but didn’t list the Harkins Ridge Trail. Not going to lie, the Harkins Ridge Trail was not fun. It was exposed, very steep and there’s lots of gravel so I slipped several times. I actually saw a lot more people going the opposite direction as me, which may be a better option, but would definitely be a steeper hike. Probably will avoid that leg in the future and just go out and back on the Purisima Creek Trail — one way is about 4 miles. I came around 2pm on a Sunday and the parking lot was packed out, but there were still places to park on the road. All in all, a lovely hike. Will be back!

Pretty much the perfect 7 mile loop hike. The views of the Pacific at the ridge are amazing, and there are some pretty awesome redwoods to see on the way up. None of the inclines are particularly challenging but you still get a good workout overall. Reminds me a lot of the loop hike at Butano State Park — this is a great alternative.

I hiked this park twice while on vacation. The first was a short out and back along Purisima Creek trail. The second was a brutally steep hike up Purisima Creek to Grabtown Gulch, then down on Borden Hatch Mill trail. Despite the hellish hills up and down, the trails are exceptionally beautiful — even in the fog and overcast. Be sure to bring water on these trails as you will get a workout up and down these trails (Purisima Creek is a cake walk). The redwoods are lovely and it’s so, so peaceful in the forest. During my up/​down I saw five other people in four miles. Nice!

Excellent trail to hike. About a 7 mile moderate round trip hike. My friend and I enjoyed the excellent micro climate changes between the redwoods. So majestic and surreal. We even saw a male deer run right in front of us, about 10 to 12 feet in front of us. It was awesome to see that for a couple of minutes. We came around 1:30 PM since the drive coming from one heading south was awful! For being a sunning day today, it was beautiful, but we mostly hit shade and once we reached elevation, we hit some sun. Lot’s of wildlife and beautiful redwoods to admire. We did not reach the top due to time, but the trail we took was moderate, not super challenging. It took us about 3 ½ hours to complete. Maps are helpful to coordinate your challenge and park ranager was there to help. Parking was not bad and a lot of bikers on the road were enjoying the challenging ride.
Overall: Excellent hike in an excellent location!

This well-​marked and easy to get to trail filled with ample parking, redwoods, ferns, banana slugs and friendly park rangers made for a great late morning hike. We encountered a mix of hikers and mountain bikers — thankfully the bikers were slowly climbing up hill and not barrelling down the hill towards us. The Craig Britton Trail was hiker-​only and the only drawback was that this deep in to the valley I lost my mobile phone coverage and as I was on call that meant having to turn back early.

This trail was beautiful I love the redwoods and the creek was very peaceful. I recommend this trail to anybody at Halfmoon Bay for a visit. Took us 3 ½ hours to complete the trail. We took the long route but was rewarding in the end!

I’ve discovered this park a few yrs ago and have gone abt 3x previously. This yr, we were looking for a place along Hwy 1 and got lost so i took my friends here. I’m so glad to have re-​visited again after a hiatus. When i used to come it was fall and got a little wet/​muddy. The day we came was a couple of wks ago so it was abit warm for us, what we’re used to. The purisima trail has 3 segments and we did almost the entire trail so it was close to 8 miles in total. Although mostly shaded on a warm day it was a little bit warm for us so make sure you take enough water. We also had snacks in our packs since it was such a long walk. We were very famished upon completion and had some more food in the car. There is a toilet in the entrance of the trail and another one at the end of the trail. When you reach the end of the Purisima trail it actually goes into another park, Huddart on the other side… so for those who are ambitious and can hike alot… you could possibly do a 10+ mile walk…:)

Two syllables: AWE-​SOME! (6÷1÷13) What a gem of a place to visit and enjoy the fresh air and peaceful sounds of a running creek, simply enjoying God’s beauty. We took the 7 mile loop hike and it was a great, mostly shaded and some sunny spots at the top overlooking the canopy of trees. We Started at 10:15am and finished at 1:30pm, the way you feel after a hike like this will keep us coming back for more. Get an early start ’cause it gets hot at the top and a plus for me is No Dogs Allowed.

COORDINATES:
N 37° 26′ 15.0437″, W 122° 22′ 14.2526″
DISTANCE:
3.85 miles from Purisima Creek Road to Skyline Boulevard
PROS:
+ Serene trail (runs along the murmuring Purisima Creek)
+ Nice and cool (mostly shaded)
+ Lots of banana slugs and newts
CONS:
— Limited parking spaces
— No dogs allowed