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The various redwood groves sprinkled around the Bay Area are some of the greatest natural wonders of Northern California, not to mention some of the most heavily trafficked areas among tourists and local alike. The two best known within and easy drive of San Francisco are Muir Woods in Marin County and Big Basin in the Santa Cruz Mountains. But what many people don’t realize is that there’s another fantastic redwood preserve only 20 minutes south of San Francisco in the Purisima Creek Redwood Preserve.
Purisima Creek is on the West side of the Santa Cruz Mountains just off Hwy 35/Skyline Blvd overlooking the sleepy hamlet of Half Moon Bay. There are miles of trails for hikers and mountain bikers with varying levels of difficulty. But very few are for the weak of heart. Purisima Creek is widely known by Peninsula mountain bikers as a heart-thumper of a ride because of the 1600 ft climb from the base parking lot near Half Moon Bay up to the Skyline parking lot. But the downhill is equally famous because of the switchbacks near the top and the swooping, undulating hills through the redwoods at the bottom that require lots of nerve and very little brakes as you fly along the creek.
But perhaps one of the greatest features of Purisima Creek is the sheer number of trails that allow hikers to avoid their biking counterparts. The hiking-only trails wind their way through several small redwood groves and along Purisima Creek to provide fantastic views of the coastline. But again, these are not easy hikes, so isitors should be prepared to work for their view. This is not place for those looking for the paved footpaths of Muir Woods.
And finally, if you park at the base of the trail near Half Moon Bay, you can end your trip by taking in any of the restaurants nearby. My personal favorite is the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company near the Pillar Point Marina. There’s a great patio there to enjoy the hand-crafted beers, and their burgers aren’t half bad either. There’s nothing better after a long hike or ride than sitting in the sun near the water drinking your favorite beverage with friends. It’s a perfect end to a perfect day trip.
Contact me with questions or tips about Bay Area daytrips at bbennett712@yahoo.com.
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