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Adventure awaits along the idyllic coast of the San Francisco Peninsula, where cool ocean fog blankets stands of giant redwoods and whales spout offshore. It’s a place where you can escape the hustle of urban life and enjoy spectacular ocean views.
Since 1977, POST has been hard at work protecting our corner of the Golden State so generations can enjoy the coast’s rugged character and rich agricultural heritage. We’ve put together this guide to help you explore our favorite coastal trails.
Jean Lauer Trail
- Length
- 3 miles round-trip
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Preserve
- Pillar Point Bluff County Park
It’s easy and it’s a great spot to see the world-famous big-wave surf break Mavericks. If you’re leaving your dog at home, stop by the nearby Fitzgerald Marine Reserve for some tide pooling! The Jean Lauer Trail at Pillar Point Bluff County Park is named in memory of a former POST staffer.
Local Favorites
After your hike, enjoy a cold one at the Moss Beach Distillery. But be careful, locals say it’s haunted!
Wavecrest Trail
- Length
- 3 miles round-trip
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Preserve
- Wavecrest Preserve
This trail weaves through one of the most important sites for raptors in the Bay Area. Keep an eye out for hawks and harriers and, if you’re lucky, migrating whales off the coast (typically October through December).
Local Favorites
Try the delicious sandwiches at the San Benito Deli in downtown Half Moon Bay after you’ve worked up an appetite.
Cowell-Purisima Trail
- Length
- 7.2 miles round-trip
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Preserve
- Cowell-Purisima Trail
Get a taste of everything the coast has to offer: productive farmland, pristine beaches, and stunning ocean views. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, pelicans, hawks and wildflowers along the way.
Local Favorites
Looking for a secluded beach? Make a stop at the Cowell Ranch State Beach accessible from this trail’s northern trailhead.
Sequoia-Audubon Trail
- Length
- 1.5 miles round-trip
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Preserve
- Pescadero Marsh State Natural Preserve
Discover the Pescadero Marsh, the largest freshwater marsh on the Peninsula. Be sure to bring your binoculars as this coastal wetland is home to more than 250 species of birds, including great blue herons, double-crested cormorants and great egrets.
Local Favorites
A trip to the marsh isn’t complete without a stop at the Arcangeli Grocery Store in nearby downtown Pescadero for fresh artichoke bread.
Año Nuevo Point Trail
- Length
- 4 mile loop
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Preserve
- Año Nuevo State Park
Massive northern elephant seals congregate every year on the rugged beaches of Año Nuevo. If you plan to visit during their mating season (December through March), you’ll need a reservation to witness these giants.
Local Favorites
POST-protected Pie Ranch is just minutes from this trailhead. Stop at their farmstead to try a delicious pie made with seasonal, local ingredients.
Ohlone Bluff Trail
- Length
- 10 miles round-trip
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Preserve
- Wilder Ranch State Park
The Ohlone Bluff Trail is a particularly picturesque section of the California Coastal Trail that cuts through the historic Wilder Dairy Farm. Whales and dolphins are often visible from this trail in the spring and late fall.
Local Favorites
The Swanton Berry Farm is just up the coast, so stop by if you’re in the area during berry season in spring and summer.
Bean Hollow Beach Trail
- Length
- 1.6 miles round-trip
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Preserve
- Bean Hollow State Beach
Bean Hollow is one of the few state beaches that allows dogs, making this section of the California Coastal Trail a perfect hike for the whole family. The tide pooling here is also world-class!
Local Favorites
Warm up after your hike at Downtown Local in Pescadero with a cup of hot coffee and a dose of nostalgia.
Devil’s Slide Trail
- Length
- 3 miles round-trip
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Preserve
- Devil’s Slide Trail
This paved trail offers world-class views of the California coastline and is a popular nesting site for many seabirds. It follows and old section of Highway 1 that opened for recreational use in 2014.
Local Favorites
After your hike, grab a beer at Pacifica Brewery and enjoy their large outdoor patio.
Four Mile Beach
- Length
- 2.5 miles round-trip
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Preserve
- Wilder Ranch State Park
Weave through coastal bluffs to a secluded beach and a popular spot for Santa Cruz surfers. On your way down to the beach, keep an eye out for harbor seals and sea otters in the surface below.
Local Favorites
Head to Whale City Bakery in Davenport after your hike, known for their mouth-watering fresh pastries.
Mel’s Lane to Pistachio Beach
- Length
- 0.5 – 2.5 miles round-trip
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Preserve
- Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
Mel’s Lane provides stunning views of Pigeon Point Lighthouse and one of the most iconic stretches of the California coast. Lengthen your hike by heading north to Pistachio Beach, then relax and soak in some scenery.
Local Favorites
Want to extend your experience at Pigeon Point? Make a reservation at the local hostel and state the night.
POST protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all.
The land in POST’s working area has been home to many distinct communities of Native people since time immemorial. We work to conserve and care for these lands — the ancestral territory of at least four contemporary Indigenous communities: the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, Muwekma Ohlone, Ramaytush Ohlone and Tamien Nation. These groups have survived centuries of oppression and displacement, and are the past, present and future caretakers of this land.
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