On a warm and sunny MLK day, I decided the weather was too good to pass up for a hiking day; 72 degree days don’t come along all that often in January, even in California! To take advantage of the weather, I wanted a hike that offered awesome views, wasn’t overly long (I was in terrible shape after being sick and not hiking for a month), and wasn’t too far from home. I found the North Ridge Trail at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, and it turned out to be a wonderful trail.
Miles/Elevation:
4.4 miles
1,300 feet vertical gain
About Purisima Creek Redwoods:
Overlooking Half Moon Bay, Purisima Creek Redwoods is an awesome park characterized by open ridgelines, second growth redwood forest, and the stunning Purisima Creek Canyon.
Located on the San Francisco Peninsula, this park is within easy reach of both San Francisco and San Jose, making it a great destination for a day trip. With access from above along the sweeping Skyline Blvd or below off Highway 1, there are multiple entry points from which to start your day.
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors.
Getting There:
Purisima Creek is easy reached from San Francisco and San Jose, or any of the other cities and towns on the Peninsula or South Bay. Located between highways 35 and 1, there are multiple entry points to access the park’s trails.
Public transport is really not available to access the entry points of the preserve, so driving yourself, or taking a Lyft is your best bet. To the North Parking Lot which I started my hike at, it is about a 40 minute drive from San Jose or a 25 minute from San Francisco International.
The North Ridge Trail:
The Descent
When I arrived, I quickly realized the parking lot was totally full, and cars were parked for hundreds of feet either way alongside the road. After a quick swing through the lot just to check, I quickly found a spot along the side of the road.
My first impression once I got onto the trail was how steep it was. Having done some research beforehand, I knew that the hike began with a steep descent, and it was certainly steep.
The began down the hillside more or less in a straight line down along a wide, well graded path. While the trail was wide and well graded, it was obnoxiously steep, my knees were feeling it within the first 5 minutes (I really wasn’t in good shape).
After about half a mile, I reached the bottom of the first descent. Here the trail branched into a few different directions. If you want to make a longer day hike of the trails here, this is your chance to get around to the rest of the preserve. I continued straight to follow the North Ridge Trail.
After a refreshingly flat walk, the views began to really open up. As the trees thinned, I had glimpses of the Pacific, with many more to come. Eventually, I emerged and in front of me was a sweeping panorama of the Pacific Ocean fronted by the valleys and hills of the immediate coastline. Paired with the incredible January weather, this hike was looking good!
Don’t be rude; always following basic etiquette when on trail!
After another steep descent, the trail began climbing again. This was my first test of the day. When I said previously the initial descent was steep, this climb was even steeper. While I only gained 100-200 feet of elevation, I had to stop to catch my breath. Clearly my cardio was lacking!
After completing the brutal but actually short climb, the trail flattened again. Meandering along the wide, flat trail, I walked through forest with occasional grassy meadows and windows looking over the landscape.
It was a truly beautiful place to be, and I eventually reached the end of the trail. The North Ridge Trail terminates at the border of the preserve, and having reached the end of the line, I sat down and had a snack.
The Ascent
Now, I had the hard part left to finish. To be honest, I hate when hikes have the hard climb at the end. I would much rather get the hard part out of the way at the beginning, but on this day, that was not to be.
After a short descent to begin the return, I was immediately faced with the first half of the ascent, and man was it steep. Even in great shape this trail would feel steep; I would just have handled it better.
With the early afternoon sun beating down, even 72 degrees felt hot! Having set a goal of where I wanted to get to before a break, I set off, and immediately realized I would not make it to my goal.
In fact, I had to stop twice before I got to my first goal, where I had planned on taking my first break. Not a great start.
This process continued for what seemed like an eternity, but realistically was probably only like 20 minutes. But I swear it felt like forever.
Having made it up the first part of the ascent, I took a break, and layed down to relax. Not gonna lie, it was pretty great. Feeling refreshed, I set out to finish the hike and complete the final half mile up the hill back to the parking lot.
At this point, I was faced with a choice: I could either continue up the trail I initially descended down, or I could take a smaller single track trail that switchbacked its way up the slope.
Preferring single track trail to the wide, roadlike path I had initially taken, I opted for the smaller side trail. Pro tip: if you ever take this hike, take the smaller trail both ways. I didn’t see a single person on it, it was a much more gradual climb, and it’s more scenic as it winds through the forest.
Finishing Up
Surprisingly, after needing to pause multiple times to get here, I actually made it the final half mile without pause, and was back to the parking lot before I knew it. With that, I made my way back to the S2000, and I headed home!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 8/10
Overall, it was a beautiful hike along a trail that wasn’t ideal. The obnoxiously steep sections along with the road-like feel of much of the trail isn’t quite what I want, but the views made it a worthwhile hike, and a hike I would go back to in the future. Is it my new favorite hike in the Bay Area? No, but it will be a place I think about when showing people around. There really aren’t a lot of four mile hikes with better views than this!
Considering hiking in bear country? Be sure you are prepared to be bear safe.
Pros:
- Beautiful views throughout the hike
- A variety of environments: forest, meadows, and ridgelines
- Easily accessible along highway 35 or 1
- Smooth, well graded trail
Cons:
- Obnoxiously steep slopes throughout
- Much of the trail feels more like a road then a trail
- Can be busy
- Uphill climb at the end of the hike
When to Visit:
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve really is a 4 season destination. In summer, you can expect to sweat on exposed sections of trails, and to be comfortable on the shaded sections. During winter, expect to be cool in the shaded areas, and still warm in exposed sections. Rain is most likely in winter and spring.
Alternative Hikes:
Whittemore Gulch and Purisima Creek Loop Trail
Whittemore Gulch and Harkins Ridge Loop Trail
Grabtown Gulch to Purisima Creek Loop
Purisima Creek Trail to Craig Britton Trail
Links for Further Reading:
Bay Area Hiker: Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District: Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve
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