Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trail
This segment of the California Coastal Trail starts at Cowell Ranch Beach and heads south parallel to the bluffs for 3.6 miles. You can get to the beach from the Cowell Beach access & parking lot on Hwy 1 as shown below. Cowell Beach is open every day of the week but the trail is only open weekends.
The trail follows the top of the bluffs and is generally flat except in the middle in the Purisima Creek valley. Indians used to live in this little valley for 10,000 years before the Spanish came.
You can also start this trail from the southern end. The southern parking lot is across Hwy 1 from Bob’s Vegetable Stand & Pumpkin Farm, about three miles further south down Hwy 1 from the northern parking lot. There are excellent views of the shoreline at this end but no beach access due to very steep bluffs.
notes: Dogs are not allowed. Trail open only weekends. However, on weekdays you can still walk out to see the bluffs (at the south end) and Cowell Beach (at the north end).
links: website, yelp
Related Links:
- Half Moon Bay area Walking Trails and Map
- Maps of best hiddenSF things to do
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