TEMPORARY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is located on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay. The centerpiece of this 4,711-acre Preserve is Purisima Creek Canyon, with its towering redwoods, rushing creek, and understory of ferns, berries, and wildflowers. Magnificent views of the coast and Half Moon Bay are visible from the northern part of the preserve.
The preserve was established with a gift of $2 million from the Save-the-Redwoods League.
Bike and Equestrian Access Limited: Activities may not be designated on all trails within the Preserve-- always refer to the map and trail signage for where the activity is permitted.
Purisima Creek Redwoods
© Karl Gohl
Newt
Newt © Lanette Otvos
Irish Ridge Trail
View from the Irish Ridge Trail © Karl Pingle
Hiking
Hikers © Randy Weber
Redwoods and Creek
Redwood Creek © Randy Weber
Roadside parking restrictions currently in place along Highway 35 and Purisima Creek Road and Higgins Canyon Road. Please observe all posted signage. Preserve parking is very limited at this time.
Main entrance and the North Ridge Trail trailhead: Located on Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35), 4.5 miles south of Highway 92. Parking is available for 30 cars.
Get directions to main entrance:
Access to the Redwood Trail or Purisima Creek Trail: there is an 11-car parking area at the trailhead 6.5 miles south of Highway 92.
Get directions to Redwood/Purisima Creek Trailhead:
The Preserve's Western Access Point: accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 92 and Highway 1 intersection in Half Moon Bay, travel on Highway 1 south approximately 4.3 miles. Turn left on Verde Road. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road to reach the Preserve. Parking is available for approximately 5 cars.
Get directions to western access point:
More than 24 miles of developed trails and historical logging roads provide opportunities for easy walks or long, strenuous hikes or rides. Remember to carry water on your hike, since the trails out of the canyon climb up to 1,600 feet and can be quite strenuous!
Redwood Trail - Suitable for visitors of all physical abilities. This Trail winds 0.25 miles through tall redwoods just off Skyline Boulevard. Visitors will find wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and a restroom along this flat easy route. The Redwood Trail was built through a grant from Peninsula Open Space Trust.
The Purisima Creek Trail - an old logging road on the western side of the preserve, passes by an accessible restroom and continues at a gentle uphill grade for the first mile into the preserve, although there are a few short sections that are a 10%-15% grade. The Trail follows along Purisima Creek, crossing the water over several bridges.
This information is updated as needed when trails are opened or closed, or when there is scheduled trail maintenance. Visit the full Trail Conditions page for more information.
The following trail may be closed to bicycle and equestrian use during wet conditions.
Logging History
By the early 1900s, all of the trees that were not too small, too twisted, or too inaccessible were gone from Purisima Canyon. There are seven recorded mill sites along the creek banks in this Preserve. Evidence of these sites can be seen today. The redwood was used for shingles in the building of San Francisco after the Gold Rush, and for lumber for the development of Half Moon Bay, include the construction of a flume on Montara Mountain. Along the Purisima Creek Trail, visitors can see many of the cleared area that were once the sites of these sawmills.
TEMPORARY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is located on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay. The centerpiece of this 4,711-acre Preserve is Purisima Creek Canyon, with its towering redwoods, rushing creek, and understory of ferns, berries, and wildflowers. Magnificent views of the coast and Half Moon Bay are visible from the northern part of the preserve.
The preserve was established with a gift of $2 million from the Save-the-Redwoods League.
Bike and Equestrian Access Limited: Activities may not be designated on all trails within the Preserve-- always refer to the map and trail signage for where the activity is permitted.
Roadside parking restrictions currently in place along Highway 35 and Purisima Creek Road and Higgins Canyon Road. Please observe all posted signage. Preserve parking is very limited at this time.
Main entrance and the North Ridge Trail trailhead: Located on Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35), 4.5 miles south of Highway 92. Parking is available for 30 cars.
Get directions to main entrance:
Access to the Redwood Trail or Purisima Creek Trail: there is an 11-car parking area at the trailhead 6.5 miles south of Highway 92.
Get directions to Redwood/Purisima Creek Trailhead:
The Preserve's Western Access Point: accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 92 and Highway 1 intersection in Half Moon Bay, travel on Highway 1 south approximately 4.3 miles. Turn left on Verde Road. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road to reach the Preserve. Parking is available for approximately 5 cars.
Get directions to western access point:
More than 24 miles of developed trails and historical logging roads provide opportunities for easy walks or long, strenuous hikes or rides. Remember to carry water on your hike, since the trails out of the canyon climb up to 1,600 feet and can be quite strenuous!
Redwood Trail - Suitable for visitors of all physical abilities. This Trail winds 0.25 miles through tall redwoods just off Skyline Boulevard. Visitors will find wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and a restroom along this flat easy route. The Redwood Trail was built through a grant from Peninsula Open Space Trust.
The Purisima Creek Trail - an old logging road on the western side of the preserve, passes by an accessible restroom and continues at a gentle uphill grade for the first mile into the preserve, although there are a few short sections that are a 10%-15% grade. The Trail follows along Purisima Creek, crossing the water over several bridges.
This information is updated as needed when trails are opened or closed, or when there is scheduled trail maintenance. Visit the full Trail Conditions page for more information.
The following trail may be closed to bicycle and equestrian use during wet conditions.
Logging History
By the early 1900s, all of the trees that were not too small, too twisted, or too inaccessible were gone from Purisima Canyon. There are seven recorded mill sites along the creek banks in this Preserve. Evidence of these sites can be seen today. The redwood was used for shingles in the building of San Francisco after the Gold Rush, and for lumber for the development of Half Moon Bay, include the construction of a flume on Montara Mountain. Along the Purisima Creek Trail, visitors can see many of the cleared area that were once the sites of these sawmills.
Preserves are open from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset.
There are no events scheduled at this preserve currently.