Half Moon Bay, a northern California town, offers the opportunity to view the Pacific Ocean from an altitude as high as 1,898 feet by hiking through the McNee Ranch State Park or look for migrating whales as you follow along the cliffs of the Gray Whale Cove State Beach trail. The Burleigh Murray State Park features a variety of wildlife while surrounding hikers with the soothing fragrance of the eucalyptus groves or hike among the giant redwoods in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. With an array of scenic views, Half Moon Bay is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Commune with nature as you travel the scenic Coastside Trail, hiking along the ocean bluffs between Pillar Point Harbor and Poplar Avenue in Half Moon Bay. The entire trail is approximately 10 miles long and offers several paths that depart from the trail leading down to sandy state beaches. White-crowned sparrows perched atop coyote bushes frequently serenade visitors. One of the most popular trails for families, you might be able to see jack rabbits and brush rabbits nibbling on foliage along the edges of the trail and admire the orange poppies, bright beach primroses and pale yellow bush lupines that create a colorful scene.
Follow along an old ranch road that has been converted into a hiking trail to begin your journey into the eucalyptus groves. The winding path mirrors Mills Creek for approximately one mile before hikers arrive at an old bungalow. At the park property, the trail will separate from the old road and if you cross the creek it is a great vantage point to view the Mills Barn and outer buildings. Continuing on the road beyond the barn, the valley narrows between steep hill covered with chaparral. The path remains clear for approximately one mile past the barn before it erodes into dense growth filled with stinging nettles, poison oak and coyote brush. Remember to bring your own drinking water and leave your pets at home because dogs are not permitted in the park.
For up close views of the famous redwoods, follow the moderately easy Purisima Creek Trail. Approximately 2.5 miles round trip, the broad trail will lead hikers among coast redwoods, big leaf maples and red alders until you arrive at a bridge that straddles a creek. Look for blue forge-me-nots, hedge nettles and periwinkles at the trail head and sword ferns, five-finger ferns and wood ferns cascading down from the trail banks. Although most of the redwoods are second growth trees, due to the extensive logging in the late 1800s, a peaceful grove at the trail head features some of the tallest redwoods in the Preserve.
