Overview
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 5,412-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ドル million from the Save-the-Redwoods League.
This nearly five-mile long loop can be accessed from Tunitas Creek road, where there are multiple pull-outs, or from Purisima Creek Road Parking Area via a one-mile long walk up the Purisima Creek Trail. As you move away from the trail entrance, you will be enveloped in the sounds of the forest. The remote nature of this trail allows you to fully experience the sounds of the redwoods.
There is limited parking in the pullouts along Tunitas Creek Road, so be prepared to make alternate plans.
This trail is an old logging road on the western side of the preserve, which 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 hike features redwood groves, open meadows, and views of the Pacific Ocean.
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.
Preserve Highlights & Features
Coast Redwoods
When dinosaurs roamed the earth, redwoods were the dominant trees in the Northern hemisphere. Today, coast redwoods are only found along the coast in a narrow band rom southern Oregon to just south of Monterey.
Coast redwoods are the tallest trees in the world, growing up to 380 feet tall (38 stories). The oldest known age of a redwood is 2,200 years, although the average mature age is 500 to 1,000 year old. Most trees at Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve are about 100 years old. They make up what is called a second-growth forest. The original redwood forest was logged in the late 1800s - 1900s. The largest redwoods were probably close to 1,000 years old when they were cut, with diameters between 10 and 20 feet. The large stumps along the Purisima Creek Trail are evidence of these trees.
Coastal Views
While this preserve is famous for its beloved redwood forests, you can also find spectacular views of the San Mateo County Coast and Pacific Ocean.
The upper parts of the Harkins Ridge and Soda Gulch Trails provide superb views, as does part of the Whittemore Gulch Trail, which drops steeply into Purisima Canyon and is popular with mountain bicyclists.
Stories from the Preserves
Nature
Here are some of the plants and animals that other visitors have observed at this preserve and recorded in iNaturalist. Protected species may be excluded and some species may not yet have been observed. Help improve iNaturalist by adding your observations to the Midpen Biodiversity Index project
Join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date on this preserve and other Midpen news!
Know Before You Go
Preserve regulations help provide a safe, enjoyable visit while protecting sensitive areas and wildlife.
Share the Trail
Use designated trails to avoid damage to natural resources and prevent injury.
Avoid blocking the trail. Step aside to allow others to pass .
Whether you’re walking or biking, always yield to equestrians.
Leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in. Most preserves do not have trash cans. Littering is prohibited.
Abuses of trail etiquette should be brought to the attention of a ranger or call the Midpen main office at 650-691-1200.
Activities & Events
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.
Brochures and Resources
Some additional resources to help you enjoy the preserves!