Purisima Creek Trail

There are several access points. You can park at the Purisima Creek Redwoods trailhead on Higgins-Purisima Road, which offers a gentler start along the creek. Another option is the Skyline Trailhead & Boulevard, which starts at a higher elevation and involves significant descents and ascents.

No, there are no entrance fees or permits required to hike in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. It is free to access.

No, dogs are generally not allowed on the trails within the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve to protect wildlife and natural resources.

The trail is enjoyable year-round. Summer offers a cool escape from inland heat thanks to the dense redwood canopy and coastal fog. In late winter and spring, you can see wildflowers, while autumn brings vibrant colors from big leaf maples along the creek. Even in winter, the trails are often manageable, though some muddy sections can occur.

The terrain is quite varied. The main Purisima Creek Trail often follows an old logging road, starting wide and relatively level along the creek. However, other interconnected trails feature uneven terrain with roots and rocks, singletrack paths, and wider fire roads. Expect significant elevation changes, especially on sections leading to and from Skyline Boulevard.

You'll experience dense second-growth redwood forests, lush canyons with ferns and moss, and the sounds of Purisima Creek. As you climb to higher elevations, particularly along Harkins Ridge and Whittemore Gulch Trail, the scenery opens up to oak woodlands and coastal scrub, offering panoramic views of redwood-covered hills, the San Mateo County coast, and the Pacific Ocean, including Half Moon Bay.

While there are easy, flat sections suitable for beginners, such as the initial part from the Higgins-Purisima Road trailhead, many popular loops involve considerable elevation gains and are considered moderate to difficult. For a beginner, it's best to stick to the flatter sections along the creek or choose shorter, less strenuous routes.

You'll frequently encounter banana slugs, which are abundant in the moist redwood habitat. The preserve is also home to various birds and other small forest creatures, though they can be more elusive.

Yes, the route intersects with several other trails within the preserve. Notable connections include sections of the Bay Area Ridge Trail - 04 - San Francisco and Peninsula, Harkins Ridge Trail, Craig Britton Trail, Borden Hatch Mill Trail, Grabtown Gulch Trail, Redwood Trail, Skyline Access Trail, Whittemore Gulch Trail, and Skyline Trail.

The duration varies significantly depending on your chosen route. A popular loop combining trails like Purisima Creek Trail, Whittemore Gulch Trail, and Harkins Ridge Trail can be over 10 miles long and take around 5 hours to complete, involving considerable climbing.

If you prefer to get the strenuous uphill climbing out of the way early, consider starting from the Skyline Trailhead & Boulevard and descending into the canyon, knowing you'll have a significant climb back up. If you prefer a more gradual ascent, start from the Purisima Creek Redwoods trailhead on Higgins-Purisima Road and climb up towards Skyline.