The San Mateo Classic Coastwalk

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The San Mateo Classic Coastwalk

August 2-6

5 days/4 nights

Rating: Moderate

Maximum Capacity: 25

$625 Non-Member Price

$600 Coastwalk Member Price

Enjoy the San Mateo Coastal trail while camping at Half Moon Bay State Beach and lodging at the Point Montara Historic Lighthouse Hostel. Daily hikes include Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park, the Cowell-Purisima Trail, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, the Jean Lauer Trail along the heights of Pillar Point Bluff, Montara Mountain, and the Devil’s Slide Trail. Relax at the end of each day with coastal sunset conversations and delicious meals provided by our volunteer chefs.

Highlights:
Quarry Park and Wicklow Open Space, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (bluffs only), Jean Lauer Trail along the heights of Pillar Point Bluff, Cowell-Purisima Trail, Montara Mountain, Devil’s Slide trail, and the comforts of the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel, perched on spectacular cliffs of the California coast.

Trip Includes:
Camping, parking, and hostel fees; guided hiking; shuttle transportation; gear haul; light breakfast fixings (cereal, juice, coffee); dinners (4).

Make sure to bring:
Food for your lunches (4 days).

Average Daily Hiking:
5 to 9 miles.

Types of Hiking Surfaces:
Coastal bluffs, sandy beaches, steep coastal mountains, paved roads.

Elevation Gain/Loss:
Climb and descend 1400 feet in 2.4 miles with many switchbacks on Montara Mountain.

Fitness Requirements:
Hikers should be in excellent physical condition, as the Montara Mountain and Devil’s Slide hikes will require stamina and physical exertion with potentially warm or hot weather conditions.

Highlights:
Quarry Park and Wicklow Open Space, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (bluffs only), Jean Lauer Trail along the heights of Pillar Point Bluff, Cowell-Purisima Trail, Montara Mountain, Devil’s Slide trail, and the comforts of the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel, perched on spectacular cliffs of the California coast.

Trip Includes:
Camping, parking, and hostel fees; guided hiking; shuttle transportation; gear haul; light breakfast fixings (cereal, juice, coffee); dinners (4).

Make sure to bring:
Food for your lunches (4 days).

Average Daily Hiking:
5 to 9 miles.

Types of Hiking Surfaces:
Coastal bluffs, sandy beaches, steep coastal mountains, paved roads.

Elevation Gain/Loss:
Climb and descend 1400 feet in 2.4 miles with many switchbacks on Montara Mountain.

Fitness Requirements:
Hikers should be in excellent physical condition, as the Montara Mountain and Devil’s Slide hikes will require stamina and physical exertion with potentially warm or hot weather conditions.

Murray Ranch State Park

 

Directions to Sweetwood Group Camp at Frenchmans Creek, Half Moon Bay State Beach:

 

You must use the following directions to find the campground.

 

Driving north from the city of Half Moon Bay on Highway 1 (Cabrillo Hwy), you will pass Venice Blvd on the left and then Frenchmans Creek Road on the right.  Then there is a traffic light at Ruisseau Francais Ave.  At this light if you look left towards the ocean you will see a small road called Naomi Patridge Trail that goes

through a thick grove of eucalyptus trees. Turn left onto Naomi Patridge Trail.  Drive through the gate, through the eucalyptus grove and into the parking area for Sweetwood Campground.

 

Parking: The first twelve cars will park right at the campsite and the rest will park in the overflow lot.  There is a $10 per car per day fee for the overflow parking.  If you are one of the ones that have to pay this parking fee, you will reimbursed by Coastwalk.

 

Check-in time is 2:00PM but I will be there well before that to see if they will allow us to check-in early.

 

Showers: There are outdoor showers at the Venice Beach restrooms, a short (5 minute) walk from Sweetwood Campground.

 

Day 2 – Sat. Aug 3 – Cowell-Purisima Trail (only open weekends and holidays!) -approx 7 miles total

 

This spectacular stretch of the California Coastal Trail opened to the public in 2011.  Meander past rich farm fields and gaze out at the Pacific Ocean as you hike along this 3.6 mile bluff-top trail just south of Half Moon Bay.  We continue north through the golf course, past the Ritz Carlton, and then along the beach or the bluffs to Half Moon Bay State Beach, passing through Wavecrest Open Space.

Overnight: Sweetwood Group Camp

 

Day 3 – Sun Aug 4 – Jean Lauer Trail, CCT Section 4 (4.5 mi) and part of

CCT Section 5 (2.25 miles) – 6.75 miles total

 

Starting near HI Point Montara Lighthouse, we walk along Vallemar Street and onto the coastal bluffs until we get to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.  We will spend some time here to investigate the Reserve.  We walk through the little town of Moss Beach and onto the Jean Lauer Trail along the heights of Pillar Point Bluff, coming down from the bluffs at the outskirts of the little town of Princeton-by-the-Sea.  We will stop in the town for lunch where you can either eat your own “brown bag” lunch or eat at one of the several restaurants at Pillar Point Harbor.  After lunch we walk along Half Moon Bay State Beach until we arrive at our vehicles.

 

Overnight: HI Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel, Check-in after 3:30PM

16th Street and Highway 1, Montara, 650-728-7177

Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this historic lighthouse and hostel is set against the breathtaking scenery of the California Coast.  Here we will enjoy bunk beds in shared rooms, showers, a full kitchen, and free WiFi!

 

Day 4 – Mon. Aug 5 – CCT Section 3 Montara Mountain (approx 4.5 miles)

For Day 4, we have two choices:

  • Start from the San Pedro Valley Park Visitor Center and take the 2.4 mile Montara Mountain Trail. This trail climbs above 1400 feet and has lots of switchbacks, continuing on the North Peak Access Road (0.8 miles).
  • Start from the Sanchez Adobe County Historic Site and climb approximately 900 feet on the 3.2 mile Old San Pedro Mountain Road (fire road).

Either way, we continue on the Old San Pedro Mountain Road and come out to a parking lot on Highway 1 via the Gray Whale Cove Trail (1.3 miles).

 

Overnight:  HI Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel

 

Day 5 – Tue. Aug 6 – Devil’s Slide and Pedro Point Headlands (5.4 miles total)

The group drives their own cars to the Devil’s Slide South Parking lot in Pacifica. We walk the 1.5 mile Devil’s Slide Trail and then continue hiking in Pedro Point Headlands, where we will complete a 2.4 mile loop trail and hike back to our cars via the Devil’s Slide Trail.  Here we say our farewells and begin our journeys back home.

 

 

 

What to Bring

  • Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad
  • Sturdy walking shoes/boots, preferably with vibram soles
  • Windbreaker/parka
  • Fleece pullover, sweatshirt or sweater for warmth
  • Long pants and long sleeve shirt (protection against sunburn, poison oak, and tics)
  • Hat for sun protection, watchcap/beanie for cold, windy conditions
  • Other clothing – underwear, T-shirts, socks, etc.
  • Sun glasses with UV protection
  • Personal first aid kit (Band-Aids, antiseptic, blister pads, aspirin,
  • bug repellant)
  • Toiletries, sunscreen
  • Day pack, water bottle
  • Mess kit: plate, cup, bowl, eating utensils
  • Personal medicines
  • Flashlight with new batteries (headlamp type works best)
  • Folding chair
  • lunches

 

David Coli: David has been an avid hiker and backpacker since graduating from high school in 1970. He has been able to hike many of the county, regional and state parks near his home in San Jose, and nearly every year he does a backpack trip in his beloved Sierra Nevada Mountains or in the canyon lands of the Southwest. For the last few years he has set his sights on hiking the California Coastal Trail, having completed the San Luis Obispo,
Sonoma, and Mendocino Coast Walks.

2019 San Mateo Coastwalk Resource Links

 Half Moon Bay State Beach:

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=531

Burleigh H. Murray State Park:

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=535

Cowell-Purisima Trail:

https://openspacetrust.org/hike/cowell-purisima-trail/

HI Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel:

www.norcalhostels.org/montara

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve:

https://parks.smcgov.org/fitzgerald-marine-reserve

Jean Lauer Trail:

https://openspacetrust.org/hike/jean-lauer-trail/

San Pedro Valley Park:

https://parks.smcgov.org/san-pedro-valley-park

Devil’s Slide Trail:

https://parks.smcgov.org/devils-slide-trail