Heather Cutoff Trail
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Heather Cutoff Trail, slightly north Muir Beach Overlook on Route 1/Shoreline Highway
Starting Point: Less than half a mile north of the Muir Beach Overlook road on Route 1, there is a trailhead parking area on the coast side of the road. On the inland side, the Coastal Trail goes 0.3 miles north to a trail junction. Heather Cutoff Trail heads northeast from this point.
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Heather Cutoff Trail info link (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy):
https://www.parksconservancy.org/trails/heather-cutoff-trail
Mount Tamalpais State Park brochure with map link (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/471/files/MountTamalpaisSPFinalWebLayout110816.pdf
Distance:
The Parks Conservancy information notes the Heather Cutoff Trail as 2.67 miles roundtrip, which means from the Coastal Trail junction at the top to the end of the trail in the meadow below at Redwood Creek near Frank Valley Road and the Redwood Creek Trail.
Considerations:
• The closest toilet facilities to the Heather Cutoff Trail are at the Muir Beach Overlook parking lot, a short distance south of the Coastal Trail trailhead on Route 1 (take Muir Beach Overlook road up to parking area).
• The Heather Cutoff Trail is mostly an open path with little shade. Sun protection is in order for sunny days, and layers with wind protection for cold, windy days.
• This path was clearly marked as “No bikes,” but mountain bikers made a close call passing us on a narrow stretch of trail. Make space for runners.
• There is a fair amount of trailhead parking. We parked at Muir Beach Overlook and walked to the Heather Cutoff Trail, but don’t recommend that due to lack of safe walking space along Route 1.
• Avoid contact with poison oak. Technu or another scrub helps in case of contact.
• Check for ticks if in contact with brush.
• Be aware of wildlife and health and safety notices.
The trail:
There is a relatively large roadside space for trailhead parking on Route 1/Shoreline Highway on the coast side of the road less than half a mile north of the Muir Beach Overlook turnoff. The Coastal Trail start is marked by billowy patches of heather within easy view of where the trail meets the road. Always on the lookout for a bathroom before starting our hikes, we parked at the Muir Beach Overlook parking lot and decided to walk the less than half mile to the trailhead. Due to narrow walking space and traffic, we do not recommend walking along Route 1 unless necessary. Hikers can stop at the Muir Beach Overlook bathroom and then go on to park at the trailhead parking.
The big pinkish purple heather I’d remembered from a past hike was right near the start of the Coastal Trail off Route 1. As we were driving to reach this area, we also saw what looked like rivers of pale purple flowing down the gray-green hills in the distance. The color combination is magical.
We noted the trail sign saying it was 0.3 miles to the junction with the Heather Cutoff Trail (another option was to take a much longer walk on the Coast View Trail, eventually connecting to the Dipsea Trail). Once at the Heather Cutoff Trail, we faced inland and made our way along the coastal scrub, chaparral trail edged by coyote brush much of the way.
We soon saw the hallmark switchback turns of the Heather Cutoff Trail cut into the hills ahead. Aside from an occasional patch of trees, the main part of this trail is open without much shade until getting toward the bottom, where there is more tree cover as the trail opens up to the meadow that leads toward Redwood Creek and Frank Valley Road.
We stuck to the zigzag switchback section of the trail this time, with several runners passing us by as they headed down and then back up for a scenic workout. The trail is clearly marked prohibiting bikes, but mountain bikers surprised us on a sharp turn despite that. Be aware.
Despite my anticipation of enjoying pale purple heather along the trail, I was reminded of my realization on my first hike here years ago that the heather is not actually along the trail, but is gloriously present near the start of the Coastal Trail, and makes for beautiful color patches on the hills in the distance. We did see some colorful wildflowers, a couple of orange varieties and a blue one, none of which I had specific identifications for.
This makes for a good hike on its own, or combined with a further walk along the Redwood Creek Trail below which starts from near the Pelican Inn. It is also a nice walk added to a visit to Muir Beach or Muir Beach Overlook. Just don’t expect to see heather on the trail itself!
Other nearby hikes to try: Muir Beach to Pirates Cove, Muir Beach Overlook, Owl Trail, Slide Ranch and Tidepool Walk.
Heather Cutoff Trail Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Purple Haze” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Heather Cutoff Trail, slightly north Muir Beach Overlook on Route 1/Shoreline Highway
Starting Point: Less than half a mile north of the Muir Beach Overlook road on Route 1, there is a trailhead parking area on the coast side of the road. On the inland side, the Coastal Trail goes 0.3 miles north to a trail junction. Heather Cutoff Trail heads northeast from this point.
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Heather Cutoff Trail info link (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy):
https://www.parksconservancy.org/trails/heather-cutoff-trail
Mount Tamalpais State Park brochure with map link (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/471/files/MountTamalpaisSPFinalWebLayout110816.pdf
Distance:
The Parks Conservancy information notes the Heather Cutoff Trail as 2.67 miles roundtrip, which means from the Coastal Trail junction at the top to the end of the trail in the meadow below at Redwood Creek near Frank Valley Road and the Redwood Creek Trail.
Considerations:
• The closest toilet facilities to the Heather Cutoff Trail are at the Muir Beach Overlook parking lot, a short distance south of the Coastal Trail trailhead on Route 1 (take Muir Beach Overlook road up to parking area).
• The Heather Cutoff Trail is mostly an open path with little shade. Sun protection is in order for sunny days, and layers with wind protection for cold, windy days.
• This path was clearly marked as “No bikes,” but mountain bikers made a close call passing us on a narrow stretch of trail. Make space for runners.
• There is a fair amount of trailhead parking. We parked at Muir Beach Overlook and walked to the Heather Cutoff Trail, but don’t recommend that due to lack of safe walking space along Route 1.
• Avoid contact with poison oak. Technu or another scrub helps in case of contact.
• Check for ticks if in contact with brush.
• Be aware of wildlife and health and safety notices.
The trail:
There is a relatively large roadside space for trailhead parking on Route 1/Shoreline Highway on the coast side of the road less than half a mile north of the Muir Beach Overlook turnoff. The Coastal Trail start is marked by billowy patches of heather within easy view of where the trail meets the road. Always on the lookout for a bathroom before starting our hikes, we parked at the Muir Beach Overlook parking lot and decided to walk the less than half mile to the trailhead. Due to narrow walking space and traffic, we do not recommend walking along Route 1 unless necessary. Hikers can stop at the Muir Beach Overlook bathroom and then go on to park at the trailhead parking.
The big pinkish purple heather I’d remembered from a past hike was right near the start of the Coastal Trail off Route 1. As we were driving to reach this area, we also saw what looked like rivers of pale purple flowing down the gray-green hills in the distance. The color combination is magical.
We noted the trail sign saying it was 0.3 miles to the junction with the Heather Cutoff Trail (another option was to take a much longer walk on the Coast View Trail, eventually connecting to the Dipsea Trail). Once at the Heather Cutoff Trail, we faced inland and made our way along the coastal scrub, chaparral trail edged by coyote brush much of the way.
We soon saw the hallmark switchback turns of the Heather Cutoff Trail cut into the hills ahead. Aside from an occasional patch of trees, the main part of this trail is open without much shade until getting toward the bottom, where there is more tree cover as the trail opens up to the meadow that leads toward Redwood Creek and Frank Valley Road.
We stuck to the zigzag switchback section of the trail this time, with several runners passing us by as they headed down and then back up for a scenic workout. The trail is clearly marked prohibiting bikes, but mountain bikers surprised us on a sharp turn despite that. Be aware.
Despite my anticipation of enjoying pale purple heather along the trail, I was reminded of my realization on my first hike here years ago that the heather is not actually along the trail, but is gloriously present near the start of the Coastal Trail, and makes for beautiful color patches on the hills in the distance. We did see some colorful wildflowers, a couple of orange varieties and a blue one, none of which I had specific identifications for.
This makes for a good hike on its own, or combined with a further walk along the Redwood Creek Trail below which starts from near the Pelican Inn. It is also a nice walk added to a visit to Muir Beach or Muir Beach Overlook. Just don’t expect to see heather on the trail itself!
Other nearby hikes to try: Muir Beach to Pirates Cove, Muir Beach Overlook, Owl Trail, Slide Ranch and Tidepool Walk.
Heather Cutoff Trail Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Purple Haze” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
