Purisima Creek Trail from Higgins Canyon Road
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Purisima Creek Trail from the Purisima Creek Road trailhead is a Half Moon Bay starting spot for hiking in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve, which has trailheads in other locations as well.
Location: Purisima Creek Trail from the Purisima Creek Road Trailhead is located at the junction of Higgins Canyon Road and Purisima Creek Road in Half Moon Bay, CA
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser. (Information links may change. We do our best to update.)
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve info link (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space):
https://www.openspace.org/preserves/purisima-creek-redwoods
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve directions and parking info link (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space):
https://www.openspace.org/preserves/purisima-creek-redwoods#parking
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve further info link (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space):
https://www.openspace.org/preserves/purisima-creek-redwoods#events-activities
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve trail map (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space):
https://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/map_PCR.pdf
Distance:
There are many miles of trails in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve. The photo gallery here covers approximately a 2.4-mile round trip hike. From the Purisima Creek parking area/trailhead at the intersection of Higgins Canyon Road and Purisima Creek Road to the intersection with the Borden Hatch Mill Trail is 1.1 mile, and then it’s another 0.1 miles to the intersection with the Grabtown Gulch Trail. Hikers who choose to explore these side trails can add a 3.9-mile loop to the out-and-back shorter hike we did.
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• This trailhead parking area is located at the intersection of Higgins Canyon Road and Purisima Creek Road, and can be reached from either road. Though Higgins Canyon Road is closer for those driving south on Route 1, it is a windier road with more cliff edges, so takes as much time driving from the north as it does to drive further south on Route 1 and take Purisima Creek Road. Those who don’t like driving on narrow curvy roads along steep drops may prefer Purisima Creek Road, but they’re both scenic.
• There are toilets at the parking area.
• Heed health and safety notices, including wildlife alerts.
• Dogs not allowed, horses and bicycles allowed on some trails.
• Avoid contact with poison oak. A scrub such as Technu helps in case of poison oak contact.
• Bay Area weather can switch between chilly and foggy and warm and sunny in the blink of an eye. We always bring layers.
The trail:
Part of the experience of hiking from the Purisima Creek Road trailhead at the northwestern part of the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve is getting there. From Route 1 in Half Moon Bay, there’s a very short Main St. connector to get on Higgins Canyon Road. This is a scenic road, but it is narrow, twisty, and goes along cliff edges with no barricades. Some people might prefer the less curvy, fewer-cliff-edges route along Purisima Creek Road. We enjoyed driving Higgins Canyon Road in and then took Purisima Creek Road out back to Route 1.
There’s a bit of open sky at the parking area/trailhead, but sunshine and blue sky are soon obscured by a deeper forest feel along this trail that combines redwoods, oak trees, moss and ferns.
The trail is dirt covered with leaves and pine needles, which makes for a relatively smooth, soft path, and Purisima Creek parallels the Purisima Creek Trail. We noticed likely spots for stopping by the creek for a snack break as we walked our outward leg.
The late autumn sun didn’t pierce through the forest as brightly as it would on a summer visit, but the more subdued light seemed to make the colors of yellow leaves and green moss stand out even more.
We watched for the trail markers for Borden Hatch Mill Trail and then Grabtown Gulch Trail as our distance markers to turn back. The temptation to take any of several longer trail combinations was strong (see map link above), but we were limited to a shorter walk this visit.
On the return leg, we ambled down to a welcoming spot by the creek, which was running briskly despite years of drought. The deep forest feel of Purisima Creek Trail has its own dark charm, but seeing the sky open up to sunshine on our return to the trailhead was also cheering.
We look forward to trying other trails from other trailheads in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve again soon.
Purisima Creek Trail from Higgins Canyon Road Hike Notes were originally paired with the “As the Leaves Fall” 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)
Purisima Creek Trail from the Purisima Creek Road trailhead is a Half Moon Bay starting spot for hiking in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve, which has trailheads in other locations as well.
Location: Purisima Creek Trail from the Purisima Creek Road Trailhead is located at the junction of Higgins Canyon Road and Purisima Creek Road in Half Moon Bay, CA
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser. (Information links may change. We do our best to update.)
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve info link (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space):
https://www.openspace.org/preserves/purisima-creek-redwoods
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve directions and parking info link (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space):
https://www.openspace.org/preserves/purisima-creek-redwoods#parking
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve further info link (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space):
https://www.openspace.org/preserves/purisima-creek-redwoods#events-activities
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve trail map (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space):
https://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/map_PCR.pdf
Distance:
There are many miles of trails in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve. The photo gallery here covers approximately a 2.4-mile round trip hike. From the Purisima Creek parking area/trailhead at the intersection of Higgins Canyon Road and Purisima Creek Road to the intersection with the Borden Hatch Mill Trail is 1.1 mile, and then it’s another 0.1 miles to the intersection with the Grabtown Gulch Trail. Hikers who choose to explore these side trails can add a 3.9-mile loop to the out-and-back shorter hike we did.
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• This trailhead parking area is located at the intersection of Higgins Canyon Road and Purisima Creek Road, and can be reached from either road. Though Higgins Canyon Road is closer for those driving south on Route 1, it is a windier road with more cliff edges, so takes as much time driving from the north as it does to drive further south on Route 1 and take Purisima Creek Road. Those who don’t like driving on narrow curvy roads along steep drops may prefer Purisima Creek Road, but they’re both scenic.
• There are toilets at the parking area.
• Heed health and safety notices, including wildlife alerts.
• Dogs not allowed, horses and bicycles allowed on some trails.
• Avoid contact with poison oak. A scrub such as Technu helps in case of poison oak contact.
• Bay Area weather can switch between chilly and foggy and warm and sunny in the blink of an eye. We always bring layers.
The trail:
Part of the experience of hiking from the Purisima Creek Road trailhead at the northwestern part of the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve is getting there. From Route 1 in Half Moon Bay, there’s a very short Main St. connector to get on Higgins Canyon Road. This is a scenic road, but it is narrow, twisty, and goes along cliff edges with no barricades. Some people might prefer the less curvy, fewer-cliff-edges route along Purisima Creek Road. We enjoyed driving Higgins Canyon Road in and then took Purisima Creek Road out back to Route 1.
There’s a bit of open sky at the parking area/trailhead, but sunshine and blue sky are soon obscured by a deeper forest feel along this trail that combines redwoods, oak trees, moss and ferns.
The trail is dirt covered with leaves and pine needles, which makes for a relatively smooth, soft path, and Purisima Creek parallels the Purisima Creek Trail. We noticed likely spots for stopping by the creek for a snack break as we walked our outward leg.
The late autumn sun didn’t pierce through the forest as brightly as it would on a summer visit, but the more subdued light seemed to make the colors of yellow leaves and green moss stand out even more.
We watched for the trail markers for Borden Hatch Mill Trail and then Grabtown Gulch Trail as our distance markers to turn back. The temptation to take any of several longer trail combinations was strong (see map link above), but we were limited to a shorter walk this visit.
On the return leg, we ambled down to a welcoming spot by the creek, which was running briskly despite years of drought. The deep forest feel of Purisima Creek Trail has its own dark charm, but seeing the sky open up to sunshine on our return to the trailhead was also cheering.
We look forward to trying other trails from other trailheads in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve again soon.
Purisima Creek Trail from Higgins Canyon Road Hike Notes were originally paired with the “As the Leaves Fall” 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
