Devil’s Slide Coast: a collection of protected lands and marine areas that starts just north of the Devil's Slide Tunnel and stretches to the famed Mavericks surf break.

Mori Point is a haven for walkers and wildlife. Take an easy boardwalk stroll to the ocean, then go north for another scenic walk along the California Coastal Trail or go south and climb spectacular stairs for top-of-the-world ocean views. Terrain is varied: walks range from a level half-mile stroll to a steep 1.5-mile hike. The endangered San Francisco garter snake and the threatened California red-legged frog find protection in Mori Point’s native coastal prairie vegetation.

These two beaches in the City of Pacifica are popular with surfers, anglers and visitors out for a stroll. Pacifica State Beach offers a recreation trail along the ocean, surfing and surf camps, restrooms and showers, and is popular with dog walkers. Fish the surf at Rockaway Beach, or watch the sunset framed by bluffs and rock formations just offshore. Beaches are open from dawn to dusk year-round.

Come explore the spectacular Pedro Point Headlands, a 246-acre park laced with dramatic trails and heart-stopping views of the cliffs below. You’ll quickly leave all sights and sounds of the highway behind as you hike to the top of the coastal ridge and gaze down on your own private view of the pounding surf. Look carefully and you can see the path of the old Ocean Shore Railroad.

The historic completion of the Devil's Slide Tunnel has opened a playground for hikers, bikers and explorers on the cliff-hugging road which was Highway 1. This new section of the California Coastal Trail offers stunning views of dramatic rock formations and the crashing surf below. Enjoy picnic tables, benches, restrooms and information kiosks. LEARN MORE

The California Coastal Trail (CCT) is one of the great trails of our nation. Once completed, it will extend 1,200 miles from the Oregon to Mexican borders, and will provide a network of public trails for walkers, bikers, equestrians, wheelchair-riders and others along the California coastline.
While informal trails along our coast have been used for centuries, the CCT’s recent history began in 1972 when California passed Proposition 20 recommending that a trails system be established along or near the coast. Today, over half of the CCT is complete.
The CCT is a “braided” trail system. Some sections are on the beach or the bluffs above, others run along the shoulder of Highway One or nearby roads. The trail connects travelers to California’s varied and ever-changing landscapes. Wherever you travel on the CCT, you can find spectacular ocean views and memorable glimpses of marine life.

Montara State Beach is a beautiful sandy cove nestled among majestic cliffs. Although swimming is not recommended, the beach offers picturesque views and a variety of recreational activities. Whether surf fishing, kite-flying, beachcombing or just relaxing, there are many ways to enjoy this magnificent beach. Layered clothing is recommended and beach accesses are steep.

A guided tour of the reserve at low tide allows a peek into the abundant marine life that populates this unique intertidal habitat. No collecting of plants or animals is allowed at this Marine Protected Area. Nearby, the historic Point Montara Light Station’s restored turn-of-the-century buildings offer travelers a beautiful picnic spot or overnight stay in its hostel.

The bluff offers hikers, joggers and dog walkers a chance to take in the sights and sounds of the Pacific Ocean. The bluff includes a section of the California Coastal Trail and offers views of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and other area landmarks, including Mavericks—the home of big-wave surfing. South of the bluff in Princeton is Pillar Point Harbor, home port to the area’s commercial fishing industry, sport fishermen and pleasure boaters.

At nearly 4,000 acres, Rancho Corral de Tierra is one of the largest expanses of protected land on the Devil’s Slide Coast. Once proposed for development, this stunning, mountainous terrain is now national parkland. The dramatic ascent of Montara Mountain from the sea offers spectacular views of the entire San Francisco Bay Area.

Rugged and beautiful, McNee Ranch marks a northern spur of the Santa Cruz Mountains and features the only undisturbed coastal mountain habitat found on more than 100 miles of coastline. A part of Montara State Beach, the park contains a network of trails of varying difficulty and usage, and is appealing to hikers, mountain bicyclists and equestrians. At 1,898 feet, its peak offers sweeping vistas of the entire Bay Area.

The 1,100 acres of this lush park offer something for everyone: miles of trails, several year-round creeks, rugged coastal scrub and green valleys, as well as a visitor center, a self-guided nature trail, and picnic sites. Often sunny when the rest of the San Mateo County Coast is foggy, San Pedro Valley Park is popular with hikers.

The San Mateo County Historical Association provides tours of the adobe and special programs, including demonstrations of brick making and corn grinding and the annual Rancho Day in September. School tours are scheduled through the San Mateo County Historical Association.

Standing on Sweeney Ridge in the fall of 1769, Spanish soldiers of the trail-blazing Gaspar de Portolà expedition were the first Europeans to lay eyes on San Francisco Bay. Today, this national parkland offers hiking opportunities, as well as chances to volunteer on habitat restoration projects that benefit the native plants and animals that live here. If it’s foggy on the coast, climb up a thousand feet and get the reward that those early explorers did—a view of the Golden Gate.