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Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,842 Google reviews · Running trail in Half Moon Bay, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Mountainside area with tall trees, offering canyon hikes, biking trails & horse-riding paths.
What runners say about Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
“At the bottom of the hill, the parking at Purisima Creek trailhead immediately leads to family friendly trails running flat, with beautiful redwoods & water access!”
“It was hot everywhere else in the bay area but here it was cooler in the gulch and under thee tree canopy.”
“Most of the time Purisima is serene, especially under the big redwood trees, yet it may get a bit crowded on weekends and peak hiking hours.”
I’m grateful that we are now have more access to the coastal trails thanks to POSTS and this is one of the beautiful trails there is in Half Moon Bay. Although, currently it’s only open during the weekend but it’s so worth walking through this trail.
Today I walked 10 miles in 5 hours 25K steps on my step counter, starting from North Ridge Parking lot, North Ridge Trail, Whittenmore Gulch Trail, Purisima Creek Trail, Craig Britton Trail, Harkins Ridge Trail back to North Ridge parking lot. I highly recommend this route. It was stunningly beautiful all along.
Gloriously pristine & variegated forest, well maintained but surprisingly steep trails take you from cool, foggy redwood groves to dense oak woods to exposed chaparral. The creek bottom feels deep, & is deep, with a wide trail alongside a gurgling creek, suitable for bikes but subject to muddy puddles.
Purisima Creek is a beautiful redwood forest with easy access from Skyline Blvd 35 and Half Moon Bay. This Open Space has a variety of trails with great views of rolling hills and green trees. When not foggy, you can clearly see the blue sea in Half Moon Bay.
Trail conditions & character
“At the bottom of the hill, the parking at Purisima Creek trailhead immediately leads to family friendly trails running flat, with beautiful redwoods & water access!”
“The parking space is very limited, so plan your outing early to ensure that you can have a spot and explore the scenery.”
“Gloriously pristine & variegated forest, well maintained but surprisingly steep trails take you from cool, foggy redwood groves to dense oak woods to exposed chaparral.”
“It was hot everywhere else in the bay area but here it was cooler in the gulch and under thee tree canopy.”
“The creek bottom feels deep, & is deep, with a wide trail alongside a gurgling creek, suitable for bikes but subject to muddy puddles.”
“Most of the time Purisima is serene, especially under the big redwood trees, yet it may get a bit crowded on weekends and peak hiking hours.”
“Definitely a hike I would recommend, and with its possibilities to add a few more trails on the way to create a loop with the Purisima Creek Trail is the cherry on top!”
“At the bottom of the hill, the parking at Purisima Creek trailhead immediately leads to family friendly trails running flat, with beautiful redwoods & water access!”
“Bathroom available at entrance, very small parking lot, but plenty of nearby on-street parking.”
Plan your run at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websiteopenspace.org
- Phone(650) 691-1200
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–6 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–6 PM |
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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