10 Best Hiking And Trekking Spots In Half Moon Bay, California

hiking in half moon bay
Collins
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 4 min read

Half Moon Bay is a quaint seaside community with an inviting appeal. Located in the countryside of Northern California, this unassuming small town is hidden by forested rolling hills and only accessed by a small two-lane country road. Blessed with cascading hillsides covered with lush forest trees, flowers, ranches, and farms, this region is a wonderful place for outdoor lovers to visit. It boasts of stunning beaches, scenic natural sites, breathtaking ocean views, and a glorious mountain backdrop, making it an ideal location for a weekend getaway. Aside from its several outdoor fun options, the town also has charming shops, lovely restaurants, and comfortable places to stay. Half Moon Bay’s terrain makes it a perfect place for bike riding, sunbathing, fishing, golfing, bird watching, and hiking. Here is a list of the best hiking and trekking spots in Half Moon Bay, California, you should check out.

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1. Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail

Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Runner1928 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The Coastside Trail in Half Moon Bay is one of the most popular hiking tracks in the area. Running along the beautiful Pacific Ocean, this trail offers you mesmerizing views of the ocean. There are several things to experience when you go on this 2-mile (3.2 kilometers) paved trail. Bird watchers get the chance to see some unique species of birds, and the trail also offers easy access to a lot of beautiful beaches along the coastline. It is a perfect path to experience for both beginners and professional hikers.

Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail

Address: Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail California 94019 USA

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2. Cowell-Purisima Trail

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Another famous hiking track in the town is Cowell-Purisima Trail. This out and back trail can be easily accessed from the city, and it is quite long. It’s opened all year round, about 7 miles (11.3 kilometers) long and relatively easy to complete. Hikers on this trail get to enjoy views of the gorgeous wildflowers on both sides, explore several relaxing spots and soak in the mesmerizing sights of the beautiful landscape. It is common to see other hikers, nature lovers, or fisherfolk on this path too.

Cowell-Purisima Trail

Address: Cowell Ranch Access, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, United States

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3. Wavecrest Open Space

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

An exciting trail that runs along Wavecrest’s north end, this path is easy to complete. Although Wavecrest Open Space welcomes a significant amount of visitors yearly, it is still a private and unique trail to go on. Offering a wonderful place to stretch your legs, this 1.5-mile (2.4 kilometers) hiking track also allows you to get a glimpse of lovely birds, and a quiet beach for you to relax in. You can even hit the trail with your dogs, but they must always be leashed.

Wavecrest Open Space

Address: Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, United States

Website: Dummy attraction

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 8am - 5pm; Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 5pm

Price: Free

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4. Farmer's Daughter Trail

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Farmer’s Daughter Trail is a lovely hiking path near the city. The trail, which is looped, features an excellent stable and several other exciting things. The entire town is filled with exciting outdoor fun options, and this trail is suitable for all hiking enthusiasts, regardless of skill level. It is the perfect place to spend quality time exploring nature with your romantic double or family. Dogs are also allowed here, but they have to be kept on leash.

Farmer's Daughter Trail

Address: Moss Beach, CA 94038, United States

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5. Purisima Creek Trail

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Overlooking the town from the slopes, The Purisma Creek Trail is an excellent track to take on. Featuring remarkable things like a flowing creek, lush greenery, ancient redwoods, berries, and wildflowers, Purisima is a trail you should not miss checking out. It is open to everyone regardless of their hiking experience and takes you through several breathtaking spots in the area. The trail’s terrain is mostly flat, so it is a fantastic path to try out with the family or friends.

Purisima Creek Trail

Address: 2805 Purisima Creek Rd Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

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6. Pines

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

2 Pines is an exciting trail in the heart of the Montara Mountain area. This track gets its peculiar name from the only two trees along its path. Although one of the trees doesn’t exist anymore, it is still called 2 Pines. One of the most open trails in the area, 2 Pines offers you stunning views of the scenic landscape and the beautiful nearby ocean. The outside track through nature has several spots where you can stop and savor the views.

2 Pines

Address: San Francisco Peninsula, California, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, United States

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7. Montara Mountain (top of mountain) Trailhead

Montara Mountain
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mike Weston used under CC BY 2.0

Where can you get to enjoy a breathtaking 180-degree view of the ocean in town? Simple answer, head straight to Montara Mountain trailhead. Running along the top of the monumental Montara Mountain, this path is an interesting and moderately challenging one to overcome. Even though it has a few steep points along its length, it also has a lot of vast areas, making it an ideal place for a beginner to follow.

Montara Mountain Trailhead

Address: N Peak Access Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, United States

Website: Montara Mountain Trailhead

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8. Poplar Beach trail

Half Moon Bay horse path
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Runner1928 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Seeing only a moderate amount of visitors each year, this out and back trail can be found near the fabulous Poplar Beach. The path which runs along the length of the beach is an excellent site for running, walking, hiking, and other activities. Every outdoor enthusiast that takes on it will be treated to sights of beautiful wildflowers. Your dogs can also join in the fun, but they must always be kept on a leash, though. It is ideal for all levels of hikers and opens throughout the year.

Poplar Beach trail

Address: 250 Poplar St, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, United States

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9. Burleigh H Murray Ranch

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

With many exciting hikes all around it, Burleigh H. Murray Ranch sits in a tranquil and beautiful valley. This historic farm and barn gives you the chance to go on any of its amazing short hikes surrounding its location. The hiking track takes you through lush hills, luxuriant eucalyptus and alder trees, and grassland areas up to a charming creek. You can relax and have a picnic by the stream before heading back to the town on this trail.

Burleigh H Murray Ranch

Address: 305 Higgins Canyon Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, United States

Website: Burleigh H Murray Ranch

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10. Blufftop Coastal Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Blufftop Coastal Park sits peacefully between Wavecrest and Half Moon Bay State Beach. Offering incredible views of the coastal area, this site has a trail that is perfect for a variety of activities including, walking, horseback riding, bicycling, and so much more. The path is of average difficulty as there are some steep areas, but it is also a very calming route through nature. It is a popular trail for bird watchers to get a glimpse of beautiful birds, from gulls to pelicans, kingbirds, etc.

Blufftop Coastal Park

Address: 152 Poplar StHalf Moon Bay, CA 94019

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Enjoy the coastal hikes in Half Moon Bay

View of the coastal cliffs in Half Moon Bay, California
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Elena.laps used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Sitting close to San Francisco, Half Moon Bay is a rustic town, sitting on the Californian coastline. Nestled in the middle of fog-covered hills and stunning green landscapes, this remarkable location is an ideal place for an exciting countryside holiday. Outdoor enthusiasts will especially love this town as there are several terrific hiking and trekking spots there.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Colins is a quiet individual who always tries to find the meaning and beauty of things around his environment. This passion has led him to begin his journey in photography and hiking nature...Read more

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