Cowell-Purisima Trail Hike

10 a.m. Meeting: at the Cowell Ranch Beach Access Parking at the North of the Trail, just past Half-Moon Bay (see map above). Free parking, and street parking if the lot is full.

FYI: dogs and horses are not allowed on the trail due to food safety concerns related to the adjacent farm fields and sensitive wildlife.

Cost: this is a free hike. But please register so we know who will be coming. Thank you.

Facilities: Restrooms are located at the start of the trail. 

To bring/wear:

• Walking shoes/boots 
• Hat/cap
• Comfortable clothes in layers
• Water bottle 
• Trailmix/snack
• Sunscreen
• Camera/binoculars

Location: Just South of Half-Moon Bay on CA-1 Highway

Cowell-Purisima Trail is a 3.6-mile gently graded path that winds along bluffs where farmland meets the Pacific Ocean. It's a part of the California Coastal Trail, which will one day span the entire length of the state. This area contains both beach and coastal scrub ecosystems.

We will walk the trail round trip making this an easy 7.2 miles. Most of this trail is double-wide with a compacted granite surface. It is a mostly flat trail between the ocean and the farmland with a +/- ½ mile canyon in the middle. The views are spectacular all along.

The Cowell-Purisima Trail has two different ecosystems: on one side is shoreline and open ocean, and the other is coastal scrubland mixed with agriculture. Keep your eyes open at all times, and be ready with your camera for the appearing fauna as you may see:

• Harbor seals on some of the beaches where the pups are born every year in March-April.
• Birds such as gulls and brown pelicans, grebes and sea ducks, sanderlings and plovers.
• Whales: the trail is also a popular spot to whale watch from land! In early spring, they are on their way back to Alaska.

In case of bad weather, the hike may be rescheduled. Communicate with the organizer: Pierre@bcnc.com.

To Register: email Pierre@bcnc.com. Include how many people will be coming and a phone number.
This is a BCNC Member FREE event. See membership info HERE.

Registrations need to be received by March 12.

For questions about this event, please contact Pierre@bcnc.com. For more information about this trail, click HERE.

NOTE:
Joining this activity is at your own risk, and you may be asked to sign a waiver.