Story:
Purisima Creek Redwoods is one of my favorite local spots to hike because along the creek you get densely packed vegetation and creeks and well maintained trails. Not much wildlife because it's a popular spot for hikers, but the flora can be nice. It's always a go-to spot for me when in the summer because it's always cool and shaded.
But this is because I've always meandered up the middle or around the south side of the park. I learned on this hike that a scurry up Harkins Ridge and back down Whittemore Gulch trail is a great way to get some nice winter sun (while still getting the dense vegetation and shade at the bottom) and some amazing views to-boot.
This trip is worth the ocean views alone -- a dazzle around every corner. I chose to create a loop by heading up Harkins Ridge trail and then back down Whittemore Gulch trail. I saw a few hikers, no mountain bikers, a regular harvest of mushrooms and some hawks and that was about it. Oh yes, and the ocean and lots of sun. It was a perfect cure for my wintertime blues. (Though to be clear, I think it's not too much to avoid this one in the summer.)
Purisima Creek Redwoods is one of my favorite local spots to hike because along the creek you get densely packed vegetation and creeks and well maintained trails. Not much wildlife because it's a popular spot for hikers, but the flora can be nice. It's always a go-to spot for me when in the summer because it's always cool and shaded.
But this is because I've always meandered up the middle or around the south side of the park. I learned on this hike that a scurry up Harkins Ridge and back down Whittemore Gulch trail is a great way to get some nice winter sun (while still getting the dense vegetation and shade at the bottom) and some amazing views to-boot.
This trip is worth the ocean views alone -- a dazzle around every corner. I chose to create a loop by heading up Harkins Ridge trail and then back down Whittemore Gulch trail. I saw a few hikers, no mountain bikers, a regular harvest of mushrooms and some hawks and that was about it. Oh yes, and the ocean and lots of sun. It was a perfect cure for my wintertime blues. (Though to be clear, I think it's not too much to avoid this one in the summer.)
Tips:
You'll notice my GPS didn't kick in until about 15 minutes into it, so add about 1/2 mile to the distance. There's plenty of parking at the PC05 entrance, though you may have to park down the road.
You could also park up on Skyline and hike down first and then back up (either trail).
Trail map here:
http://www.openspace.org/preserves/maps/pr_purisima.pdf
You'll notice my GPS didn't kick in until about 15 minutes into it, so add about 1/2 mile to the distance. There's plenty of parking at the PC05 entrance, though you may have to park down the road.
You could also park up on Skyline and hike down first and then back up (either trail).
Trail map here:
http://www.openspace.org/preserves/maps/pr_purisima.pdf
Tags:
purisima creek
purisima creek
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