Pedro Point Headlands in Pacifica
After a very long break from hiking, we (me, the boys, and Lina) headed south to stretch our legs in pursuit of new views. Our move (over a year ago!) from the Sunset to Bernal Heights has been an improvement in just about every area, except for proximity to Marin hiking. What used to take 20 minutes to be on our way was now taking 45+ and what was a half day commitment had ballooned into a full day event.
Some very helpful coworkers pointed out that there is great hiking just 15-20 minutes south near Pacifica. What I had previously scoffed at was suddenly beckoning, and it did not disappoint! We parked at the north lot of the Devil's Slide trail and walked to the trailhead for Pedro Point Headlands. The entire trip, a rambling loop, was gorgeous. It zig zags along the coast, then through a grove of eucalyptus and thickets of native plants.I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of plant life — so many different colors, shapes, and textures, all haphazardly mixed together. And of course, the views of the Pacific Ocean that play hide and seek as you follow the trail offer great incentive to keep moving.
The area is being reclaimed from its previous life for dirt bikes. As such, few people seem to visit and the paths are still being cut. Though signage for the trails is installed (the entrance is very subtle), we had a tough time determining where to start. Instead of following the signed path, we headed up the steepest option and essentially worked our way around backwards. Luckily, once you've set off, the trails intersect often enough that it seemed difficult to get too lost. We didn't pass anyone else out on the trails, though at one point we saw a pair far off in the distance.
The one downside is the car noise that you hear at the beginning and end of the hike. It takes a solid 10 minutes or so on either end to move far enough away to drown out the sounds of the highway, a less than welcome reminder of what we left behind.
Easy 3 miles. Looking forward to returning and exploring more of the area.
