View from the Whittemore Gulch Trail in Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve. (Haley Edmonston)

Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail and Parking Area

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When built, the long-envisioned Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail will link the California Coastal Trail to the Bay Area Ridge Trail, allowing open space visitors to travel on trail between the Pacific Ocean, through grassy ridgelines, canyons and forests, to the ridgeline of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail will eventually be part of the larger 40-mile Bay-to-Sea Trail, an envisioned but not yet realized regional trail that would connect the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean.

Work started in early 2021 to begin planning the Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail and parking area. There will be multiple opportunities throughout the project for public input. To stay informed, please sign up for our email list below.

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Public Access, Education, and Outreach
Public Access
illustration of the sun setting over hills
Coastside

Project Components

The specific components of the Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail and parking area project are:

  • Approximately 5 miles of new trail linking to the existing Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve trail system.
  • New parking area and trailhead.
  • Connector and roadway trails linking to the California Coastal Trail.

This project creates an opportunity to create improved parking capacity for coastal and preserve access in the area.

Stay informed!

Sign up to receive project updates and notifications about this project and Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve.

Planning Process

The multi-year planning process will include identifying the project goals in alignment with Midpen's coastal mission, a feasibility study and robust community engagement with project stakeholders. Conceptual designs would then need to go through an environmental review and public process followed by design development, permitting and construction. 

Timeline

2004Midpen boundaries expand to include the San Mateo County Coast after a vote by residents.
2004-2020Midpen works in a public-private partnership with POST preserving a corridor of open space from Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve to the coast. 
2021-2022PHASE 1: Feasibility studies and public planning process with support from Coastal Conservancy grant and Measure AA funds.
Spring 2021Opportunities and constraints analysis, technical studies and focus groups. 
Dec. 1, 2021

Public Workshop: Presentation of opportunities and constraints, identification of project goals and scope with Midpen board of directors. (Agenda, staff report and minutes)

Breakout Room Results: Site Diagrams:
Mid-March 2022Online Public Survey: Opportunity for the public to provide information and input on Purisima-to-the-Sea trails and parking and Purisima Multimodal Access Study.

Summer 2022

June 29, 2022 - In-person public open house in Half Moon Bay

July 13, 2022 - Virtual public open house

Oct. 11, 2022Public Committee Meeting: Review draft conceptual design options with Midpen board committee. (agenda and minutes)
May 24, 2023Public Board Meeting: Review draft conceptual design options with Midpen board of directors. (agenda and minutes)
CURRENT 2024Trail and Parking Area design development to 65% in preparation for required environmental review process. 
2025 (tentative)Environmental review and public comment process.
2026-27 (tentative)Final design development, construction documents, permitting.
2027 (tentative)Public bidding process and construction begins. 

 

Purisima-to-the-Sea Project Timeline
Funded by Measure AA 2014 Open Space Bond

Funding

This project is supported by Measure AA, a 30-year, $300 million bond passed by local voters in 2014 to support Midpen’s community-created Vision Plan top 25 priorities support this project. 

Additional Funding

The California Coastal Conservancy awarded Midpen a $300,000 grant to fund the initial feasibility studies in 2021. Future grants to support the project will be sought. 

Partners

Planning the Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail is possible thanks to the support of local voters, and public and nonprofit conservation partners including POST, Midpen's public-private partnership with POST enabled the open space land required for the trail to be preserved over many years.
Peninsula Open Space Trust

Documents and Reports

En Español-Proyectos de Acceso Público en la Reserva de Espacio Abierto de Purísima Creek Redwoods

En Español-El estudio de viabilidad del sendero regional Purisima-to-the-Sea y de la zona de estacionamiento

Public Access Projects in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Reserve

Purisima-to-the-Sea Regional Trail and Parking Area Feasibility Study

Purisima-to-the-Sea Preferred Trail Alignment

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