UPDATE: Three-Mile Section of Coastal Trail Opens Today Near Half Moon Bay
Peninsula Open Space District and Coastal Conservancy leaders host ribbon cutting at Cowell-Purisima Trail.
Photos
Update 6/26: Nina Nowak at POST reports to Half Moon Bay Patch that "Hikers from either direction, north or south, will find right now that about halfway along the Cowell-Purisima Trail they will be blocked from continuing on the trail. That's because of a large washout close to the cliff along the trail. The trail has to be routed and that will take a few weeks, not sure how long. So hikers from the north can hike about half way down, return to the northern lot, then drive to the southern trailhead and do the other half from there. Just a temporary situation."
With today's opening of the Cowell-Purisima Trail three miles south of Half Moon Bay, hikers, beachgoers and nature lovers will gain an additional section of the Coastal Trail from which to enjoy their outdoor pursuits.
The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), the California Coastal Conservancy, and representatives of San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley and Assemblyman Rich Gordon will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon at the trail overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The three-mile section of the trail took 25 years to open, according to a press release issued by POST on Wednesday.
In addition to its ocean vistas, the trail boasts views of ocean bluffs, mountain vistas and farm fields. Hikers can also enjoy surveying the landscape on bridges which transport foot traffic over area creeks.
Because of parking constraints at Cowell Ranch State Beach, the ceremony is by invitation only.
Half Moon Bay Patch will report from the event. Check back for photos of the ceremony and the new trail.
Richard Whitmarsh
9:09 pm on Monday, July 25, 2011
I guess "open" is a somewhat relative term...I attempted to ride the trail today; MOST OF THROUGH TRAIL CLOSED; Trailhead gated off at the north end of the bluff, and access at the south end is limited to the stretch south of Purisima Creek.
Brian Ginna
2:50 pm on Tuesday, July 26, 2011
From another article: The trail is open on a restricted schedule for the summer.
The north end from Cowell Beach to the second bridge is open on weekends but closed during the week from June to September due to agriculture operations.
The south end from the Purisma parking lot will be open to the south end of Purisma Creek. Work continues on the creek trail.
When complete, the entire trail will be open every day during the winter.
http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/articles/photos-virtual-tour-of-new-cowell-purisima-trail
http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/articles/photos-virtual-tour-of-new-cowell-purisima-trail
Kristine Wong
6:58 pm on Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Information on another temporary closure comes from Nina Nowak at POST. She reports that there was a large washout halfway along the trail, so that the trail needs to be routed and has been closed from hikers in either direction. See top of the article under "Update" for directions on how to go from one end to the other during the temporary closure period.
Brian Ginna
8:38 am on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
"Temporary" in POST's dialect can be measured in years. They have never been in any rush to have people on any of their properties except for farmers who do give them some income.
Richard Whitmarsh
9:26 am on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
>>"Hikers from either direction, north or south, will find right now that about halfway along the Cowell-Purisima Trail they will be blocked..."
On Monday (2 days ago), I found the north trailhead fenced off at the bluff; Will it will be open as far as Purisima Creek on the weekend?
Stuart Nafey
12:18 pm on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
I believe the trail access from Cowell Ranch Beach will be open up to the second bridge on the weekend.