My Top 5 Local Adventures

There are few places in the world that offer the diverse selection of adventures that Half Moon Bay and its surroundings serves up.  The reasons why I fell in love with Half Moon Bay 7 years ago and why I could not see myself living anywhere else are all around us. Here is a list of my top 5 adventures in and around our area.

1) Mountain biking El Corte De Madera: The trails in El Corte de Madera serve up a variety of technical, steep, and swooping rides.  While a beginning rider may find some trails accessible here, many of the rides include fast descents, long climbs, tight turns and even a few rock- strewn, sandy turns making it a mecca for more experienced mountain bikers. Perhaps my favorite trail in this particular park is called Steam Donkey. This short gripping downhill tucks between tall trees, beginning with a hop over a downed tree and finishing with a tight left turn before dumping out onto another classic trail – blue blossom. For a more beginner friendly option check out Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve or Purisima Creek State Park.

2) Rock Climbing in Castle Rock State Park:  The Tafoni sandstone in Castle Rock is well-known for its sloping, gritty features. While this is no Yosemite National Park, there is plenty of good climbing.  Most are accessible with just a short walk from the Park Entrance on Highway 35, about an hour north and east of Half Moon Bay. Even without a rope, this place offers sweeping views of  south across the Monterey Bay and is a great place for a family picnic or outing.  As with any cliff edge or hazardous area, it's important to always be aware of your surroundings.

3) Kayaking Pillar Point Harbor and Beyond:  The waters off of our coast are cold and active with waves, whitewash, and sea life.  Venturing beyond the placid waters of the harbor is recommended for those who are familiar with  self-rescue techniques and who are fully prepared to be tossed and even turned.  While tranquil days do allow even inexperienced paddlers to peruse the rock reef off Pillar Point, this place can whip up massive waves just a little further from shore.

4) Surfing Francis Beach Break:  While no one can actually call what I do surfing (it's more like swimming with a board) I do really enjoy getting out into the water and at least attempting to catch waves.  The Francis Beach Break is hardly a beginner surf spot.  Strong rip tides and fast closing waves are just a few of the dangers one might encounter on a paddle out.  Etiquette is important to the soul of surfing.  You wait your turn, look out for your friends and neighbors, and pay attention to the subtle hints of the tides, wind, and swell direction. Sitting on a board as the sun goes down can be as spiritual as any experience I’ve ever had, and riding the last wave in as the sky darkens can literally be breath-taking (especially if you eat it as I often do).

5) Cycling between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz: Sure, Highway 1 is a classic ride, but there is so much more to our coastal roads than the windswept expanses between here and Santa Cruz, some 50 miles south.  The roads leading to and from Skyline offer a variety of difficulty and technicality, from the relatively short push up Purisima Creek Road to the protracted lung buster of Tunitas Creek or Alpine Road.  Now I should admit that road riding (or cycling as most call it) did not come easily to me.  Mostly, I didn't like the thought of wearing tights, but as I watched the Tour de France one year I realized that this was a sport which demanded as much strength, endurance, commitment and determination as mountain biking – if not more. Ever since I have been exploring the back roads of San Mateo County and have grown to enjoy the mechanics and strategy of cycling and used it to augment my love of the speed and serenity that riding on trails offers.

These are a few of my favorite adventures in the Half Moon Bay area.  While my sense of adventure may involve more risks than some, the moral of the story is that this place is amazing! And for those of us who are fortunate enough to live here, adventure awaits just out our proverbial back (or front) door.   So what are your favorite activities and destinations on the coast?