The Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is located on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay. This magnificent preserve, encompassing 2,633 acres, offers hikers, equestrians, and bicyclists a wide variety of environments. The preserve was established with a gift of $2 million from Save the Redwoods League. Purisima Creek Canyon provides towering redwoods and an understory of ferns, berries, and wildflowers. Bordering the cool, moist canyon is Harkins Ridge with coastal scrub to the north, and a hardwood forest of tanoak, madrone and Douglas fir to the south. Twenty miles of developed trails and historical logging roads exist on the preserve. The two-mile Harkins Fire Trail, accessible from the northerly parking area, connects the parking area to Purisima Creek Road where you can ascend back to Skyline Boulevard via the Whittemore Gulch Trail. The Soda Gulch Trail, which connects Harkins Ridge Trail and Purisima Creek Trail, is closed to bicyclists and equestrians. Hikers may enjoy a forest experience, with giant trees, redwood sorrel, and ferns along the creek banks. A six-mile portion of the Bay Area Ridge Trail passes through the preserve. The beautiful quarter-mile-long Redwood Trail provides for visitors with special needs, including those using baby strollers, wheelchairs, canes, or walkers. This trail offers the opportunity to enjoy an outing under a canopy of magnificent redwoods. A bench is located near the beginning of the trail and picnic tables and a restroom facility are located at the end. Directions: The preserve's main entrance and the North Ridge trailhead are located on Skyline Boulevard (Route 35) 4.5 miles south of Highway 92. Parking is available for 20 cars. For visitors going on the Redwood Trail, there is a five-car parking area at the trailhead 6.5 miles south of Highway 92. The preserve's western access point is off Higgins-Purisima Road, which intersects Highway 1 about one mile south of Half Moon Bay. It's a fairly long drive in to the gate. Just keep going, you'll find it. Parking is available for 10 cars. • Purdy Pharis:  An extreme journey across both guarded and exposed trails that is finished off with an unforgiving uphill climb over the craggy and precipitous slopes of Whittemore Gulch. • Uncle Nathan: A shaded sally under the thick redwood canopies of Soda Gulch and Purisima Creek that is wrapped up with a strenuous ascent up the lofty spires of Harkins Ridge. • Littlejohn Ways: At around mile 16 I was reduced to a pulpy and broken mass, devastated by the fact I did not have enough water!! Various shots taken after the '06 New Years storms while running Purdy Pharis in Purisima Creek. This was fun!! View »