• Schedule
• Trail Information
• Map
• Notes about this hike
• General notes about hiking trips
• Pictures from previous hikes

• 7:45 AM.  Meet at Saratoga Plaza (Lions Plaza), outside the french Cafe/Bakery (Bijan).  Exact address is  441 Saratoga Ave, San Jose.  It's just off 280 and Saratoga Ave.  See map information below for more details.  We will determine carpool arrangements if necessary.
• 8:00 AM.  Leave for Purisima Creek Redwoods.  It'll take about an hour to get there.
• 9:00 AM.  Start hiking - Start from the Purisima Creek Road parking and hike upwards via Harkins Ridge Trail to North Ridge Parking (half-way), then back down to finish the loop via the Whittemore Gulch trail.
• 12:30 PM.  Finish hiking the loop, head to Half Moon Bay downtown for lunch!
• 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM.  Finish lunch and head back to Bijan Bakery.

Location:  About 6 miles from Rt1/Half Moon Bay.
Distance: 7 miles (all up in the first half, all down in the second half)
Elevation change: +/- 1600 ft, starting elevation is about 500 ft.
Time: ~3 to 4 hrs, depending on breaks taken.
Difficulty:  Moderate
Trail conditions: Lots of shade and some sun.  ~2/3 shade, 1/3 shade.  Trails range from single man-width to car-width.
What to see:  The terrain is mostly redwoods and moist moss at the bottom alongside a lovely flowing creek, and open space with views of the ocean at the top (if it's not too foggy).

Park information: http://www.openspace.org/PURISIMA.html
Trail map: http://www.live.com/mtb/rides/Purisima.html

Bijan Bakery The Bijan bakery is in the Saratoga Square plaza (Lions Supermarket).  It is just off 280, a few miles south of 85 and a few miles north of 17.  This is our main meeting place where carpool will be arranged. Unless indicated otherwise, please meet here. 1. From 280 North or South, get off on Saratoga Ave, towards North (from 280 North, it would be right turn, from 280 South, it would be left turn).  2. Make a left on Kiely Blvd, it is about 1/4 mile from 280. 3.  Make a left into the plaza driveway.  You'll see a store with the sign "Bakery" closest to Kiely Rd.  Burger King is across the parking lot in the same plaze. 4.  We'll meet in front of the bakery, by some outdoor cafe tables.   Use this link to get directions from your starting point: Directions.

Purisima Creek Road parking 1. Take 280 North for about 20 miles, then take 92 West towards Half Moon Bay. 2.  On Rt 92 west, go all the way till you reach Rt 1.  3.  Go on Rt1 south (left turn from 92) for just about a mile - to the outer-edge of town.  Turn left (you'll see the Half Moon Bay Fire station on the left) onto Higgins Purisima Road. 4.  Higgins Purisima Road is small and can be quite windy so drive carefully.  Stay on it for about 5 to 6 miles.  5.  When you turn a very sharp corner (almost 180 degrees), you'll see a small parking lot on your left.  The park name may not be immediately visible, and the trail map post is actually not visible at all from the road but recessed in a little.  If the parking lot is full (it only holds like 6 cars), you can park on the right side of the road just outside the parking lot. If you are meeting us here, please wait by the trailmap post, about 50 steps beyond the parking lot.  Click on the map on the right to zoom in/out of the area.

Trail Map
We will follow the blue-arrows, starting at the Purisima Creek Road parking lot (lower-left on the map).  We'll take the Harkins Ridge Trail for about 3.5 miles up to the North Ridge Parking lot (upper-right on the map).  This half of the hike is mostly all uphill, with a total elevation gain of about 1400 ft.  There is a restroom at this midpoint.  After a break here, we'll head down via the North Ridge Trail, followed by the Whittemore Gulch Trail.  This half is also about 3.5 miles but almost entirely downhill and in shade, so it should be quite comfortable.

• We'll have lunch in downtown Half Moon Bay, so just bring snacks and water (2 - 3 bottles).
• The start of the hike is very shady and may be very foggy and cold due to the late summer weather pattern near the coast.  Please bring sweatshirts or light jackets.  Sweatpants is optional - you'll warm up once you start hiking, trust me!  Some parts of the trail will be quite sunny (if the fog burns off) so bring sunglasses if you like.
• Remember we're leaving the Bijan bakery promptly at 8AM, so get there a little earlier :)  If you're running late, please call me and let me know.  If you are meeting us at the parking lot, see the map above.  From 280/92 junction to the park's parking lot, I would say it'll take about 30 minutes, so plan accordingly.  We'll meet in the park entrance (by the trail map post) by about 8:50 AM and start hiking at 9!  Because the park entrance may be a little difficult to find, unless you've been there before, please follow us from Bijan.
• If you have any questions, email me (pthuang@aol.com) or call me at (650) 814-1169 (cell).

• 1 to 2 bottles of water (I'll have extras if you forget)
• Suntan lotion (I'll have a bottle)
• Snacks - dried fruits, granola bars, etc.
• Sturdy shoes - hiking shoes or sneakers
• Sweatshirt/jacket (in case), sweatpants or shorts
• Hat (for sunny hikes)
• Money (for food if wanted)

9/29 (Sat) Mission Peak - sunset/moonlight hike, potluck.

• 7/22/01 (19 people)