 Courtesy of www.coastwalk.org Coastwalk hikers trek along bluffs above the Pacific Ocean. |
Town Crier Report
Just across the foothills from Los Altos lies coastal San Mateo County, stretching from San Francisco south past Half Moon Bay. Coastwalk, a non-profit organization, leads multiday hikes along the coastline to introduce locals to their ocean shores.
“It’s really just over the hill - you can have fun close by,” Los Altos Hills resident Annemarie Rosengreen said of the San Mateo coastwalk scheduled for this summer. “And it’s not just a walk, it’s an environmental experience.”
San Mateo County is a mix of wild beaches, coastal towns and pristine marine reserves. It is home to one of the most important remaining coastal wetlands in California and has the tallest historic lighthouse in the United States. San Mateo County’s Año Nuevo State Reserve is the largest mainland breeding colony for northern elephant seals. While walking the San Mateo County stretch of the California Coastal Trail, one hikes a unique blend of rolling hills, steep cliffs, coastal farmland and broad beaches.
The hike averages six miles per day, and participants tote daypacks while their luggage is driven to each evening’s destination. Camping includes the coastal bluffs of Fitzgerald Marine reserve and a cozy lighthouse hostel, complete with a hot tub overlooking the crashing surf.
While hiking the San Mateo California Coastal Trail, campers will wet their toes exploring the tide pools at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, tour Pescadero Marsh and explore the town of Pescadero and the famous Duarte’s Tavern. At Francis State Beach the group will hike to the historical 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses on the West Coast. The trip’s final morning will explore Año Nuevo State Reserve, the site of a 350-acre dune field, one of the few remaining active dune fields on the California coast.
Coastwalk plans 3-8 day summer adventures along the California coast and year-round dayhikes. The San Mateo trip is scheduled July 31 to August 5 and still has spaces available. Individuals, friends, couples and families are welcome. Trips are planned, conducted and catered by Coastwalk volunteers.
The California Coastal Trail, a project in development by several nonprofits, is planned to stretch continuously from the Oregon to the Mexican borders.
For more information, visit www.coastwalk.org or call 800-550-6854.
