Full Review: Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve

The entrance to the preserve is just off Skyline Boulevard - look for the large wooden sign.  There is a large dirt parking lot that is rarely full.  They have a restroom but no running water.  Please note that this trail leads down a hill and all the trails that stem from this generally go downhill with not much flat walking area.  The trails are generally shady so they are perfect for the summer months when it can get very hot and can be quite cool and damp in the fall and winter. You may even see banana slugs crossing the trails during these times.

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_1.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_2.JPG

     Sign at preserve entrance                      Parking lot

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_3.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_3.5.JPG

               Trail entrance                                  Restroom

Follow the trail down the hill.  You will almost immediately come to a split in the path where hikers bear right and hikers and bicycles bear left.  If you want to avoid the bicycles, stay on the right – Bay Area Ridge Trail. Year round these trails are green and shady.

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_5.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_6.JPG

  Bear right at fork in the path                    Green trails

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_7.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_8.JPG

                 Greenery                      Sunlight thru the trees

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_9.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_10.JPG

                                    Shady tree views

After the switch backs, you will have views of the hills to your right. If you are lucky to have a clear day, you can start to see the Pacific Ocean through the trees.

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_11.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_12.JPG

                                           Trail views

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_13.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_14.JPG

             More trail views                              Switchback

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_15.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_16.JPG

                                      Views of the hills

After walking about 0.5 miles, you will come to a gate (see below).  This connects back up to the wide North Ridge Trail that is shared with bicyclists. At this gate, North Ridge Trail meets up with Whittemore Gulch Trail.  Bear right at this fork in the road to stay on the North Ridge Trail.

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_17.JPG

 Whittemore Gulch connection

The North Ridge Trail proceeds downhill for another 1.2 miles and continues through the shady Redwood forest.   The trail will meet up with another trail on the left, so stay to the right to continue on North Ridge Trail.  After a while, the trail opens up and you get views of the mountain range and an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean.

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_18.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_19.JPG

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_20.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_21.JPG

                              Views of the Redwood forest

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_22.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_23.JPG

Bear right at the next connector                 More shade

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_24.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_26.JPG

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_27.JPG 

                                 Views of the Pacific Ocean

 

Looking further down the hill, the sunny trail winds its way down and back up through an open area to its natural end at the top of the wooded hill. Here, you see wildflowers even in July – bush monkey flower, mayweed and red heart-leaved keckiella.

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_28.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_29.JPG

           End of trail                         Monkey flower

Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_32.JPG   Purisma_Creek_Redwoods_33.JPG 

                  Mayweed                            Heart-leaved keckiella