Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, set on the picturesque western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains and overlooking Half Moon Bay, is a haven of natural grandeur. Encompassing 5,412 acres, the preserve is anchored by the breathtaking Purisima Creek Canyon, characterized by its soaring redwoods, the lively Purisima Creek, and a lush understory teeming with ferns, berries, and wildflowers. The northern reaches of the preserve offer spectacular vistas of the coast and Half Moon Bay, providing a scenic backdrop that captivates both hikers and nature lovers.
The preserve is a sanctuary for coast redwoods, the tallest tree species in the world, which thrive in a narrow coastal band from southern Oregon to just south of Monterey. These giants, capable of reaching heights up to 380 feet and living for over 2,000 years, dominate the landscape of Purisima Creek. However, the redwoods here primarily constitute a second-growth forest, with most trees averaging around 100 years old. This regrowth follows the extensive logging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the original forest, featuring millennium-old redwoods with diameters of up to 20 feet, was felled. Today, the large stumps along the Purisima Creek Trail stand as silent witnesses to this once ancient forest, reminding visitors of the preserve’s storied past and its ongoing journey of ecological recovery and conservation.
