C Printed on recycled paper
March 2014
Wild places & friendly spaces
Frances Freyberg Blackburn
Frances Freyberg Blackburn
Wild places & friendly spaces
San Mateo County Parks
The San Mateo County Parks Foundation raises
funds to improve the quality of County Parks for our
community. For information, visit www.SupportParks.org.
You can volunteer to help rangers protect and
improve parklands and serve park visitors. The
Devil’s Slide Trail Ambassadors assist park rangers
by observing and reporting on trail conditions and
providing information to trail visitors. To volunteer,
visit www.SMCoParks.org or call 650-599-1306.
Support your parks
The Department sells annual passes, offering
unlimited entrances to all County Parks for a year.
The parks represent our region’s wondrously diverse
natural settings, from rugged tidepools, lush mountain
forests, and remote campsites to Bayfront shoreline,
sunny picnic areas, and popular playgrounds.
The Department manages parks, trails, and
historic sites to preserve public lands and provide
opportunities for education and recreation. The
system’s properties include parks, preserves, trails,
and historic sites located throughout the County and
encompassing nearly 16,000 acres.
The Devil’s Slide Trail is a section of the
California Coastal Trail, which will extend 1,200
miles from Oregon to Mexico.
Reservations 650-363-4021
General information 650-363-4020
www.SMCoParks.org
The trail opened in 2014, and offers spectacular
ocean views and unparalleled opportunities for
viewing birds and marine mammals.
San Mateo County Parks
This 1.3-mile-long trail is built on what was
once a treacherous stretch of Highway 1 and
the site of frequent landslides, accidents,
and closures. When the Tom Lantos Tunnels
opened in 2013, the San Mateo County Parks
Department began converting this segment of
the old highway to this public multi-use,
non-motorized trail.
Funding for this brochure provided through a grant from
A San Mateo County Regional Trail
Devil’s Slide
Park Headquarters 650-355-8289
Police, Fire, or Medical Emergency 911
Devil’s Slide Trail
Devil’s Slide Trail
Trail geology
Devil’s Slide Trail offers a great demonstration of coastal
geology. At the south end of the trail, the weathered
rock face is the granitic rock of Montara Mountain. In
contrast, at the north end, rough sedimentary layers of
shale and sandstone – once ocean floor – have been
thrust up and folded over millions of years. Landslides in
this area occur where the sedimentary layers were thrust
over the granitic rock.
Peter LaTourrette
Wildlife
Millions of years of upward pressure has weakened and
broken these cliffs. At the same time, the pounding
surf washes away the bottom of the slide. Devil’s Slide
continues to move into the Pacific Ocean, part of the
natural process that shapes our ever-changing coastline.
Kathy Switky
Opportunities to see wildlife along the trail are
abundant. Trail users may see raptors overhead, such
as Turkey Vulture, Red-Tailed Hawk, and Peregrine
Falcon. Songbirds in the area include Song Sparrow,
Bewick’s Wren, and Golden-Crowned Sparrow.
Trail hours and use
The area also includes many seabirds, which choose
to nest in remote places where predators cannot easily
reach chicks or eggs. The offshore rocks and cliffs are
perfect spots for Peregrine Falcons, Pigeon Guillemots,
Brandt’s Cormorants, Western Gulls, and Common
Murres. The fencing and native vegetation hides hikers
and visitors so the birds can nest without fear or
disturbance. Please respect their privacy.
No smoking in County parks, on trails, or
at historical sites.
Smoking
Dogs on leash are allowed on the trail.
Pets
The Trail parking lots open at 8am. Closing
time changes seasonally, and is posted.
Hours
Trail details
Devil’s Slide Trail is 1.3 miles each way.
Hikers, runners, bicyclists, and
equestrians share this trail. Please be
alert and courteous to all trail users.
Bicyclists should stay in the marked bike lane and respect
the 15 mph speed limit.
Bicyclists younger than 18 are required by law to wear
helmets.
Always yield to equestrians by stepping to the side.
Weather conditions, fire danger, or trail maintenance may
cause trail closures. Check trail signs for closure notices.
For more trail information, visit www.SMCoParks.org.
Offshore, you may see marine mammals, including
gray whales migrating from their winter breeding
grounds in Mexico and their summer feeding habitat
in the Arctic. Look for spouts or splashes that indicate
whales or other marine mammals.
A legacy of land protection
The growing coastside population led to the passage
of the California Coastal Act in 1976. Nearby protected
areas include three National Marine Sanctuaries and
state Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) managed by the
Calfifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fitzgerald
Marine Reserve, just to the south in Moss Beach, is both
an MPA and a San Mateo County Park.
Public transportation
Frances Freyberg Blackburn
The California Coastal Act protects these marine areas
and the shoreline through a partnership between San
Mateo County and the California Coastal Commission.
Because trailhead parking is so limited, public transportation
is a good option for accessing Devil’s Slide Trail.
SamTrans: Visit www.SamTrans.com for map and schedule
information for Route 17, which services the coastside,
including the southern trailhead of Devil’s Slide Trail.
Free weekend shuttle from Pacifica: www.CityofPacifica.org
and select “Devil’s Slide Ride.”
C Printed on recycled paper
March 2014
Wild places & friendly spaces
Frances Freyberg Blackburn
Wild places & friendly spaces
San Mateo County Parks
Frances Freyberg Blackburn
The San Mateo County Parks Foundation raises
funds to improve the quality of County Parks for our
community. For information, visit www.SupportParks.org.
You can volunteer to help rangers protect and
improve parklands and serve park visitors. The
Devil’s Slide Trail Ambassadors assist park rangers
by observing and reporting on trail conditions and
providing information to trail visitors. To volunteer,
visit www.SMCoParks.org or call 650-599-1306.
Support your parks
The Department sells annual passes, offering
unlimited entrances to all County Parks for a year.
The parks represent our region’s wondrously diverse
natural settings, from rugged tidepools, lush mountain
forests, and remote campsites to Bayfront shoreline,
sunny picnic areas, and popular playgrounds.
The Department manages parks, trails, and
historic sites to preserve public lands and provide
opportunities for education and recreation. The
system’s properties include parks, preserves, trails,
and historic sites located throughout the County and
encompassing nearly 16,000 acres.
The Devil’s Slide Trail is a section of the
California Coastal Trail, which will extend 1,200
miles from Oregon to Mexico.
Reservations 650-363-4021
General information 650-363-4020
www.SMCoParks.org
The trail opened in 2014, and offers spectacular
ocean views and unparalleled opportunities for
viewing birds and marine mammals.
San Mateo County Parks
Funding for this brochure provided through a grant from
A San Mateo County Regional Trail
Devil’s Slide
Park Headquarters 650-355-8289
Police, Fire, or Medical Emergency 911
Devil’s Slide Trail
This 1.3-mile-long trail is built on what was
once a treacherous stretch of Highway 1 and
the site of frequent landslides, accidents,
and closures. When the Tom Lantos Tunnels
opened in 2013, the San Mateo County Parks
Department began converting this segment of
the old highway to this public multi-use,
non-motorized trail.
Devil’s Slide Trail
Trail geology
Wildlife
Kathy Switky
Millions of years of upward pressure has weakened and
broken these cliffs. At the same time, the pounding
surf washes away the bottom of the slide. Devil’s Slide
continues to move into the Pacific Ocean, part of the
natural process that shapes our ever-changing coastline.
Peter LaTourrette
Devil’s Slide Trail offers a great demonstration of coastal
geology. At the south end of the trail, the weathered
rock face is the granitic rock of Montara Mountain. In
contrast, at the north end, rough sedimentary layers of
shale and sandstone – once ocean floor – have been
thrust up and folded over millions of years. Landslides in
this area occur where the sedimentary layers were thrust
over the granitic rock.
Opportunities to see wildlife along the trail are
abundant. Trail users may see raptors overhead, such
as Turkey Vulture, Red-Tailed Hawk, and Peregrine
Falcon. Songbirds in the area include Song Sparrow,
Bewick’s Wren, and Golden-Crowned Sparrow.
Trail hours and use
The area also includes many seabirds, which choose
to nest in remote places where predators cannot easily
reach chicks or eggs. The offshore rocks and cliffs are
perfect spots for Peregrine Falcons, Pigeon Guillemots,
Brandt’s Cormorants, Western Gulls, and Common
Murres. The fencing and native vegetation hides hikers
and visitors so the birds can nest without fear or
disturbance. Please respect their privacy.
The growing coastside population led to the passage
of the California Coastal Act in 1976. Nearby protected
areas include three National Marine Sanctuaries and
state Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) managed by the
Calfifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fitzgerald
Marine Reserve, just to the south in Moss Beach, is both
an MPA and a San Mateo County Park.
The California Coastal Act protects these marine areas
and the shoreline through a partnership between San
Mateo County and the California Coastal Commission.
The Trail parking lots open at 8am. Closing
time changes seasonally, and is posted.
Pets
Dogs on leash are allowed on the trail.
Smoking
No smoking in County parks, on trails, or
at historical sites.
Trail details
Devil’s Slide Trail is 1.3 miles each way.
Hikers, runners, bicyclists, and
equestrians share this trail. Please be
alert and courteous to all trail users.
Bicyclists should stay in the marked bike lane and respect
the 15 mph speed limit.
Bicyclists younger than 18 are required by law to wear
helmets.
Always yield to equestrians by stepping to the side.
Weather conditions, fire danger, or trail maintenance may
cause trail closures. Check trail signs for closure notices.
For more trail information, visit www.SMCoParks.org.
Offshore, you may see marine mammals, including
gray whales migrating from their winter breeding
grounds in Mexico and their summer feeding habitat
in the Arctic. Look for spouts or splashes that indicate
whales or other marine mammals.
Public transportation
Frances Freyberg Blackburn
A legacy of land protection
Hours
Because trailhead parking is so limited, public transportation
is a good option for accessing Devil’s Slide Trail.
SamTrans: Visit www.SamTrans.com for map and schedule
information for Route 17, which services the coastside,
including the southern trailhead of Devil’s Slide Trail.
Free weekend shuttle from Pacifica: www.CityofPacifica.org
and select “Devil’s Slide Ride.”
Cattle Hill
Fass
ler
M ar
ee
Cr
k
Blvd
.
Trail
Oddstad
Park
o va
Terra N
Narrow highway–
dangerous for
walking and
cycling.
Sanchez Adobe
Historic Site
P
Dr.
0
ob
e
Tom
M
State Park
00
12
ess
Pedr
o
Middle Peak
Montara Mountain
North Peak
Peak Mountain
eek
Cr
1830'
Rancho
Corral de Tierra
ar
tin
i
North
Peak
1.1
R
Montara
Gate
200
PAC
SFPUC
Pedro Point
Headlands
d
Pe
ro
M
GGNRA
Mou
1
Northern
Overlook
400
North P S
e S
t.
C a b r il l o
40
Other public lands
Traffic signal
Restrooms
Parking
Hiking trail
T
Public transit stop
S
Devil’s Slide Ride
shuttle stop
0.2
ont
0
40
els
Tun
n
tos
400
T
Caltrans Operations
and Maintenance
Facility
Ranger station/
visitor information
1
G
California Coastal Trail (CCT)
0.4
0.4
800
Interpretive signs
Ver
m
Trail distance (miles)
Ave
.
P
Future trail
South P
Trailhead
.
Hwy
Private property
Hiking/equestrian trail
State of California
0
Gate
Beach access
Other protected lands
intermediate contours]
(access by [resolve
permit except
Overlook
on trails shown)
Multiple-use road/trail
(bicycle/equestrian/hiking)
Tra
il
protected area–
no access
LEGEND
Paved bike path (bicycle/hiking)
0.6
0.6
0.8
800
Southern Overlook
to Moss Beach and
Half Moon Bay
Paved multiple-use road
(bicycle/equestrian/hiking)
Lan
Egg Rock
org
800
Ge
PRIVATE
Tom
St.
ar
Ced
Ma
St.
Devil’s Slide
T
in
St.
Devil’s
Slide
3rd
PRIVATE
1.3
ad
Ro
P
T
Trailhead
ain
nt
OCEAN
Montara
State Beach
Point Montara
Lighthouse Hostel
0.2
to Pacifica
Ol
d
IFIC
P
1
0
Peninsula
Watershed
limited public access
MONTARA
N
1898'
GGNRA
0.2
0
t ad
Cr
eek
Ro
ad
North Pe
ak A
cces
s
McNee Ranch
ut
Tra
il
San Pedro Valley
County Park
1400'
0.8
DETAIL MAP
0.2
Od
ds
ra
ta
1200
0.7
e ln
Brooks
Falls
1.1
0.8
0.8
40
0
Old
l e Cove
Gray Wh
a
Mounta
in
ad
Ro
az
s
0
0.3
40
0
80
G
924’
Ac c
il
Tra
k
Broo
THE SADDLE
VA L L E Y
EN
E
R
P
For
k
1.3
n
d
oa
Gray Whale Cove
State Beach
San Pedro Valley
Visitor Center
H
Narrow highway–
no shoulders
l
Tra
il
800
Mo
Caltrans Operations
and Maintenance 400
Facility
1
Tra
tain
n
ou
e
dl
PRIVATE
0
Tra
i
id
40
State of California
P
an
ch
P
2.5
800
We
i
170’
San Pedro
Mountain
T
ar Blvd.
M
Egg Rock to Devil’s Slide
Special Closure Area
(CA Dept. of Fish
and Wildlife)
da M
Rd
.
00
els
Lin
Pedro Mountain Road (Fire Lane)
Old
Tun
n
Rosit
a
il
T rail
i ns W
ay
R
ler
1.3
Sanchez
Arts Center
200
PRIVATE
.
Blvd
.
Ad
d
Blv
Hig
g
tos
o
0
a
dro
Pe
0
40
n
d
Lin
Sa
spi Dr.
Cre
LINDA MAR
P
Lan
Ba
P
1
40
Devil’s Sl
ide
qu
PACIFICA
Linda Mar
Park & Ride
limited public access
SEE
DETAIL
MAP
to Sweeney Ridge
T S P
PEDRO
POINT
Pedro Point
Headlands
0
80
40
P
Shelter Cove
San Pedro Point
200
Av
e.
ian
Pacifica State Beach
(Linda Mar Beach)
P
60
0
GGNRA
14
Devil’s
Slide
Trail
Sweeney Ridge
to Daly City and
San Francisco
1.0 kilometer
0.8
1.0 mile
0.1
0
0
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.5 kilometer
0.5 mile
R
E
EN
VA L
LEY
McNee Ranch
State Park
to Montara
Revised 03/13/14 v67