easy
Activities
Wavecrest Trail Information
Enjoy this birding hotspot, terrific views of the coastline and migrating whales (if you're lucky).
Watch for:
When you visit Wavecrest Open Space, look out for whales, harbor seals, pelicans, and hawks.
Hiking Details for Wavecrest
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation change: Flat
Hiking time: Less than an hour
Trail surface: Packed dirt, mostly exposed
Best Season: Year round
Managing agency: Coastside Land Trust
Parking lot location: Click here for directions
Overview: From the main trail head by the parking lot, you can either do an easy hike along the 0.3-mile Bird Trail, which runs along the north end of Wavecrest, or do a 1.5-mile (roundtrip) section of the California Coastal Trail that runs through the property.
Look east and you’ll see the saltbox geometry of Johnston House, surrounded by POST-protected agricultural and open space. Behind the house, wooded hills rise to the crest at Skyline Boulevard, and it is easy to imagine a trail that might someday connect the ridge with the sea.
After exploring the property, you can relax on the quiet beach. This spot is a great place for bird watching. Dogs are welcome on-leash at POST-protected Wavecrest. Please pick up after your pets and respect other visitors.
Wavecrest Trail Photo Gallery
More About the Wavecrest Property
In January 2008, POST entered into a three-year option to purchase and protect 206-acre Wavecrest, an extraordinary natural, recreational and scenic resource for Half Moon Bay and the entire coastside.
There are many reasons why POST saved Wavecrest, including to safeguard the region’s most important raptor wintering grounds and protect sweeping ocean views and coastal landscape. POST also had a vision to preserve Half Moon Bay’s last undeveloped land bridge from Highway 1 to the sea, as well as create a California Coastal Trail segment and connections to other protected lands.
The purchase of Wavecrest exemplifies what POST does best—moving quickly to save land when the opportunity arises and working with willing sellers in the interest of the public good. As we enter into a planning stage to help us determine the long-range use of the property, we look forward to working with community members, city officials, public agency partners, the Coastside Land Trust, private donors and all others committed to charting Wavecrest’s future for the benefit of all.