Join Peninsula Open Space Trust for a walk at Pillar Point Bluff just north of Half Moon Bay! You will be guided by a POST representative who will share details about the area’s interesting natural history, from the coastal scrub habitat to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve that hosts tide pools and breeding grounds for harbor seals.
The walk is moderate at about 2.5 miles round trip with around 350 feet of gradual elevation gain.
In 2004, POST stepped in to fund protection of the bluff, restore it to ecological health, and construct a 1.6-mile section of the California Coastal Trail that now runs across it. Today, all 161 acres of the bluff are fully protected in perpetuity – a process that took four transactions, 11 years of work, and an array of visionaries, landowners and donors, both public and private.
Please note that all minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration of the hike. While dogs are allowed on this trail, we kindly ask that your pups stay home for this community hike.
This event is part of POST’s community event series. These events are open to the general public and POST donors alike, and we hope you will join us! We also curate a separate series of private events for our donor community. Find out more about how you can support POST here: openspacetrust.org/support.
POST first began our work at Pillar Point Bluff with the purchase of 119 acres in 2004. Then, in 2007 and 2008, we bought two more parcels that totaled 21 acres. All three were purchased from absentee landowners who planned to develop the bluff into luxury hotels, homes, or golf courses.
Pillar Point Bluff exemplifies the multi-dimensional work that POST does to protect and care for our beloved local landscapes. As a result, we have learned a lot about three P’s: public input, partnerships, and patience.
Peninsula Open Space Trust protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. Since 1977, POST has preserved over 77,000 acres in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties.