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Activities
Jean Lauer Trail at Pillar Point Bluff Information
The Jean Lauer Trail was created in memory of Jean Lauer, a former POST staffer who loved and worked on the coastside.
Watch for:
Keep an eye out for soaring pelicans, cormorants, gulls, hawks, seals, whales and maybe even surfers!
Hiking Details for Jean Lauer Trail
Distance: 1.4 mile loop
Elevation change: 100 feet
Hiking time: 1 hour
Trail surface: Packed dirt, fully exposed
Best Season: Year round
Managing agency: County of San Mateo
Parking lot location: Click here for directions
The 1.4-mile (roundtrip) Jean Lauer Trail overlooks a seasonal wetland as well as coastal waters protected by the San Mateo County Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. This County park is popular with local hikers, joggers, cyclists, and dog-walkers.
Starting at the parking lot, the trail heads north (right) to the bluff and returns the same way. While signs say that this is an ADA accessible trail, it has become somewhat narrow and steeper in spots. We suggest you contact San Mateo Count Parks for information about on the ground conditions that may impact accessibility.
When visiting, you can hike a series of loops throughout the single track trails that intersect the main Jean Lauer Trail which runs across the bluff’s spine. Make sure to explore the trail offshoots for spectacular views. While this is a mostly flat hike, there are a couple of steep sections as you climb up to the bluff. Once there, you will be rewarded with both coastal and mountain views that are sure to instill awe. It’s also fun to watch all of the action at the Half Moon Bay Airport below.
Jean Lauer Trail at Pillar Point Bluff Photo Gallery
More about the Jean Lauer Trail
POST acquired this 119-acre windswept lookout through a series of small land transactions that began in August 2004 that protected it from commercial development. With funding from the California Coastal Conservancy, POST also built a segment of the 1,200-mile California Coastal Trail here. On August 9, 2011, POST transferred the Pillar Point Bluff property to San Mateo County Parks for inclusion in the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.
About the hike
The 1.4 mile Jean Lauer Trail is along the heights of Pillar Point Bluff. The trail overlooks a seasonal wetland as well as coastal waters protected by the San Mateo County Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. The trail connects from the Pillar Point Bluff parking lot to Bernal Ave, and is fairly accessible with a 5% grade, dirt-packed trail. The bluff is popular with local hikers, joggers, bikers, and dog-walkers. If you’re interested in birding, there are perfect vistas for sighting birds off the coast, so bring your binoculars! You can also spot Half Moon Bay Harbor, agricultural lands, and the famous Mavericks surf break, due west.