San Mateo Section 9

Although half of this section follows the shoulder of Highway 1, the highway stints are interspersed with pleasant walks on beach, dunes, bluffs and sleepy secondary roads. The section's best part falls smack in the middle where from Gazos Creek to Cascade Creek you'll walk a splendid little-used beach past intricately etched pockets of sandstone at the base of low cliffs, climb through dunes over rocky Franklin Point, then wind through more dunes along natural bluffs to overlook the rocky tidal zone of Año Nuevo Reserve, where elephant seals have full access and hikers are restricted or prohibited depending on the time of year. If you stay overnight at Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel, the thundering surf will lull you into a deep sleep, especially if you've had a soak in the hot tub there.

From the lighthouse, walk the narrow road east to the highway around ⅛ mile. Heading south, you can walk the low, vehicle-damaged bluff to about ⅜ mile, or just walk the wide shoulder of the highway. The rutted bluff soon gives way to agricultural fields. Around 1¼ miles, a farm produce stand beckons you to buy some fresh food. Continue on the shoulder, passing a mushroom farm east of the highway.

At 2½ miles turn right into the Gazos Creek Coastal Access where parking and a privy are available. Take the short trail through a thick patch of poison oak down to the beach, leaving the highway behind. To the south Franklin Point juts out to sea. Walk the beach towards the point. In summer you can walk to the end of the beach on the sand. In winter, part of the sand washes away, so around 3 miles you must take a short trail up through the dunes. Where a small creek reaches a widening sandy area, look for the white plastic pipe marking the trail into the dunes. Alter about ¼ mile the trail returns to the beach. Follow it south past eroded pockets of sandstone at the base of the low cliffs.

Just before Franklin Point at 3¾ miles, watch for the unmarked but wide and distinct trail heading up into the dunes. Stay on the most-used track, following it as it winds through dunes, willows and poison oak. The trail comes to rocky Franklin Point overlooking the tidal rocks, then winds through more dunes.

Around 4¼ miles the trail forks at the ravine of Whitehouse Creek. The left fork turns inland, leading to a parking lot on the highway. Turn right and descend the trail into the ravine, across the creek and out to the beach.

During most tides the beach south is passable. If it's not, ascend the trail on the south side of the ravine and walk the blufftop south to Cascade Creek. Otherwise, walk the beach south to Cascade Creek at 5⅛ miles. Unless the creek is high, it doesn't cascade, but mostly disappears under the sand as it flows out of the marsh up from the beach.

As inviting as the rocks south beyond the beach look, they are off limits.

From here to Año Nuevo Point the shoreline and the land about ½ mile inland from it are restricted breeding grounds of the Northern Elephant Seal (See feature article in the next section). A few hundred feet north of Cascade Creek, find and take the path climbing up onto the marine terrace. This trail meets the blufftop trail and leads to Highway 1 and a parking area at 5¾ miles. Turn right and walk the highway shoulder for about 2 miles, passing the historic Año Nuevo Ranch. Beyond 7¾ miles, find the driveway into the parking lot for Año Nuevo State Reserve. Walk down this road to the visitor center and section's end at 8¼ miles where you will find water and privies.

SUGGESTED ROUND TRIPS & LOOPS: From the Gazos Creek Coastal Access walk south on the beach, across Franklin Point and down to the beach north of Año Nuevo Point. Turn around at Cascade Creek and return, a pleasant 6 miles round trip.