Devil's Slide Trail, a 1.3-mile path for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders is finally open. It's the latest addition to the San Mateo County Parks system. The trail, built over what was a section of Highway One, has been repaved.  Restrooms have been added to the parking lots and there are three overlooks. Benches sprinkle the trail and an array of interpretive panels along the way inform you of the area's history, geology, flowers and animals.

80,000 people are expected to visit the new trail each year.

Creating the trail cost $2 million and San Mateo county will pay the annual $695,000 bill for rangers, supplies and maintenance.

Visitors to the trail 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. The area also includes many seabirds. The offshore rocks and cliffs are perfect spots for the nests of Peregrine Falcons, Pigeon Guillemots, Brandt’s Cormorants, Western Gulls, and Common Murres.

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.

The Devil’s Slide Trail is a section of the California Coastal Trail, which, when finished, will extend 1,200 miles from Oregon to Mexico.

SamTrans Route 17 added a new stop at the south trailhead on either side of Highway 1. Route 17 travels along the coast between Half Moon Bay and Pacifica. During the week, the bus runs roughly once every hour between 6 AM and 8 PM. On weekends, the bus runs once every two hours from 6 AM to 8 PM.

Guests at Pillar Point RV Park can catch route 17 a couple of places walking distance from the park including Pillar Point Harbor, and across Highway One near the post office.

Bus fare at his writing is $2.00 each way per person.

Click on this link to see a map and departure times.
http://www.samtrans.com/schedulesandmaps/timetables/17.html  OR
http://transit.511.org/accessible/schedules/RouteInfo.aspx?cid=SM&rte=18372 OR
http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/maps/USA_CA_Pillar_Point_Harbor_2312.php

There's an App for the Devil's Slide Ride Community Shuttle. Download iPacifica and get the Devil's Slide Ride Tracker.  The shuttle on the weekends from Pacifica is free.  

Parking at the trail is limited, and visitors are encouraged to carpool, take the bus or shuttle from Pacifica.

A 17-space parking lot on the northern end of trail closest to Pacifica can only be entered from southbound Highway 1. 

A 24-space lot on the southern end near Montara is accessible from north- and southbound Highway 1. Both lots have toilets. 

No motorized vehicles of any kind are allowed on the trail. Dogs are permitted when on a six-foot leash.   No smoking in the park and historical sites.

If you want to ride your bike, remember, Highway One to Devil’s Slide is a heavily traveled and not all that easily shareable. You should be confident in your road riding abilities and have the endurance to ride safely for long distances on varying terrain and road conditions.

More information about the Devil's Slide Coastal Trail is available online at parks.smcgov.org. 

Devil's Slide Trail Parking lots are closed during off hours.

Devil's Slide Trail is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round including all holidays. The parking lots, however, open daily at 8:00 A.M. and close at various times depending on the time of year.

The closing times for the parking lots are: