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Palo Alto sits on the wrong side of the hills for the ocean. That is what makes these hikes fun. Twenty or thirty minutes up a winding road, the Santa Cruz Mountains fall away to the west and the Pacific shows up as a silver line beyond the ridges. Keep going to the coast and you can walk on old highway and bluff paths with surf below.
This guide covers ten trails with ocean views in two groups: ridge hikes along Skyline Boulevard and coastal walks along Highway 1. Distances come from the managing agency or our park pages. For two routes we use Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) figures and say so. Ridge views depend on fog, so read the season notes before you drive.
The ocean view hikes at a glance
| Trail | Distance | Climb | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windy Hill, Skyline end | 0.6 mile, about 1 mile as a loop | Small | Leashed on Anniversary Trail |
| Russian Ridge loop | 3.6 miles (POST) | 600 feet (POST) | No |
| Purisima ridge trails | Not published for one route | Downhill first | No |
| El Corte de Madera, Fir Trail vista | 8.8-mile loop (POST) or shorter | 2,100 feet for the loop | No |
| Castle Rock, Goat Rock | 3 miles round trip | Not listed | No |
| Mount Umunhum summit | 0.3-mile summit paths | Stairs or accessible path | No, not even in cars |
| Devil's Slide Trail | 1.3 miles | Paved | Leashed |
| Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail | About 3 miles | Paved, mostly flat | Leashed |
| Brooks Falls loop, San Pedro Valley | 2.2-mile loop | Steady climb | No |
| Pillar Point Bluff | Not published | Gentle bluff | Leashed |
Ridge hikes along Skyline Boulevard
Windy Hill from Skyline
The quickest ocean view near town. Midpen's 0.6-mile trail runs between the two Windy Hill parking areas on Skyline with short detours to the summit and the Herb Grench overlook. Midpen describes a 360-degree panorama of San Francisco Bay and the Pacific. Return along the track beside Skyline for a loop of about a mile.
- Dogs and bikes: leashed dogs on the Anniversary Trail and other designated trails. Bikes on designated trails.
- Parking and fees: small roadside areas on Skyline, the largest with 11 spaces plus 1 accessible. Free.
- Best season: fall and clear winter afternoons.
- Watch for: wind and cold on the summit. Bring a layer.
Our Windy Hill guide lists every lot.
Russian Ridge loop
POST describes a 3.6-mile loop from the main lot on the Ridge, Ancient Oaks and Charquin trails, with 600 feet of elevation change, rated moderate at about two hours. The Bay Area Ridge Trail section passes Borel Hill, which Midpen calls the highest named point in San Mateo County, with views of the Pacific and the bay.
- Dogs and bikes: no dogs. Bikes on designated trails.
- Parking and fees: 37 spaces at Skyline and Page Mill/Alpine. Free. Midpen warns spring weekends fill fast.
- Best season: fall for clear air, spring for wildflowers.
- Watch for: open, windy grassland with little shade.
See our Russian Ridge guide.
Purisima ridge trails
From the North Ridge Parking Area on Skyline, Midpen says the upper Harkins Ridge and Soda Gulch trails give superb views of the San Mateo coast and the Pacific. Midpen does not publish one-way distances; its map marks mileage between junctions. Walk out along the ridge and turn back before the trails drop deep into the canyon.
- Dogs and bikes: no dogs. Bikes on designated trails.
- Parking and fees: North Ridge lot, 41 spaces plus 2 accessible. Free.
- Best season: fall.
- Watch for: every step down is a step back up.
Our Purisima Creek Redwoods guide covers both ends.
El Corte de Madera: Tafoni and the Fir Trail vista
On the way to the sandstone tafoni deck, a short detour on the Fir Trail reaches a vista that Midpen says looks over the forested mountains and grassy coastal hills to the Pacific. POST folds both into an 8.8-mile loop from Skeggs Point with 2,100 feet of gain. A shorter out and back to the deck and vista is possible; check Midpen's map for the mileage.
- Dogs and bikes: no dogs. Heavy mountain bike use on narrow trails.
- Parking and fees: Skeggs Point, a 26-space Caltrans lot. No left turn in from the north. Free.
- Best season: clear days in fall and after winter storms.
- Watch for: fast traffic when crossing Skyline.
See our El Corte de Madera guide.
Castle Rock: Saratoga Gap Trail to Goat Rock
State Parks lists the walk past Castle Rock Falls and Goat Rock on the Saratoga Gap Trail at 3 miles round trip. It does not list the climb. The trail crosses a steep, open hillside to the sculpted sandstone of Goat Rock, where the overlook looks across the San Lorenzo Valley toward the Pacific.
- Dogs and bikes: dogs prohibited throughout the park. No bikes on this trail.
- Parking and fees: $10 per vehicle, $9 for seniors. 6 a.m. to sunset.
- Best season: fall.
- Watch for: hot sun on the open hillside and no cell reception.
Our Castle Rock guide has the full trail table.
Mount Umunhum summit
At 3,486 feet, Mount Umunhum is the highest viewpoint on this list. Midpen promises 360-degree views from the Pacific to the Sierra Nevada and describes a 0.3-mile accessible pathway on the summit. Drive up and walk the summit paths, or earn the view on the 3.9-mile Mount Umunhum Trail from the Bald Mountain lot.
- Dogs and bikes: no dogs anywhere in the area, even in cars. Bikes on the trail to the Trailhead Shelter only.
- Parking and fees: summit lot, 54 spaces plus 3 accessible. Free. Open 7 a.m. to half an hour after sunset; the gate closes at sunset.
- Best season: clear days just after a storm.
- Watch for: wind and cold on top, even in summer.
See our Sierra Azul guide.
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Coastal walks along Highway 1
Devil's Slide Trail
When the Devil's Slide tunnels opened in 2013, the cliffside stretch of old Highway 1 north of Montara became a trail. San Mateo County Parks describes a 1.3-mile paved multi-use path with separate lanes for hikers and bikes and access to the rocky heights above the Pacific. Our Pacifica page notes benches, viewing scopes and restrooms.
- Dogs and bikes: the trail is on the county's list of dog-friendly trails; keep dogs leashed. Bikes use their own directional lane.
- Parking and fees: limited and quick to fill on weekends. The county suggests SamTrans Route 117. Lots open 8 a.m. and close 5 p.m. from November 2, 2026 through February 2027.
- Best season: any clear day, ideally a weekday morning before the lots fill.
- Watch for: strong wind on the exposed cliffs.
Details are on the county's Devil's Slide Trail page and our Pacifica guide.
Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail
This paved, mostly flat path runs about three miles along the bluffs behind Francis, Venice, Dunes and Roosevelt beaches, with ocean views most of the way. It is part of the California Coastal Trail, which continues north toward Pillar Point. Walk north from any state beach lot and turn back when you like.
- Dogs and bikes: leashed dogs on the trail but not on the state beach sand. Bikes welcome.
- Parking and fees: state beach lots charge a $10 vehicle day use fee. 8 a.m. to sunset.
- Best season: fall, when fog is least likely.
- Watch for: sneaker waves if you go down to the sand.
Our Half Moon Bay day trip pairs it with lunch in town.
Brooks Falls loop, San Pedro Valley Park
San Mateo County describes a 2.2-mile loop on the Brooks Creek and Montara Mountain trails, with views across the canyon to 175-foot Brooks Falls. Higher up, the ocean comes into view. The falls run in the rainy months, so a winter visit gets you water and sea in one hike.
- Dogs and bikes: no dogs or other pets. Bikes only on paved areas and Weiler Ranch Road.
- Parking and fees: $6 per vehicle at 600 Oddstad Blvd., Pacifica. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 2, 2026.
- Best season: December to March after rain.
- Watch for: slick trail in wet weather.
See our San Pedro Valley Park guide.
Pillar Point Bluff
This 220-acre county park on the headland near Princeton carries a section of the California Coastal Trail with views over Half Moon Bay, the harbor and the farm fields. On big winter swells you can look toward Mavericks, about half a mile offshore. No total distance is published, but the bluff paths are gentle.
- Dogs and bikes: leashed dogs, bikes and horses are allowed.
- Parking and fees: a 10-car lot on Airport Street. Free.
- Best season: winter, for surf watching on clear days.
- Watch for: crumbling bluff edges. Stay on the trail.
Our El Granada and Princeton guide covers the harbor.
Fog and timing
The marine layer decides everything on the coast side. On many summer days fog sits below the ridge, so Skyline hikers look down on a white sea while the coast trails stay gray and cool. Fall is the most reliable season, when the fog recedes and the air clears. Clear days just after a winter storm are the best of all. Midpen preserves stay open until half an hour after sunset, which makes Windy Hill and Russian Ridge good for an evening hike; our sunset spots guide has timing tips. For the sand itself, see our beaches guide.
Getting there from Palo Alto
For the ridge hikes, drive Page Mill Road to Skyline Boulevard for Russian Ridge, Windy Hill and Castle Rock, or Highway 84 through Woodside for El Corte de Madera and Purisima. For the coast, Highway 92 from Interstate 280 reaches Half Moon Bay in roughly 40 to 50 minutes. Pillar Point is a few minutes north of town and Devil's Slide is farther north toward Pacifica. Mount Umunhum is the outlier, about an hour south via Hicks Road and Mt. Umunhum Road. No transit reaches the ridge trailheads.
Safety
Good to know
- Layers: the ridge and coast are often much cooler and windier than town on the same afternoon.
- Roads: Page Mill Road, Highway 84 and Highway 92 are narrow and winding. Watch for cyclists and deer at dusk.
- Cliffs: stay behind railings and back from bluff edges, which can crumble.
- Cell service is patchy on Skyline. Download maps before you leave town.
A night on the coast makes a two-trail weekend easy. You can compare hotels in Half Moon Bay or compare rental cars if you are visiting without one.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see the ocean on a hike near Palo Alto?
Drive up Page Mill Road or Highway 84 to Skyline Boulevard. The short trail at the top of Windy Hill and the Bay Area Ridge Trail at Russian Ridge both look west to the Pacific on clear days. For the ocean up close, walk the paved Coastside Trail in Half Moon Bay or the Devil's Slide Trail near Pacifica.
Can you see both the bay and the ocean from one trail?
Yes. Midpen describes a 360-degree view of San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean from the Windy Hill summit trail. Borel Hill on Russian Ridge also gives a full panorama. Mount Umunhum's summit looks from the Pacific to the Sierra on the clearest days.
Why can't I see the ocean from Skyline?
Fog. In summer a marine layer often fills the coast side of the ridge, so the sun sets into a sea of cloud instead of the ocean. Fall and clear days after winter storms give the best odds, since the fog recedes in autumn.
Which ocean view trails allow dogs?
Leashed dogs may use the Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail, the Pillar Point Bluff trails and the Devil's Slide Trail, all on San Mateo County's or State Parks' lists. Windy Hill's Anniversary Trail is open to leashed dogs. Russian Ridge, Purisima Creek, El Corte de Madera, Castle Rock and San Pedro Valley Park ban dogs.
Is the Devil's Slide Trail paved?
Yes. San Mateo County Parks describes a 1.3-mile paved multi-use trail on the old Highway 1, with separate lanes for hikers and bikes. Its parking lots open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. from November 2, 2026 through February 2027.