Twenty five years in the making, Peninsula Open Space Trust and the State Coastal Conservancy opened up a brand new trail along the rugged San Mateo Coastline known as the Cowell-Purisima Trail. The path travels approximately three miles south from Cowell Ranch Beach culminating in a spectacular viewpoint at the southern end from a promontory. The multi-use…
Category: Travel
Willow Camp-Steep Ravine
Another phenomenal hike on Mount Tam, this time the 8.5 mile Willow Camp-Steep Ravine Loop. In terms of sweeping vistas and stunning scenery, this loop is superior to the Steep Ravine-Matt Davis Loop in my opinion. The reason is because it includes 1.8 miles along the Coastal Trail as it traverses a steep grassy hillside…
West Point Inn Pancake Breakfast
The West Point Inn sits high on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais with a commanding view of the San Francisco Bay Area. Close by is Mill Valley, Tiburon, and Angel Island. Most of the downtown San Francisco skyline is visible along with one arch of the Golden Gate Bridge beyond the Marin Headlands. The Inn…
Mount Tam Long Run!
Yesterday I enjoyed an awesome run on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais with Joel. The weather was spectacular with clear skies and relatively warm temperatures. The hills were vibrant with fresh green grass and multitudes of wildflowers. This combination made for some phenomenal photography opportunities. We started at Pantoll and ran the Coastal Trail/Bolinas Fire Road…
Tourist Club SF
The Tourist Club SF is a sweet destination on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais. The German themed chalet is a private club except for limited hours on most weekends. There is a beautiful view overlooking Muir Woods and a selection of German beers are served on tap along with pickles, sausages, and a few other…
Royal Gorge Cross Country
Royal Gorge is North America’s largest cross country ski resort offering a staggering 65 different groomd trails totalling 195 km skiable terrain. Even on the busiest weekend days it never feels crowded. The extensive network of trails features something for everyone, from easy flat paths to hilly advanced courses. The trails travel through extremely pleasant alpine forest,…
McWay Falls
The most iconic image of the Big Sur coastline is McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The accessibility couldn’t be any easier for the tourists. The paved overlook path is less than 0.25 miles from the parking making this a must-stop for the amateur and professional photographer alike. Interestingly, however, the beach below…
Long Ridge – Stegner Bench
Stegner Bench is a large stone bench in a grassy meadow with stellar views of the Pescadero watershed all the way out to the San Mateo coastline. The bench makes for a fantastic rest stop or a picnic location. It is located in often overlooked Long Ridge Open Space Preserve and can be accessed either from the north…
Castle Rock State Park
Castle Rock State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains features miles of beautiful trails. The park is most known for its impressive sandstone formations, including Castle Rock and Goat Rock. However, the park’s excellent network of trails also afford sweeping views and pass through pleasant forest. On a clear day from the Saratoga Gap Trail or Ridge…
Ohlone Bluffs Trail
The Ohlone Bluffs trail in Wilder Ranch State Park provides access to a gorgeous strech of coastline just outside of Santa Cruz along Highway 1. The bluffs feature unique sandstone terraces sculpted by powerful ocean forces and sandy beaches. From the park headquarters, the trail stretches around 5 miles to the other end of the…
Leor Pantilat's Adventures