Ohlone Ridge Lookout

A Hike from Costanoa

(This is another in the series of “Benches and Other Great Places for Lunch”—short hikes to a special spot, just right for a quiet getaway.)

“One quarter of all the bones in the body are located in the feet.”

- Gerald Donaldson, “The Walking Book”

Directions: Take Highway 92 to Half Moon Bay. South on Highway 1 for 25 miles to Rossi Road, which is a few miles south of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Watch for the Costanoa sign on the east side of the road

Grade: Moderate.

Distance: 2.5 miles.

Time: Two hours.

Special Conditions: Remember that the coastside can be cool and windy, so dress for the occasion. Watch for ticks and poison oak. Dogs permitted on trail. The Costanoa Coastal Lodge and Camp is located at 2001 Rossi Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060. For information/reservations, call 650-879-1100 or check the website at wwwcastanoa.comNo dogs or bicycles on the trails. No problem with poison oak if you stay on the trail. Some areas closed to protect the wildlife. For more information, call the park office at (650) 879-0227 for tour and fee information or access the website at www.anonuevo.org.

The name “Costanoa” comes from the coast people (Ohlone Indians), who were discovered by Spanish explorers and called “Costeños.” Later, English-speaking settlers changed the name to Costanoans. And today, the Costanoa Coastal Lodge and Canp offers an opportunity to share the coastside experience.

We have often driven in and out of Costanoa, but last Labor Day weekend we stayed and camped overnight. Inland areas were reporting temperatures of 90-plus degrees and coastal conditions were warm and clear, with a mild breeze from the ocean—ideal conditions for this part of the California Coast.

The Costanoa facility offers a vriety of accommodations—lodge rooms, cabins, tent cabins, and RV/tent campsites. The tent sites range from midweek at $40 per night to weekends at $55, including a substantial buffet breakfast. There is a general store and café with basic supplies and deli-type food and drink.

The walk to the Ohlone Ridge Outlook takes about two hours. From the ridge, you can look forward to great views of Año Nuevo (if the weather is clear) and breaking surf to the west. At the ridge you will find a log-style bench and two pairs of Adirondack chairs—just right for that special lunch.

To reach the trailhead, park in the large lot next to the general store. Take a little time to look around and pick up a sandwich for the hike. From the parking lot, go to the main road and turn right. Walk down the road a few hundred feet, and just past the first bungalow find the trailhead (metal sign) to White Horse Bridge. Walk down the broad dirt trail through high valley grass a few hundred feet, and watch for an unmarked trail to the left. Looking down this trail, you will see an information kiosk, a fenced compound and the White Horse Bridge. After crossing the creek, the trail climbs over the exposed hillside and through a wide area of pampas grass. This is an exotic plant, native of Argentina, found throughout the Coast Range. It is common along roadsides and abandoned fields and can quickly overcome native vegetation, forming a thick and often impenetrable thicket. In a word, the local naturalists hate this plant and do what they can to control and eradicate it.

At the first junction, bear right and continue up to the ridgeline. At the second junction, bear left (away from White Horse Creek Road) and begin the ridge walk. Watch for the bench and Adirondack chairs a short distance off the trail to the west. Choose your spot to enjoy lunch and a great view.

When you finish, if time allows, you should continue north on the loop trail to a shady fir forest, where the trail turns down along the hillside. Continue down, crossing a seasonal drainage swale, to the junction. Walk down to the bridge and retrace your steps.

This is a great, short seaside hike to sample Pacific breezes and good views. But watch for ticks, especially in the spring and early summer (we found none during our Labor Day hike.) and poison oak, which crowds the trail in spots. Your dog will also enjoy bounding through the grassy hillside

Your comments and hiking suggestions are always welcome. Email tom@tomdavids.com or check www.weeklywalker.com on the web.