HWY 1
San Francisco - Santa Cruz
Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz with side trips to Henry Cowell Redwood State Park & local wineries
Duration:
SF-SC with any stops: 1.5 hours
Half Moon Bay: + 1.5 hours
Santa Cruz: 1-2 days
Side trips:
Ano Nuevo State Park on HWY 1 (recommendable only from Dec-March): + 3 hours
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: + min. 1.5 hours (incl. stops approx.+ 4 hrs)
Wine Tasting Santa Cruz Mountains: + 1 hour per winery + drive
Distance:
SF – SC: 73 miles
SF-SC with any stops: 1.5 hours
Half Moon Bay: + 1.5 hours
Santa Cruz: 1-2 days
Side trips:
Ano Nuevo State Park on HWY 1 (recommendable only from Dec-March): + 3 hours
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: + min. 1.5 hours (incl. stops approx.+ 4 hrs)
Wine Tasting Santa Cruz Mountains: + 1 hour per winery + drive
Distance:
SF – SC: 73 miles
1st stop: Ocean Beach
If you haven’t been to Ocean Beach yet, this is your opportunity for a stop at San Francisco’s city beach. If you are lacking time, enjoy the drive along Great HWY.
At the end of Great HWY stay right to enter Skyline Boulevard, which is also known as HWY 35. Continue south, where you will come across Fort Funston, a steep cliff line and popular recreation area
(http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/fort-funston.html#Tips).
In Daily City Skyline Boulevard meets HWY 1. Make sure you exit onto HWY 1 towards Pacifica and further down to Half Moon Bay.
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2nd stop: Pacifica The further south you are driving through Pacifica the more beautiful the coastline becomes. In the south you will come along Linda Mar Beach/Pacifica State Beach, a scenic bay that is worth a stop and a popular surf spot in Northern California. If you haven’t had breakfast yet you will find some shops at the Linda del Mar Center to your left. If you want to stretch your legs hike over the hills to your left or right where you can expect some scenic vantage points at Shelter Cove (South) and Rockaway Beach (North). |
3rd stop: Devil’s Slide
Leaving Pacifica you will first drive through a eucalyptus forest before you are entering a tunnel.
The region to your right is called Devil’s Slide, a spectacular shoreline known for regular erosions and rockslides.
Behind the tunnel you are passing Gray Whale Cove State Beach and Montara Beach (worth a stop) before you enter the tiny town of Moss Beach.
4th stop: Moss Beach and El Granada/Half Moon Bay Harbor
The tiny village of Moss Beach is famous for its distillery. During prohibition the distillery was involved in smuggling whiskey to all parts of the US using the beach below as a ship landing.
Nowadays the distillery claims to accommodate a ghost, which might be made-up to pull visitors. However, the venue is popular for its outdoor patio that overlooks the ocean and rough cliffs. During winter months it is a great spot for whale watching.
Stop here for lunch or some coffee. https://mossbeachdistillery.com
A few miles further is El Granada, home of Half Moon Bay Harbor and Maverick’s, Northern California’s big wave surf spot. Tide and swell have to be perfect to get big waves here but this happens almost every year in January or February. During that time the world best big wave surfers are holding a competition in Half Moon Bay.
To visit the harbor turn right into Capistrano Road (at the light behind the airfield). To your left you have the Maverick’s merchandise shop and some small eateries, including a fish shack with decent sandwiches. Straight ahead you approach Half Moon Bay Brewery, a local microbrewery and to the right you have a small shopping mall.
The beach to the harbor’s left is popular with beginners and advanced surfers and runs parallel to a scenic hiking path that runs down to the end of Half Moon Bay. If you like to surf, check out: www.openoceansurfing.com. Make sure you make an appointment in advance.
5th stop: Half Moon Bay
Next up is Half Moon Bay. The easiest beach accesses with parking lots are located to your right along Young Ave or Poplar Street.
Half Moon Bay’s historic and quaint downtown is located along Main Street. Browse small book shops, boutiques or enjoy wine at The Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese Co. A wine bar with a huge selection of local wines and farmstead cheese.
If you didn’t have a break yet to stretch your legs drive up to the Ritz Carlton (before the hotel entrance you have a small but free parking lot) and hike to the south along the shore to Manhattan Beach.
6th stop: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Behind Half Moon Bay the route continues along the coastline with amazing views over the ocean and mountain range. On your way are several beaches that are worth a stop, including San Gregorio, Pomponio and Pescadero State Beach.
A few miles further south you will see Pigeon Point Lighthouse to your right. This lighthouse is one of the tallest in the USA and was built in 1872. Further info is available at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=533
Just behind the lighthouse follows the HWY 1 Brewing Company and even further the Pie Ranch – highly recommended if you like farm to table pastries and pies.
7th stop: Ano Nuevo State Reserve
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523 - recommended from Dec – March when it is populated with elephant seals.
Next follows Ano Nuevo State Reserve, which is the largest land-based breeding ground for elephant seals and sea lions.
From December till March, guided tours through the breeding grounds are offered by the State Reserve ((about 2.5 hours).
Tickets for the guided tours go on sale at the end of October. Make sure you buy the tickets in advance since there is a huge demand and they sell out quickly.
6th stop: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Behind Half Moon Bay the route continues along the coastline with amazing views over the ocean and mountain range. On your way are several beaches that are worth a stop, including San Gregorio, Pomponio and Pescadero State Beach.
A few miles further south you will see Pigeon Point Lighthouse to your right. This lighthouse is one of the tallest in the USA and was built in 1872. Further info is available at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=533
Just behind the lighthouse follows the HWY 1 Brewing Company and even further the Pie Ranch – highly recommended if you like farm to table pastries and pies.
7th stop: Ano Nuevo State Reserve
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523 - recommended from Dec – March when it is populated with elephant seals.
Next follows Ano Nuevo State Reserve, which is the largest land-based breeding ground for elephant seals and sea lions.
From December till March, guided tours through the breeding grounds are offered by the State Reserve ((about 2.5 hours).
Tickets for the guided tours go on sale at the end of October. Make sure you buy the tickets in advance since there is a huge demand and they sell out quickly.
8th stop: Santa Cruz
Proceeding with the drive you will come along Waddell and Scott Creek Beach, known for Kite Surfers until you enter the northern tip of Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz is mainly known for its boardwalk at the beach, a common highlight in travel guides. To put this straight first: for me it’s a total LOWlight and puts this wonderful town in a wrong perspective! At least you will find an old wooden rollercoaster there, but Santa Cruz has much more to offer than just the touristy and overcrowded boardwalk.
Instead of driving into its city center first, head to the ocean.
At the first light behind the city limit turn right into Western Drive, make a right and an immediate left into Natural Bridges Drive. At the end of Natural Bridges Drive make a left into Delaware Drive and then another right into Swanton Boulevard. The boulevard leads you directly to the ocean. At the stop sign stay right and drive onto the parking lot to your left. Here you can park 30 minutes for free, enough time to enjoy the first impressions of scenic West Cliff Drive.
To your left is the famous West Cliff Drive, a mixture between a beach promenade, hiking, and biking trail (5.4 miles). It leads directly to Santa Cruz’s Municipal Wharf and along one of the most famous surf spots in California.
A stop you shouldn’t miss is Steamer Lane, the most famous surf spot in Santa Cruz. Steamer Lane is next to the tiny lighthouse (nowadays a surf museum) on your way to the wharf.
If the conditions are good, the waves are smashing against the cliffs and “the lane” is packed with surfers, the rock next to it with dozens of sea lions, seals and pelicans.
If the view is clear you can see on the other side of the bay: Monterey, the mountains above Carmel and the beginning of Big Sur.
At the end of West Cliff Drive you arrived at the Boardwalk.
Detour to the west side of Santa Cruz:
While exploring West Cliff Drive you passed Ingalls Street and Swift Street, home to many great eateries, wineries, and breweries.
If you need recommendations for the evening:
Start off with a beer at Humble Sea or Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing Co.
Both usually have a food truck onsite, plus SCM Brewing has a small menu.
Otherwise, there is Bantam, featuring fire wood pizza just around the corner.
If you like to add some wine tasting check out Equinox for bubblies, Stockwell Cellars and Silver Mountain and Bottle Jack for wine.
Detour to the city center:
The inner center and commercial strip of Santa Cruz is located at Pacific Avenue between Laurel and Water Street, including its side roads. It is home to shops like O’Neill, Urban Outfitters, independent boutiques, shoe stores, the quirky Santa Cruz Bookstore, and of course restaurants.
Sounds nice but has a downside. Pacific Avenue and the close by San Lorenzo River is frequented by drug addicts and homeless. I rather recommend shopping in Santa Cruz Midtown along Soquel Avenue or in Capitola on 41stAvenue.
The East Side:
Everyone else who wants to see even more from Santa Cruz’s amazing shoreline should proceed on Beach Street. Pass the boardwalk until its end and follow the street to the left up to the traffic light (3rd Street/Riverside Avenue).
Turn right and cross the bridge and make an immediate right. This gets you to East Cliff Drive and away from the hustle and bustle.
Follow Murray Street, on which you will pass Seabright Social and Betty Burger (both great for a casual dinner) and Tramonti, if you prefer Italian fare. Continue over the bridge. At the end of the bridge turn right into Lake Avenue, which gets you to Santa Cruz Harbor.
Here you can book short sailing trips, e.g. with O’Neill (http://www.oneillyachtcharters.com) or a Whale Watching Tour (http://www.santacruzwhalewatching.com).
At the end of Lake Avenue you will hit a tiny rotary, which automatically sends you to the left (on your right is a parking lot).
To the left at the rotary you are guided to an intersection. Make a right onto East Cliff Drive, which gets you along the shore. Behind the bend you are getting away from the shore but if you turn right behind the Sunny Cove Motel you are back on track.
You shouldn’t skip this turn to short cut to Capitola since you will miss a wonderful shoreline, empty beaches, and Pleasure Point promenade.
Compared to West Cliff Drive this promenade is much quieter and you will mainly meet locals on the street, no wonder, because this part is usually not included in tourist trails.
Along the trail you will find several benches from where you will have a wonderful views over Monterey Bay.
Capitola:
At the end, East Cliff Drive merges into 41st Avenue. At the stop sign you have to decide if you continue straight ahead towards the intersection of 41st Ave and Portola Drive and its surf shops (Rip Curl, Billabong,…) or if you turn right into Opal Cliff Drive to pass fancy beach mansions.
It doesn’t matter which way you go for since you have to turn right onto Portola Drive both times to reach Capitola by the Sea anyways.
Behind the bend on Portola Drive you will hit parking lots. From the lots on the right, you have a scenic view over Capitola Village.
Allow at least 1-1.5 hours to explore Capitola. To enter the long pier below you either take the stairs behind the parking lot or walk down the street and turn right at the first possibility.
Coffee shops and restaurants are located along the Esplanade. Most of them have outside patios, which are facing the ocean or the cute Mexican style vacation rentals at the pier. At Capitola and Stockton Avenue you will find several beach shops and boutiques.
A nice lookout is located at Mr. Toots Coffeehouse. The coffee shop is a bit hidden on Esplanade.
For a nice beach walk continue to New Brighton State Beach that stretches down to Aptos – another small beach town with 2 wineries that wine aficionados shouldn't miss: Ser and Sante Arcangeli.
Side trips:
Wine tasting Santa Cruz Mountains
If you are a wine afficionado drive up the mountains to hit the following wineries:
Ridge Vineyards for high-end wines and amazing views over the San Francisco Bay; www.ridgewine.com
Big Basin Vineyards for spectacular Rhône-style wines; www.bigbasinvineyards.com
Mindego Ridge Vineyard for amazing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; www.mindegoridge.com
Lexington Wine Co. for scenic views and Bordeaux varietals; www.lexingtonwines.com
Henry Cowell Redwood State Park
The Park offers several longer hiking trails, but also a 20-minute loop along the highest and oldest redwood trees. Compared to Muir Woods National Park the State Park is less crowded with tourists, maybe the reason that the park is more beautiful and less commercial. For further info please check their official website: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546
The territory originally belonged to the Zayante Indians before the Spanish and later the Mexicans took over and sold the grounds to their fellow countrymen.
In the 19th century Henry Cowell bought parts of these grounds, to build a limekiln on it and to use the Redwoods to heat the kiln. After lime was replaced by cement as construction material, the kilns were closed, and the grounds lay idle. In his testament Cowell disposed parts of his fortune to the public and the park grounds became property of the state of California who turned it into a state park.
Next to the State Park you have the Felton Roaring Camp, a former logging town that dates to the 1880s. Most buildings are well preserved and besides a souvenir shop you can wander around the old schoolhouse and community hall. Under the following link you have a map of the small village: www.roaringcamp.com/pdfs/RoaringCamp_TownMap.pdf
Wine tasting Santa Cruz Mountains
If you are a wine afficionado drive up the mountains to hit the following wineries:
Ridge Vineyards for high-end wines and amazing views over the San Francisco Bay; www.ridgewine.com
Big Basin Vineyards for spectacular Rhône-style wines; www.bigbasinvineyards.com
Mindego Ridge Vineyard for amazing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; www.mindegoridge.com
Lexington Wine Co. for scenic views and Bordeaux varietals; www.lexingtonwines.com
Henry Cowell Redwood State Park
The Park offers several longer hiking trails, but also a 20-minute loop along the highest and oldest redwood trees. Compared to Muir Woods National Park the State Park is less crowded with tourists, maybe the reason that the park is more beautiful and less commercial. For further info please check their official website: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546
The territory originally belonged to the Zayante Indians before the Spanish and later the Mexicans took over and sold the grounds to their fellow countrymen.
In the 19th century Henry Cowell bought parts of these grounds, to build a limekiln on it and to use the Redwoods to heat the kiln. After lime was replaced by cement as construction material, the kilns were closed, and the grounds lay idle. In his testament Cowell disposed parts of his fortune to the public and the park grounds became property of the state of California who turned it into a state park.
Next to the State Park you have the Felton Roaring Camp, a former logging town that dates to the 1880s. Most buildings are well preserved and besides a souvenir shop you can wander around the old schoolhouse and community hall. Under the following link you have a map of the small village: www.roaringcamp.com/pdfs/RoaringCamp_TownMap.pdf