Devil’s Slide Coastal Trail

Exploring this area made me grateful for being a resident of the Bay Area from Chicago. I mean, I was able to enjoy a hike here at a time where Chicago was currently 12 degrees!
I cannot express how alluring this trail was. I parked in the north parking lot and proceeded to walk the path. It wasn’t a hard hike at all since it was paved. About a quarter of a mile on the road, there’s an area where you could sit on the benches with a telescope nearby. The scenery was unforgettable and relaxing.
I highly suggest coming here!

Awesome hike. Spectacular views. we walker three hours while stoping and enjoying the view every once in a while

Living on the Coastside for years and having driven through Devils Slide (even got into an accident on this once treacherous highway) I missed going through Devils slide and really loved that they turned it into a trail.
The trail is dog friendly. It’s a fairly easy walk up and down and isn’t too far. There are benches and those binocular viewing things throughout the trail.
Having walking up the trail made me appreciate living on the Coastside. The view of the open ocean is gorgeous (a lot of beautiful picture opportunities) especially when the weather is sunny and clear.

Nice for walking or jogging when sunny; only 1.3 miles but the change of incline makes it good light cardio!
–paved road (very clean)
–clean restrooms!
–beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean!
Bring a jacket; a little chilly from ocean breeze! :)

The Devil’s Slide Coastal Trail used to be 1.3 miles of Old Highway 1, so it’s all paved. There are two parking lots at both the north and south ends of the trail, a small lot next to the trailhead and an even smaller parking lot a little further away. The biggest parking lot is the one closest to the south trailhead. If you do not want to drive, there is a free shuttle on the weekends. Here’s the schedule:
There are very clean pit toilets at the north and south trailheads, but no facilities exist between those two points. If you travel from north to south, the trail winds generally downhill. There is a clearly marked section with a 9% grade in the middle.
Beautiful views are practically everywhere. Bikers have their own dedicated lane, and the few that I saw were actually following the posted speed limit of 15 mph.
If you get tired, there are several rest stops along the trail with benches and telescopes you have to insert money (50 cents) to operate. The Devil’s Slide Coastal Trail is a great place to go for a walk if it’s a nice day at the coast!

It’s a SHORT (1.3mi, 1-​way), EASY, very wide, PAVED road with magnificent views of the ocean and cliffs along the coastline — great for all ages! It’s wonderful for walking, biking, AND exercising your pets while taking in the spectacular coastal views! Go Enjoy! Be sure to charge up your smart phone, because you’ll want to take lots of pics.
So, if you are driving along Cal Route-​1 near Pacifica, be sure to make a stop at one of the scenic parking lots at either end of the Lantos Tunnel for a wonderful view. You can do yourself a favor and take a scenic STROLL on this short, paved trail. No hiking gear needed, just bring water, a hat, sun screen. It’s also a great place to walk your dogs.
One can start from either parking lot, right OFF the entrance/​exit of the tunnel. From the South Lot, you will be going UPHILL to the north lot. From there you can either take the return downhill trek, or have your folks pick you up there.
LONGER VERSION
Devil’s Slide is located in Pacifica on Cal State Route-​1, bookended by the scenic parking lots at the entrances/​exits of the Lantos Tunnel. There are toilet facilities by the lot. This trail was the ORIGINAL section of Route-​1 with the DANGEROUS frequent rock slides! This section was renovated as the present day popular trail, after the new Lantos Tunnel was constructed to replace it.
Off the South lot, you can see a strange contraption on the hill above the cliff, which is an OLD military defense installation of historical significance! The SOUTH LOT is also much easier to exit than the NORTH lot, thanks to its TRAFFIC LIGHT at the SOUTH lot.
IN CASE YOU THINK THE TRAIL IS TOO SHORT — DON’T WORRY…
IF you think Devils Slide Trail is TOO SHORT to make a special day trip hike for it, don’t worry, there are also several challenging hiking trails on top of the hills nearby the parking lots. Furthermore, heading SOUTH along Route-​1 there are many other wonderful places to visit, such as the Montara State Beach, Pier Point Harbor and the scenic coastal trails on top of the hill, the Half Moon Bay!!!
In Pacifica, there are many restaurants, hotels, shops, and parking lots with water access.
Sept 2015

I still remember driving this road and thinking WHOA, thats a drop! I remember when it slid for the last time and they finally closed it. I have been wanting to walk it forever. Well we did. It is hard to park but luckily someone left right as we pulled in. There are restrooms at the start (much apprciated) and they were super clean. The walk itself was beautiful. In the middle is a 9% grade, up or down depending which side you start at. Also a viewing area on top with benches. While we were there the government peeps were there tracking wildlife, what a cool job that would be! Views the whole entire way! Paved clean, some dude was walking barefoot! LOL. Almost 3 miles round trip. An absolutely perfect use of this old road!

Such a beautiful little place to take a stroll. I won’t go over the history of the trail as I’m sure most other reviewers have covered it more eloquently than I ever could.
There are 2 small parking lots, located at both sides of the trail so if you’re driving along and miss the first parking lot (immediately before the tunnel) don’t fret. It’s a round-​trip walk (note the distinction from the word «hike») of about 2.5 miles. It’s mostly flat, but near the middle it’ll start to slope upward, so keep this in mind if you plan on bringing someone that has joint pains or arthritis. That being said, I did see a fair number of elderly folk here.
The view is beautiful any time of day, but I imagine sunsets to be breathtaking here. On a clear day, you can see the Farallon Islands — that’s about 30 miles — in the distance and it’s awesome. We also caught a glimpse of a whale coming up for air — twice!
It’s a great place to walk your dog, take your date, or just enjoy your own company. A hidden gem!

Short but scenic.
This 1.3 mile stretch of road originally carried Highway 1 traffic along the treacherous Devil’s Slide, a half-​mile wide slice of the coastline that continues to slide into the Pacific. Erosion and rock slides sometimes caused the road to be closed for months at a time, and one has to only look at pictures of car-​sized fissures in the road to understand how Devil’s Slide got its name.
Traffic was rerouted in 2013 with the opening of the twin Tom Lantos Tunnels, and the renovated Devil’s Slide Trail was opened to pedestrians, cyclists and even equestrians. There’s a small parking lot on each side of the trail, and parking is generally tight.
Don’t expect to do your marathon training here, but the trail is great for its exceptional views of the coast. There are a few lookout points with benches and telescopes (50 cents to use).
It’s only a matter of time before the trail needs major repair, but it’s good to know that the county is covering the maintenance so that all of us can enjoy the oceanside views in a more serene setting than from behind the windshield of our cars.

To say I’ve been here a lot is an understatement.
Most of all, I can’t believe I haven’t written a review about this place yet.
I’m going to assume that most of you know the history of this section of Devil’s Slide. Countless of closures due to landslides and accidents eventually forced the locals to realize that it was a good idea to bore a tunnel through this area. The result has been two beautiful tunnels, better flow of traffic, safer to drive thru and a whole new area to explore on foot whether it’s the two-​legged or four-​legged kind.
Driving thru this section before was scary, nerve-​wracking but beautiful and breath-​taking at the same time. It was like a roller coaster ride; only in this ride it could cost you your life if you made a mistake. And I was always curious about that old WWII bunker perched on the edge of the cliff as I’ve always wanted to inspect it up close and personal. With the creation of the Devil’s Slide Coastal Trail, it made it possible for anyone to safely explore the area on foot.
There are two parking locations on both ends, and if you decided to walk the entire length of this section, remember that you have to return and walk back to where you parked. In my opinion, it is better to park on the south end of the trail as there is a traffic light to guide you in either direction. That is not possible on the north end, and you might end up waiting for a clearance before you can get on the road.
Walking this section on foot really gives you a sense of how precarious this area is in terms of geological sense. Eventually, all of these will end up in the Pacific Ocean one day, but we still have several more years to enjoy it before it returns to the water. You can also see the layers of sediments and rock formation that is created by the powerful force of tectonic plates colliding with one another and the result is like a wave of rocks that is frozen in time.
Mother Nature is beautiful and dangerous at the same time. You must remember this and respect her at all times or you’ll end up like another statistic if you are not careful. Enjoy her, but never take her for granted.
NOTE: Dogs are allowed, but they must be on a leash. There is a doggie bag receptacle on the south side by the gate entrance. There are two sets of restrooms on the south parking lot and one restroom on the north parking lot. Watch out for falling rocks.

Just a tip, wear your walking shoes, not your hiking shoes. I thought it was a hiking trail so I was wearing my trail hiking shoes, turns out it was a mile of pavements for bikes and walking.
The pavement is new and there are bathrooms at both entrances, all of them are very clean and well maintained.
The view is fantastic

If you’ve got a desire to walk on a trail that used to be part of the Pacific Coast Highway, this trail is ideal. Where in the past you’d be driving along the picturesque highway which hugs the steep cliffs below, now you can walk it and take it all in.
We parked in the north parking lot. Parking is very limited. About 14 spaces total. Parking is free.
Park benches situated in two different areas of the trail. Have a seat and soak in the Pacific Ocean.
1.3 miles each way. And very up and down. We went on a weekday and there were many folks walking their dogs. There are informative postings that provide information on Devil Slide and the land and sea inhabitants.
We headed south on the trail. This was fine as it was more downhill. But then we had to climb back up to the north end parking lot back to our car. You could park in the south end parking lot. Climb up going north, then later reward yourself with a downhill walk going south.
There are public restrooms on both ends of the trail. Very clean.
Devil Slide Trail is part of the San Mateo County Park system.
My only concern — There’s a dedicated bike lane on the trail. However the day we walked the trail, this biker zoomed down the hill on the pedestrian side of the trail. Speed limit is 15 miles but he must have been going double that.

I love this walking trail! Was fortunate to visit this place on a surprisingly warm day. (76 degrees!) After passing the horrible traffic on Hwy 1 (from people all going to the Pacifica beach) getting here was so easy!
Right after going thru the new tunnel, there’s a quick turn about on your right and you’ll find two small parking lots. The first one we turned into was full so we went back to the other one and were lucky since someone was leaving.
The trail itself is beautiful. Lovely blue ocean views! And the road is paved, mostly flat. (Except for a couple parts that had steep grades.) Both my kids managed to do it with no problems. It’s perfect for an easy stroll. There are benches along the trail for your photo ops and places to sit if you need to rest.

I had only driven this section of Highway 1, along Devils’s Slide twice in the 12 years I’ve been in the Bay Area. While extremely glorious and awe inspiring, it was too anxiety inducing as both a driver and passenger. With the new tunnel making travel much smoother, I find myself much more often on the stretch of coast between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. Now, walking the Devils’s Slide Coastal trail-​ah well that is a different story-​no anxiety or worries here-​just a lovely and peaceful walk. A perfect way to end a day of mini hikes at Mori Point and Fitzgerald Marine Preserve, was catching the sunset along Devils’s Slide.
Arriving just after 5 on a winter Saturday, the lot on the south side was completely full but we waited a few minutes and got lucky when someone left. The paved trail is great for kids, bikes and pets. I saw young and old and everyone in between enjoying a sunset walk along the coast. The cliffs, crashing waves below and endless ocean views are just amazing (and much more serene while being able to walk along a well paved pedestrian path than a drive of this section ever could be.)
There are informational plaquards along the way, pay-​telescopes for more far reaching views and clean facilities at the start of the trail.
I didn’t get to walk the whole trail, since it was getting dark, but made it about halfway and enjoyed every second of it.
Can’t wait to come back but would be concerned about finding parking, especially if it were prime time daylight hours. The trail is perfect for a low key short walk and very well done, with the exception of the parking situation.

The trail is beautiful, new, and comfortable to walk, hike, run, and bike. I recommend coming in the morning when it is not overly crowded with people. Make sure to bring a jacket because the wind can be ridiculously strong. When we came it was nice and sunny and the views were great.
Parking here can be tricky. There are limited parking spots. Unfortunately the path does not circle around so after you’ve finished walking the trail, you have to turn around and go back to where you came from to get back to your car. There are parts of the trail that are pretty steep (probably an incline of about 35 – 40 degrees). This may be a problem if you have difficulty with your knees. Slow and steady will conquer it though!

THE GOOD
* You can now walk/​hike/​bike/​horseback the old Highway 1 route known as Devil’s Slide.
* On this trail there’s a lot more space dedicated to hikers/​walkers than there is on the Bay Bridge Trail. Bicyclists and pedestrians don’t compete for space or feel cramped or get in the way of one another.
* Leashed dogs are allowed.
* Immaculate restrooms have been installed at both the north and south ends of the trail.
* Many seats along the trail for those who wish to or need to sit.
* Two small, free parking lots at each end of the trail. A couple of spaces for disabled access are also available on each end.
* Beautiful coastal views.
THE NOT SO GOOD
* Some have mentioned the limited parking (about 20 spaces on each end of the trail) and the jockeying for available spaces. The earlier you come the greater the likelihood that you’ll get a space without having to wait for one. On a Saturday at 11:30 a.m. I got a place on the south end without having to wait.
* The trail is a repaved road with the cliffs and ocean immediately to the west and dramatic cliffs to the east. You’re definitely in nature but there’s not dirt beneath your feet.
* There’s small areas where your dog can slip in and sniff a bush or a weed but mostly the trail is bound along its length to keep you and your pet from getting «into» nature.
* Aside from climate change nothing can be done about the weather. It’s mostly dramatically cool, sometimes foggy and windy. This is the NorCal coast; bring a jacket.
ACCESS
* The trail is 1.3 miles long with the steepest part being closest to the north end of the trail. For quickest access to cliff views and water views park and enter at the south end of the trail where the views are immediate and the grade is most gradual.
* If you have mobility issues, the south end is also the optimal end to enter from. You can see what the trail has to offer without having to go far at all.
* To park at the south end if coming from the north, bypass the northern entrance to the parking lot and proceed south through the new tunnel. Awesome.
MISCELLANY
* This is a small but significant segment of the California Coastal Trail which will eventually extend 1,200 miles (from Oregon to Mexico).
* The trail includes one section with a 9% grade which is fairly significant. This is likely a result of the old Devil’s Slide road failing (and falling into the ocean) as it did regularly when the road was open exclusively to cars. Experts predict that this will continue to happen and those in charge have gone on record saying that they might not attempt to fix it when it does. At that point, this trail will likely become two separate lookout points rather than a single trail. See it now before the rains come and threaten to make it so.

Returning to Devil’s Slide in it’s current incarnation was like re-​connecting with an old friend. An old friend who was always a lot of fun but also a bit too unhinged, maybe had a rap sheet &/​or did a stint or 2 in rehab, & yet somehow made it to the other side mellower, older, wiser & no worse for the wear.
Devil’s Slide, when it was still part of Highway 1, was 1 of my favorite stretches of road anywhere for sheer hair-​raising, adrenaline-​junkie driving. The curves. The inclines/​declines. No margin for error, tires screeching & slipping, the Pacific Ocean only a quick drop off a cliff away.
Good times, good times. But I’ve emerged from my death-​wish driving years with a new appreciation for a place like Devil’s Slide Coastal Trail. It’s all about running & bicycling now. While it’s less than 1.5 miles end to end, views are spectacular every foot of the way.
& the 9% grade is nice too. I’ve really gotten into trail running hills & a few laps out here is good hill work. Also nice are the restrooms & water fountains at both ends. Parking is limited though with just 17 total spaces (2 handicap) at the South end & 15 total spaces (1 handicap) at the North end. My advice, get in early.
That’s what I did & parking was a breeze, even on a Saturday. It didn’t take me long to run the short circuit, but it was all along that stunning California Pacific Coast that people come from all around the World to see. So while my old friend may not be as crazy exciting as before, that old friend sure is looking good.

I had been curious about the new trail since it opened in late March, but I also knew getting there would be a major pain in the toochis. Yes, almost every Unilocal review about this spot mentions the severely limited parking available here, and they are absolutely correct. That’s why I had the brilliant idea of coming here on Good Friday and sure enough, when I arrived at 10AM, only two of the spaces in the southern lot were taken. In fact, the trail was eerily desolate except for a roving band of blue hair walkers in velour jogging suits. It was like Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome meets The Golden Girls. Actually with the rolling fog and empty highways that looked like they went nowhere, it was the perfect setting for a classic Hitchcockian thriller (photo:
).
All I needed were a few thousand crows, a hideous mint-​green suit, a blonde upsweep, and a couple of lovebirds in a cage. Just south of Pacifica, the whole trail is only 1.3 miles and takes about a half-​hour to walk back and forth since even the steepest slopes are quite manageable due to the smooth pavement (photo:
). There are interpretative panels to educate yourself on the local flora and fauna, a dozen benches in case you want to sit a spell to enjoy the coastal view, and yes, restrooms at both ends of the trail. Dog owners and baby strollers started to converge on the trail so I left to find at least a half-​dozen cars waiting for a space in the lot. And this is my quandary with the trail. As striking as the setting is, I’m not sure it’s worth waiting in my car for a parking spot. How far is it to Big Sur again?

Despite what the Unilocal address reads, Devil’s Slide is in Pacifica not Half Moon Bay. Just FYI for people who are unfamiliar with the area. Like the other reviewers have noted, there is very limited free parking on each end of the trail. Be prepared to wait for a spot to open up. When friend tried looking for parking in the first lot, we had no luck. We drove through the tunnel to get to the second lot. Luckily, a car was just pulling out so we scored a parking spot right away.
The Devil’s Slide Coastal Trail is 1.3 miles each way. Since it’s the old stretch of the highway, it’s all paved. Only pedestrians and bikes are allowed through. I would say that it’s an easy stroll with a small incline towards the middle portion. We saw very few bikes on the weekend afternoon, but lots of pedestrians. Many people came out with their dogs as well.
The views are what you come here for. The scenery of the coast reminds me of how much I love living in the Bay Area. From the trail, you can look out into the deep blue ocean and also down on the surrounding beaches. We even spotted a grey whale in the distance. Along the trail are also beautiful native plants. There are eco-​sensitive sections that are fenced off with signs. Although this trail is quite new, I imagine that it will continue to be well maintained. The trail is open from 8am to 8pm.
There are a few places along the trail with park benches including a look out point. At each of the trail ends are restrooms. They do not have running water just as most restrooms at regional parks.
On a nice and sunny day, there wasn’t too much of a wind factor. I expected it to be very windy considering it always being so in that area. I would suggest wearing layers just to be prepared. Towards the end of our leisurely walk, the fog did start rolling in a bit. I would recommend checking out Devil’s Slide. If you’ve driven on it in the past, you’ll enjoy walking or biking it much more.

One of my dreams came true. I’ve been wanting to walk this stretch of road waay before it was turned into what it is now. When it was still still a source of problem for locals and admirers of the view.
It’s by no means a difficult trail. It’s 1.5 miles one way and there’s about three areas where you can stop, sit and admire the fabulous vista. My guesstimate is it’s about 500 feet in between those three spots.
They resurrected the road. It’s clean. Pothole free and there’s a bike lane that indicates 15 mph. With new road paint to boot. It’s such a comfortable walk with a parking lot on both ends. I noticed the parking lot from the south is a lot bigger than the one from the north side. The south side lot is closer to the mouth of the new tunnel and can be admired up close.
Anywhere you look the coastal view is ridiculously beautiful! No bad views! Charge your cameras/​phone and click away!
Best time is before 10 am. Less people. Easy parking. But bundle up. There are areas of the walk that would feel like you’re in a wind tunnel. Freezing wind.
Porta Potty on both ends of the trail. Super convenient.
Btw the whole length of the trail is fenced in for safety. So no way to climb anything if you’re thinking of visiting a couple of the tall structures that’s been there.