In brief:
1.2 mile out and back hike through old quarry grounds in El Granada. The park has a frightening amount of invasive plants, mostly notably eucalyptus.

Distance and difficulty:
This 1.2 mile out and back hike is easy, although there is one short moderate climb. Total elevation change is about 400 feet.

Exposure:
Mostly shaded.

Trail traffic:
Light.

Trail surfaces:
Wide dirt trails.

Hiking time:
Under an hour.

Season:
Nice any time.

Getting there:
From CA 1 in El Granada (San Mateo County, 4 miles north of Half Moon Bay), turn at a traffic light onto Alhambra. Drive southeast on Alhambra about 0.3 mile, then bear left onto The Alameda. Drive about 0.5 mile to a junction with Avenue Cabrillo, turn left, then almost immediately, turn left onto Alhambra, drive one block, then turn right onto Santa Maria. Drive about 0.2 mile, then turn right onto Columbus, and make an immediate left turn into the parking area.

GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude 37°30'11.79"N
Longitude 122°27'46.63"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)

Gas, food, and lodging:
Stores, restaurants, gas, and pay phones are available in nearby Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Pillar Point Harbor, Princeton-by-the-Sea, and Moss Beach. No camping.

Trailhead details:
Small dirt roadside parking lot. No parking or entrance fees, although you can make a donation to the park at a dropbox near the playground. There are portable toilets, but no drinking water. You can study the park map at an information signboard, but there are no paper maps to take with you. SamTrans bus #17 stops within walking distance of the trailhead. Visit the Transit Info website for details.

Rules:
Park is open from dawn to dusk. Dogs are permitted on leash only. Fire roads are multi-use, while the park paths are open to hikers and equestrians only.

The Official Story:
San Mateo County Parks' Quarry Park page

Map Choices:
• Map from SMCP
• Trails of the Coastside and Northern Peninsula (map) has a good map of the park, and is helpful in getting there (available from Pease Press).

Quarry Park in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.




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