We love a good NorCal beach day—that is, enormous rocky cliffs with crashing ocean waves, blasts of sea spray, and a strong wind that takes your breath away. We’re lucky to have expansive stretches of raw coastline all around the Bay Area, but this decommissioned highway is one of the most unique.
Devil’s Slide is the name given to a small area of coastline between Pacifica and Montara, which once held a landslide-prone section of Highway 1. Ever since CalTrans diverted the highway to skip this section, visitors have enjoyed a beautiful walk or bike ride along the coast that’s within a half-hour drive of San Francisco.
History of Devil’s Slide
Highway 1’s “Devil’s Slide” section began as the Ocean Shore Railroad, which was intended to connect San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Construction began in 1905 but was swiftly curtailed due to the 1906 earthquake and subsequent landslides. You can still see some of the original railroad bed at San Pedro Point.
Decades later, Highway 1’s coastal road through Devil’s Slide opened in 1937, but was frequently closed for repairs due to winter storms and landslides, sometimes for months. Finally, in 2013, CalTrans diverted the highway into the Tom Lantos Tunnels and converted the decommissioned Devil’s Slide section into a pedestrian- and bike-only zone.
Devil’s Slide is also home to some old WWII bunkers, which served as a military triangulation station to locate ships before the invention of radar. The remaining structure has been graffitied over the years, but the bright colors make for some epic pictures against the natural cliff surroundings. Signs are up stating that the cliffs are not stable, and it’s inadvisable to go near the bunker.
The converted roadway is a wide, gently graded, 1.3-mile paved trail with two small parking lots at both ends. The entire trail provides excellent ocean views where you can spot whales, seals, dolphins, nesting seabirds, and more wildlife. It’s equipped with observation scopes and benches throughout, so you can capitalize on the wave-watching during your leisurely stroll.
This trail is part of the enormous California Coastal Trail, which is a 1,200-mile trail network in the works with the goal of extending from Oregon to Mexico.
Visiting Devil’s Slide
You can find Devil’s Slide Trail off Highway 1 between Pacifica and Montara. Be advised that the parking lots are small, so weekends can get quite crowded, and the only public transportation available is via SamTrans Route 17.
The trail is open 24/7, but parking lot hours vary by season, closing as late as 8pm in the summer and as early as 5pm in the winter.
🌐 Learn more: County of San Mateo