Just a short drive down Highway 1, Devil’s Slide is one of the most breathtaking yet accessible nature areas worth visiting near San Francisco. The decommissioned section of Highway 1 is now a paved 1.3-mile walking path overlooking dramatic seaside cliffs.
It’s also a prime spot to watch for gray whales during the migration between December and May, as they are known to come as close as 100 feet from shore.
If you’ve never visited Devil’s Slide, now’s a great time to check it out, with the added opportunity to witness the annual gray whale migration.
Whale-watching at Devil’s Slide
An estimated 15,000 gray whales migrate along California’s coast every winter, completing one of the longest migrations of any mammal. From December to February, they are known to travel south from their feeding grounds in the Arctic down to their breeding grounds in the warm lagoons of Baja California, Mexico. Then, they travel north back up to the Arctic between February and May, completing a remarkable 14,000-mile round trip.
You can witness the gray whale migration from land at numerous points along the California coast, as they are known to come closer to shore than humpbacks do. At Devil’s Slide, they’ve been spotted as close as 100 feet offshore.
You’ll find numerous overlooks and benches at Devil’s Slide, where you can set up with a pair of binoculars and scan for gray whale blows, backs, tail flukes, and even breaches. Consider visiting on a calm, clear morning, when it’s easier to spot spouts against the smooth water. Even if you don’t manage to spot a whale, you’ll still enjoy some prime wildlife watching in the presence of harbor seals, sea lions, and seabirds.
Visiting Devil’s Slide
Devil’s Slide is a short stretch of coastline between Pacifica and Montara. Though it was once a treacherous section of Highway 1, Caltrans redirected the highway into the Tom Lantos Tunnels in 2013, converting the decommissioned section into a pedestrian and bike zone.
The roadway is now a gently graded 1.3-mile path with two small parking lots at each end. The trail is open 24/7, but parking lot hours vary by season and can become crowded on weekends.
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Devil’s Slide for some more tips for visiting.