Try this Pescadero Marsh North Pond to Pescadero Beach Loop for a little bit of everything
This quick 2-mile loop features excellent coastal birdwatching.
By Erik Watts
Park in the central parking lot at Pescadero State Beach and locate the wooden staircase on the eastern side of the lot. The stairs lead north to a pedestrian walkway along the Highway 1 bridge, which connects to another staircase down to the beach. Walking beneath the bridge brings you to the southern end of the North Pond Trail. Keep an eye out for Mallards and Black-necked Stilts in the lagoon.
Head north to cross the North Pond footbridge and follow the trail up a small hill to a bench overlooking the North Marsh to the east. If you have binoculars, you may spot nesting Bald Eagles. Continue over the ridge to complete a full loop around North Pond, where you’ll notice the significant influx of freshwater resulting from the recent Pescadero Marsh Habitat Restoration and Resiliency Project
At the north end of the trail, carefully cross Highway 1 to reach the northern parking area for Pescadero State Beach. Several informal trails lead west toward the beach. From there, kick off your shoes and walk south along the shoreline, watching sandpipers and marbled godwits dart along the surf while admiring the ever-changing driftwood structures scattered across the sand. The beach walk eventually returns you to the Highway 1 bridge and back to the central parking lot.
Please note that dogs are not permitted in Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, and this loop requires hikers to carefully cross Highway 1 on foot.