Rancho Corral De Tierra 11.5 mile Loop Moss Beach El Granada
Views: Ocean A+
Crowd: None
Average Speed: 3.3 mph
Stopped Time: 1 min
Difficulty 1-5 for relative distance: 3
Bike: Yes Bikes
Dogs: Yes Dogs
Cautions: Poison Oak
​
Hike Direction: West to Northeast, Clockwise.
Download GPX route: Click Here​
Parking: Free off Etheldore St.
​
Driving Directions:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//37.522957,-122.50648/@37.5228873,-122.5088095,17z/data=!3m1!4b1
​
More info: https://www.nps.gov/goga/rcdt.htm
​
This 11.5 mile loop connects the 2 very nice trails from Moss Beach to El Granada. The trail up out of Moss Beach is very nice and winds through horse property. Make sure your dog is on a leash. The trail is a great hike even as and O & B 8 miler, with well maintained trails and great ocean views if the fog isn't in.
Wear long pants and sleeves, Poison Oak is around all the trail edges and encroaches occasionally, especially prevalent on the top connecting section.
The connecting loop at the top also has several very steep up and downs as it crosses the ridges. Most of the connecting portion is less traveled and maintained than the two connecting trails.
The trail down is part fire-road and also provides great views of HMB Harbor. Of the two trails the Moss Beach section is much nicer.
You'll end up in a neighborhood and then head North alone Highway 1 for the last 2 miles. 80% of the trip along the Highway can be accomplished on the dirt road within feet of the highway.
This is a good trail to shuttle by parking cars at each trailhead, resulting in a 9.5 mile trail.
​
​
Red = Out & Back (O/B) or Connection hikes
Green = Loops
Blue = Backpacking including Backpacking thru hikes
Light Blue = Thru hikes
Yellow = To-do Backpack
Pink = Smaller loop option
Orange = To-do
Purple = Bay Ridge Trail thru hikes
GENERAL NOTES:
• Total Elevation Gain reported by GAIA on IOS devices looks to be a bit under reported when compared to Garmin devices that feature Baro elevation correction. It has been left for consistency.
• I carried a full overnight weekend backpack and hiked solo, unless otherwise noted. This certainly slows the time and pace a bit. I did so initially for the workout, but now so that the pacing is consistent and thus more predictable for comparing hike to hike times.
• Often midweek you might not see another person on your loop. Some of the Best Hikes on the Peninsula are surprisingly remote.
• Some of the trails have sharp drops just off the edge of the single track. A fall off in the wrong spot could be very bad.
• Cell signal is spotty to non-existent in many of the areas.
• Carry a headlamp in case you get lost, delayed, over estimated your progress, when you have an afternoon start, etc.
• When Hiking Solo, consider carrying extra food, first aid, and shelter or bivy, in case you find yourself lost, injured or in the parks after dark. It could be better to shelter in place, than continue without working light, tripping and falling off a cliff or wandering lost thru the night.
• Wildlife consists not only of lizards, rabbits, birds (including turkeys and hogs in some of the areas) and deer, but I have seen or seen signs of coyote, bob cat, rattle snakes and even mountain lions in several of the preserves over the years.
Seems like the lizards make the most noise as the run thru the leaves, but note that on several occasions the rattle snakes did NOT rattle. It never hurts to be aware of where you are stepping.
​
ABOUT DOGS AND BIKES:
Most of the hiking routes cover a large area and numerous hiking trails. While some of the hiking trails used to create the route might allow dogs or bikes, a "NO" for either is listed if at any point on the hike, a hiking trail used for the hike, has a "NO" sign is posted.
However, regardless of the signs posted, please note that you'll often still see both.