We all love a hiking trail that boasts a fantastic view, especially if that view is the ocean. Northern California’s Owl Trail boasts plenty of ocean views to keep you in awe from the moment you step foot on the trail, but that’s not the only amazing thing you’ll come across during your trek. Named after the fact that great horned owls commonly roost in the cypress trees along the trail, the Owl Trail is a must for wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers. You may just spot some winged beauties while enjoying this unique hike!
Located in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Beach is one of Northern California's greatest coastal gems. One of the best ways to experience this section of coastline is by traversing the Owl Trail, a hike that boasts extraordinary coastal views from beginning to end.
Spanning just over two miles in between Slide Ranch and the Muir Beach Overlook, the Owl Trail is the perfect way to take in the region's breathtaking scenery and beautiful flora and fauna.
The hike begins at Muir Beach Overlook and runs north through dense regions of chaparral, including groves of cypress trees. It's in these cypress trees that great horned owls are known to roost, so keep your eyes peeled and you may just see one of these beauties!
The Owl Trail is accessible year-round and it makes for an especially fantastic winter hike. It's during this time of year that the most gray whale sightings take place, and you'll have the perfect vantage point for them from the elevated trail.
The wildlife is a great reason to consider tackling this short but sweet trail. However, the scenery certainly doesn't disappoint either. Hikers will find themselves completely surrounded by coastal bluffs, stacks of basaltic rocks, and of course, a view of the Pacific Ocean that seems to go on forever.
Be sure to pack your binoculars and your camera. This is a scene you don't want to forget anytime soon. Boasting a staircase that winds right along the edge of the coast, the view simply doesn't get any better than this.
After you've completed the trail, you can either head back or continue onto Slide Ranch, a non-profit environmental education center located on a historic dairy farm. This is the type of hike that keeps on giving, so be sure to add it to your to-do list ASAP.
