Coho Vista Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildlife

To access the upper area of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve, you need a permit to access the parking area on Allen Road. Parking along Allen Road is not permitted. You can apply for the permit (which has the combination for the gate on the road) at openspace.org/visit-a-prese…

There are no services in this part of the preserve, so bring any water or food that you need and practice Leave No Trace principles.

The trail is free from obstacles, so it is fine for a trail run, especially when combined with the other trails in this preserve.

The Coho Vista Trail departs from the Coho Vista Loop Trail and drops down the hillside through the grasslands offering great views of the hills in the lower parts of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve and on clear days, the Pacific Ocean. The trail is a wide dirt and grass trail that makes the easy running. After a quarter of a mile, the trail enters the woods as the trail continues to descend, more steeply at this point.

Moss covers the trees and provides a little bit of shade during the run. At the bottom of the hill, the trail emerges from the woods and makes its way out to a point where sweeping views of the area come into view. On clear days, you can see the Pacific Ocean. You can see the Santa Cruz Mountains and look down into the lower portions of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. It's a great view and due to the permits, there aren't a lot of people out there.

The grasslands allow you the opportunity to see deer feeding in the morning or evening. Hawks and Turkey vultures can be seen soaring above the preserve. The forests offer you an opportunity to see redwoods, as well as ferns and moss that cover the trees in this area.