New Year’s walk to Franklin Point, part of Año Nuevo State Park, Hwy 1

Join CNPS members as we celebrate a Chapter tradition of welcoming the New Year with a walk and BYO picnic at Franklin Point, which is part of the Año Nuevo State Preserve on the San Mateo County coast on Hwy 1.

We will be exploring our surroundings as we casually walk towards Franklin Point, which is the most botanically interesting area of the park. We will be starting from the North Whitehouse Creek Trailhead which is located south of Pescadero on Highway 1, just north of the Santa Cruz County line.

We’ll enjoy ocean views, California native plants and raptors, song birds and maybe marine mammals. Coastal prairie flora we expect to see includes silver bur ragweed (Ambrosia chamissonis), California goldenbush (Ericameria ericoides), coastal sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala) and Argentina anserina (Potentilla anserina).
Expected dune flora includes yellow sand verbena (Abronia latifolia), pink sand verbena (Abronia umbellata), sea side heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) and American dunegrass (Eleymus mollis).

We also expect to see sea cliff bluff lettuce (Dudleya farinosa)and fleshy jaumea (Jaumea carnosa). As this is a day to have fun sharing nature at the beach with fellow Chapter members, the end time and depth of botanical or fauna discussion may depend on participants preferences.

Bring binoculars and layers of clothing for variable coastal conditions including wind, sun, precipitation and fog. We will be walking on sand dunes. Bring a lunch or snacks and fluids. Extreme weather cancels.

Before signing up, please read the Año Nuevo State Park restrictions at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523.

Note that there are no bathrooms at Franklin Point. Flush toilets are located at the main entrance of Año Nuevo State Park, which may require payment to enter.

Directions from the South (Santa Cruz side)
Pass the main entrance to Año Nuevo State Park and continue on about 2.8 miles. You will pass Whitehouse Canyon Rd on your right. Immediately across from Rossi Rd, you will see a turnout for North Whitehouse Creek Trailhead on the left side of the road. You may park at the trailhead or along Hwy 1.

Directions from the North (Half Moon Bay / Pescadero side)
Pass Gazos Creek State Beach on your right and continue about 1.5 miles. The road widens. Just before the road narrows again, you will see the turnout for North Whitehouse Creek Trailhead on the right side of the road. You may park at the trailhead or along Hwy 1.