Starting at the tip of the marine reserve is Montara Mountain, which includes hiking trails of varying difficulty. A moderate hike is along Gray Whale Cove Trail, which features miles of breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as well as Montara Mountain. Bluff Trail snakes from the marine reserve down to Pillar Point. Then there is Maverick's Trail, Frenchmen's Creek Trail and Coastside Trail. The Coastside Trail is a gentle hike and begins at Surfer's Beach.
Locals say it's one of the best places to picnic and watch surfers.
It runs alongside the eastern boundary of four beaches, providing close to a three-mile stretch to walk, jog or ride bikes. For bird enthusiasts, there is a trail along Pillar Point Marsh. The marsh is past the Pillar Point Harbor entrance in Princeton by the Sea, a few miles north of Half Moon Bay. There is an easy hike here along the creek, as well as a more difficult trail called Hatch's Woods. The preserve's western access point is off Higgins-Purisima Road, which intersects Highway 1 about one mile south of Half Moon Bay.