California Photo Scout

Car at Devils Slide

Highway 1 is the most scenic route in California and very popular with tourists. One of the most beautiful stretches lies just south of Pacifica, where the road hugs the coast tighter and road closures are common in winter due to, you guessed it, slides and cracks caused by the unstable geography. The drive is treacherous even during good weather, but especially in the rain and at night. The curves are steep and sudden and the incredible scenic beauty of the landscape distracts drivers.

Due to the dangers, frequent closures and costly repairs, the Devils Slide Tunnel will bypass this area from 2011 on. Currently the plan is to open the bypassed section for recreational use after the tunnel opens. Let us hope that the California budget crisis will not punch a hole into the plan. Part of the lure for me is the pending closure of the drive, making me want to take this road a few more times.

I recommend taking this scenic detour if you can and if time permits. As experienced drivers, you will enjoy this road, even if you are not photographers.

How to get there

Highway 1 runs through San Francisco as 19^th street from the south all the way to the north across the Golden Gate Bridge. Since city engineers laid out the streets in a grid, it should be a snap to find 19^th street. Follow it south and follow the signs leading onto Highway 1 and Highway 280. From Highway 280 take the turnoff to Pacifica. A scenic alternative is to follow Great Hwy along the beaches until it becomes Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35) and then taking the exit from 35 to Highway 1 South.

If you come from the south, you can take Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz or take Highway 92 to Half Moon Bay from the Bay Area. Another alternative is to take Highway 9 north of Santa Cruz onto Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd) and then taking 92 to Half Moon Bay.

GPS position

Pullout:

• 37°33’34.43″N 122°30’50.18″W

Flower Field (Montara Beach):

• 37°33’5.27″N 122°30’45.51″W

How to photograph Devil’s Slide

Beach from pull-out

Due to the nature of the pullouts, you must be quick. If you have to fiddle with your new camera, shoot only at Montara Beach and the pullout marked above. If you are familiar with your camera and know how to shoot from the hip, figuratively speaking, Devils Slide is a nice challenge. Should you decide to ignore the warning below and decide to shoot from the tiny pullouts on the narrow steep cliffs, make sure you can safely pull over and merge without endangering other drivers. Watch your mirror when you get out of the car and be careful on the steep cliffs. Use a wide-angle lens to add drama to your composition.

The road itself is an interesting shooting subject, too. A wide-angle lens lets you shoot handheld at relatively long exposure times. Adding motion blur to cars on the winding road can yield dramatic results.

Make sure you have your camera ready and set up properly. Check the battery and the flash memory card to minimize your time on the road.

Flowers at Montara Beach

You do not need to pull over on the dangerous sections. There is a large pullout a little further to the south with a spectacular view (picture). You will not risk getting a ticket here and you have time for adjustments. I prefer using a wide-angle lens to include some of the vegetation on my side of the cliffs. It is easy to get carried away and to start taking photographs wherever you happen to fall out of your car, at least that is what I often observe. Instead, you should take some time to walk around the edge of the cliff to find a good spot that suits your shooting style. If you take the time to stalk out the best position, you will take better photographs. Make sure your horizon is straight! Using wide-angle lenses and paying attention to the foreground often causes crooked horizons.

Montara Beach is a popular large sand beach. If you happen to arrive during a low tide, you can explore the tide pools. During the spring, the field between the parking lot and the beach will be awash with yellow flowers, which make a wonderful foreground for your beach photographs.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The time around sunset when the sun showers the rocks with golden light is best, although any time can be good.

Late spring will bring out more wildflowers. Summer will bring fog and boring skies while winter can bring dramatic skies or rain. It is a hit and miss game in this part of California.

Time required

Driving the detour between San Francisco and San Jose (via Half Moon Bay) will cost you up to two hours, depending on road conditions. You can also drive Highway 1 to Santa Cruz. If you take a few photographs in drive by shooting style (pull over, get out, shoot, get in, drive off) you can add another 30 minutes.

You could also hike down to Gray Whale Cove State Beach, but since it is a nude beach, people may not be appreciative of photographers. Exploring Montara Beach is a better option. It can be done in 30 minutes.

Equipment

• Wide-angle lens
• SLR
• CP Filter

Difficulty Getting There

The pullouts north of the one I marked with the GPS location above are for emergency use only and parking could cost you a ticket. There is not much room to pull over, especially during heavy traffic when you have to brake quickly and accelerate very fast to merge with traffic. I recommend sticking to the large pullout at 37°33’34.43″N 122°30’50.18″W. I am not responsible if you decide to ignore my warning.

Close Locations

• Montara
• Half Moon Bay and Mavericks
• Ano Nuevo State Preserve
• Skyline Blvd
• Pigeon Point
• Twin Peaks
• Victorian Houses at Alamo Square
• Buena Vista Park and Haight-Ashbury District
• Beach and Cliff House
• Sutro Baths and Lands End
• Lincoln Park and Legion of Honor
• Big Basin Redwoods State Park
• Filoli

Useful Resources

• Devil’s Slide on Beach California
• Caltrans Page on the Progress of the Tunnel
• Gray Whale Cove SB page
• Montara Beach Page
• San Francisco Tide Table

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