Harmony Headlands State Park fully embodies its name. A headland is a piece of land with a sheer drop-off into a body of water. A harmony is an arrangement blended together in a pleasing, peaceful unison. While the name may sound contradictory, one is a sheer cliff and the other is a smooth blend, the scenery of Harmony Headlands pieces together in such a serene way that you have to witness it for yourself. Right off Highway One, there is a dirt parking lot with free parking at the entrance of Harmony Headlands State Park. The trail consists of a 4.5 mile out-and-back that is fairly easy and accessible to most. During the rainy season, the mud and puddles can build up, so wear your boots!
When you walk on the trail, keep your eyes up to the sky for the many aerial animals, as well as on the ground for the terrestrial creatures that scurry around. Harmony Headlands proudly houses the California Brown Pelican. These pelicans suffered a great decline in population from the DDT pesticide, which caused their eggs to break prematurely. Ever since the United States Environmental Protection Agency banned the pesticide in the 1970s, pelicans have been making a strong comeback. Next to the brown pelican soar the northern harrier hawks. You may be lucky enough to witness one in action while it swoops down to collect its dinner, likely a California kingsnake or California ground squirrel.
After a few miles of a relatively flat trail, you start to see the Pacific Ocean peeking out between the hills, and once you emerge past the hills, the harmonic view of the headlands merging into the ocean becomes clear. You get to witness the ocean from a unique perspective as you stand high on the land above the shore. The stunning view allows you to understand just a fraction of how large our oceans really are. This scenic spot is a great place to rest for a snack, take some pictures, or meditate on the benches available.
As always, it’s important to recognize the Native American groups that were here originally. Before the Spanish claimed the land of Harmony Headlands in 1769, the ancestors of today’s Chumash and Salinan people inhabited the area. We are lucky to be able to enjoy the beautiful headlands as a public recreation spot today. The greatest way to appreciate the park is to treat it with care and respect, stay on the trails, pick up any litter, and remember the native inhabitants that lived there first.
