Peninsula & South Bay. Open the geological map app and find the contact point between the Pleistocene marine terrace and the Miocene granite of the Montara Block. Montara Mountain Wildflower Hike. If you are without a car, or planning to do a through-hike which begins or ends at another trailhead, public transportation options are quite convenient. From there, the trail continues onto McNee Ranch State Park property where it intersects at the ridge of the Mountain with Montara Mountain Road and continues west down to Montara State Beach. Montara Mountain Trail is a 6.7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Pacifica, California that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. The rest of the hike is pretty much uphill. Navigate from your starting point to MSB with Yahoo! View of Montara and Moss Beach from Montara Mountain. Once out from the Eucalyptus, the trail offers lush coastal scrub and beautiful Manzanita groves leading past the Brooks Creek Trail intersection. You’ll also see an impressive array of wildflowers and chaparral plants along the trail. Montara Mountain is one of my go-to trails for hot summer days when every other trail in the Bay Area is too hot to hike. The trail is flat once you climb the gentle slope from the parking lot. Point Montara has a lighthouse that offers overnight accommodations. Montara Mountain hike at McNee Ranch is a fabulous 7-10 roundtrip mile walk up to the 1898 foot North Peak summit. This route to the summit of Montara Mountain is a longer, more scenic alternative to the direct route on North Peak Access Road Trail. From the parking area, the trail contours along this gorgeous coastal hillside, climbing gradually to some benches and 180° views of the coastline. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. North Peak Access Rd (0.95 miles) → San Pedro Mountain Rd (0.79 miles) → North Peak Access Rd (2.21 miles) to North Peak / Mount Montara. "The reward for completing this 6.7-mile loop is a stunning panoramic view that includes Montara State Beach to the west, the Golden Gate Bridge to the north and the Port of Oakland to the east. The change in elevation brings its specialties: impressive granite rock formations, the rare Montara Manzanita which only grows on this mountain and all the other resilient coastal plant colonies that have thrived at this altitude for centuries. Montara Mountain Trail offers the versatility of using the Brooks Creek Trail intersection to descend back to the park or the more challenging option of continuing on up the mountain where the trail ends at the San Pedro Valley Park Boundary at approximately 1,600 feet of elevation gain. Don’t scatter trash or leave anything behind that might go into the water. Refer to the trail map given above. This access road is lined with beautiful granite outcroppings and offers the stunning vistas of the San Francisco Bay on the one side and Montara State beach and Half Moon Bay on the other. The trail starts at the beach (with occasional dolphins, and the hope of whales), and then climbs slowly but steadily forever. Several portions are via historic trails once used by Indians, Spanish explorers, and early San Francisco settlers. Dawn Page / CoastsideSlacking. Parking and pedestrian access are relatively easy. To Montara Mountain North Peak (5.3 miles) (~ 200 ft drop, ~ 1900 ft gain) Gray Whale Cove Trail (1.16 miles) to Montara Beach parking lot (entrance to McNee Ranch off Highway 1). Montara Mountain Bike, Hike, Trail Running trails, California. 3) Clean as you go. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. The Montara Mountain Trail is a two-for-one: You can easily combine it with a visit to beautiful Montara Beach, less than half a mile away. Share. turnoff for the San Pedro Valley County Park approach. Hike to the summit of North Peak Montara Mountain via North Peak Access Road from Montara State Beach through McNee Ranch State Park and you’ll win a superb panorama of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Ocean, including the Farallon Islands. It is operated by Hostelling International, a non-profit group. Along this trail you can hear the waves crashing on the beach. Although the Montara Mountain Trail is a wide fire road, you start off with the feeling of walking along a bluff, looking down at the ocean and Montara Beach. A hike on Gray Whale Cove Trail will take your breath away. Perched on a bluff, this historic lighthouse offers access to coastal beach hikes. May 25, 2017 - Hi Point Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse in Montara, CA. Join us for an easy 2-mile hike along the scenic Gray Whale Cove Trail. The cut-over trail provides the best views of the Montara Beach area. (1). "A tautology is a thing that is tautological. Vegetation is sparse; either coastal scrub or clean, grassy, windswept slopes. turnoff for the San Pedro Valley County Park approach. Getting there: The trailhead is five miles south of Pacifica and 8.7 miles north of Half Moon Bay, right off of Hwy 1. ", Images This trailhead is about 4 miles south on Highway 1 from the Linda Mar Blvd. On this schedule map, you would get off the bus at stop "B" in Montara, and head north along highway 1 until you reach the trailhead. Photo about Trail to Montara State Beach, California on a sunny summer day with people on the beach. All Rights Reserved. 2) Chill and enjoy the beach. Road access to the Montara State Beach (MSB) trailheads is via California's famous Highway 1. Both trail options meet on a high ridge. The beach is bounded by low hills both to the north and south. The hikes are short, but you should be self-sufficient. Maps. Starting Point: Montara State Beach parking lots, CA Rte. Calafia Beach is city-operated park and beach on state park property in San Clemente, CA. Continue up the main Montara Mountain Access Road for a steep 0.9 mile/600-foot climb. Because of the mellow vibe, even if you don’t want to get into the water, you can just lie in the sand with a cold drink or even bring your own inflatable sofa for a perfect beach weekend. Furthermore, there is very little usable water on any of the Montara Mountain trails at any time of the year, especially in summer. The initial climb begins with gorgeous ocean views, and to these are added views of the rugged hillsides. Meet at Gray Whale Cove State Beach parking lot on Highway 1 just south of the Devil’s Slide. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. A bus map from transitinfo.org. Lingering wildflowers and sweeping Pacifica views … this 1,900-foot peak hike up Pacifica’s Montara Mountain has it all, including a beach ending! This self-guided audio tour stretches between San Francisco and Los Angeles, one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world! On the west side of Highway 1, look for an odd building "balanced" on some eroded sandstone. Maps. Gray Whale Cove State Beach is in an area of steep cliff erosion between Pacifica and Montara called the “Devil’s Slide.” The beach itself is safe, but the old highway […] See details . Respect the beach! Watch Queue Queue Queue View Montara State Beach Image Gallery - 3 Images. The trail is located within the McNee Ranch, which located within the Montara State Beach. Assessor, County Clerk-Recorder & Chief Elections Officer, County Managers Office/Clerk of the Board. Once out from the Eucalyptus, the trail offers lush coastal scrub and beautiful Manzanita groves leading past the Brooks Creek Trail intersection. Park at Gray Whale Cove State Beach on the inland side of Highway One, 1.4 miles north of La Costanera Restaurant in Montara. The trail is primarily used for hiking and running and is accessible year-round. If you're into California geology, this is a must-see beach. After 0.75 miles and 250 feet of climbing, you come to an obvious junction. If you're just into a nice day at the beach, this is the beach for you. Home. Step 2,261: We look over our shoulders and enjoy the view of Montara, Montara State Beach and Pillar Point. From here, simply follow the Montara Mountain Access Road another 1.6 miles/+600 feet to the north (true) summit of Montara Mountain. Calafia Beach. Montara Beach, Montara, California, 94019 (scroll to bottom for photo gallery) Location: CA Rte 1 in Montara, CA, across from McNee Ranch/Montara Mountain state park area. Montara Mountain, really just a massive ridge paralleling the San Andreas Fault, is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's more popular destinations for uphill-oriented hikers. 1, across from McNee Ranch/Montara Mountain trail area (also landmark of Ocean View Farms), or further south near 2ndSt., Montara. In mid-winter, on a clear day in January, there are few hikes as pretty as Montara Mountain. Discover ocean views, coastal plants, wildlife, and historic sites. The yellow trail climbs straight up the hill, while a nearby paved road (red) provides a more steady climb up the slopes. Watch Queue Queue. Restaurants and grocery stores are nearby. This video is unavailable. For directions to the beach check out the CA Parks and Recreation page for Grey Whale Cove State Beach, they also include longitude and latitude coordinates. Free event. Bring water and good walking shoes and dress for the weather. Although the summit views from many other Bay Area high points are more expansive than Montara's, the western routes up the mountain climb through myriad coastal "microclimates" and provide stellar views of the Pacific Ocean. Park here and start up the trail. From Peak to Beach Hike the North Peak of Montara Mountain, then Hit the Beach! The hike starts at the same limited parking lot on the east side off Highway 1. (view on Google Maps) Gray Whale Cove Trail - Photo by Jennifer Jean. Montara Mountain is an easy summit to add to your Bay Area peakbagging list, a fun hike for families and dogs, or a challenging trail run that will leave your calves screaming. Montara Mountain Hike at McNee Ranch State Park, between Pacifica & Montara, CA. If not for the crowds wh… 3 of 4 The parking lot at Montara State Beach, along with all other California state parks, has been closed to limit visitors during coronavirus outbreak in Montara, Calif., on Sunday, March 29, 2020. About a quarter mile in, you’ll get to an unsigned junction. At the Gray Whale Cove parking area, find the Gray Whale Cove Trail at the southeast end of the lot. Here you reach the junction (small sign) with the trails coming up from SPVCP. See McNee Ranch map. Compared to the SPVCP approach, the MSB approach is more exposed to the wind and has less water. The Graywhale Cove State Beach is a popular seaside trail that’s just 20 minutes south of San Francisco. Image of waves, hike, summer - 94431703 Here, challenging switchbacks await you over granite rock mixed with rich red clay higher and higher up the mountain with each sequential elevation change offering a broader view of both the park below and the western coast. The red trail is a mile longer, with some up-and-down, though its gentler grade makes it the preferred bicycle ascent route. Water, Dog Friendly, Hikes. At this point, vegetation has turned to thick coastal scrub. Morning on the mountain, afternoon at the beach, and in between both: banner ocean views. You cannot miss this! Montara mountain (also known as McNee Ranch) is part of Montara State Beach. It also includes a popular scenic detour along Monterey’s 17 Mile Drive at Pebble Beach. Today, the lighthouse has expanded to a hostel and beach access point for hikers. This trailhead is about 4 miles south on Highway 1 from the Linda Mar Blvd. There's tons of sand. Distance: 7.0 miles Elevation change: 1,870 feet Difficulty: Moderate Hiking time: 3-4 hours Season: This hike is accessible and enjoyable all year, but spring is the best time to see the wildflower blooms. Start at the Gray Whale Cove trailhead on the southeast side of its namesake parking lot (arrive early, parking fills quickly here). 22 trails with 216 photos From the parking lot you can hike toward the Rangers Residence or take the cut-over trail toward the Gray Whale Cove trail. The ascent continues at a more moderate degree winding around the hilltop with a panoramic view of the western portion of Montara Mountain Ridge before meeting the steep flank of the mountain. There is also much more parking at the Gray Whale Cove trailhead. It’s all within 3 miles’ reach on the Peninsula when you get an early start at Montara State Beach. The most popular route up the mountain is the North Peak Access Road, a bright white sandy road that cuts through brilliant green coastal scrub under bright blue skies, with pretty coastal views and cool air. About 1/4 mile south of this, you will see a large dirt parking area on the east side of the road. The Hike is called the Montara Mountain North Peak hike, along the North Peak Access Road. (3), Climber's Log Entries 03.21.2019. Welcome to the GPS-enabled driving tour of California’s famous Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway! Montara Mountain Trail starts as a meandering jaunt through the Blue Gum Eucalyptus forest with striking glimpses of coastal Pacifica and the ocean beyond. The San Mateo County Transit Authority offers bus service to the town of Montara, about one mile from the trailhead. Hi Point Lighthouse Overview: Located a short 15-20 minute drive north of Half Moon Bay, Hi Point Montara Lighthouse is a historic and still operating coastal emblem.The historic lighthouse opened in 1875 to serve as a maritime compass and guide ships through coastal fog. Navigate from your starting point to MSB with Yahoo! HiddenSF also has some walking trails for Half Moon Bay that include Montara and a few others. Montara Mountain Trail starts as a meandering jaunt through the Blue Gum Eucalyptus forest with striking glimpses of coastal Pacifica and the ocean beyond. 3 ), Climber 's Log Entries ( 1 ) Beach Image Gallery 3! 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