Montara Mountain, 1900 ft (579 m)

Where: San Pedro Valley Park

Trail head: Brooks Creek Trail Head

Length: ~10 miles

Cumulative elevation gain: 2*1600 ft

Difficulty: Moderate

Reservations required: No

Advance planning typically required for permit: N/A

Permit requirements: No

Price: Free

Report date: 2006-12-16

Reported by: Silviu

Driving directions: From Hwy 1 between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, turn east onto Linda Mar Blvd until it ends at Oddstad Blvd. Turn right on Oddstad and drive one block to the park entrance.

Maps: Neil Mishalov's topo map

Trail condition: Very good.

Description and other notes: If you live in the Bay Area, you've got to do this hike at least once. Northern California is known for its microclimates, i.e., huge variations in climatic and vegetation properties over short distances. This hike is a shining example of that variation: dense, moist manzanita forests, waterfalls, high coastal headlands, wildflower groves, eucalyptus forests.Montara Mountain is a broad, weathered granite mountain between Pacifica to the north and Montara to the south. Because granite is stronger than the weak sediments that make up most of Montara's neighbors, Montara Mountain is taller and steeper. The western slopes of Montara are predictably moist, as they open to the Pacific Ocean. In Spring 2006, Route 1 was closed for several months because of too much rain that dislodged the road. The road was consolidated and now it is open for traffic. They are also constructed a tunnel to avoid any more sliding. Route Summary: San Pedro Valley Park -> Brooks Creek Trail -> Montara Mountain Trail -> Fire Road to Peak -> Fire road down to Montara State Beach -> back up to Peak -> Montara Mountain Trail back to Parking Lot.

Comments

Montara Mountain Peak is on private property.

Pacifica views from Brooks Creek Trail.

Pacifica views from Montara Mountain Trail.

North Peak Access Road.

The fire road that goes to Montara State Beach.

Montara views from Mountara Mountain Trail.