Quite a bit longer than what All trails says, came to nearly 8 miles for us. Behind the beach are stunning sculpted sandstone cliffs making this a very photogenic spot. It is shared with horses and cyclists so be careful. Park here and start up the trail. views, trail is narrow and rocky in some parts. This long beach begs for long walks on soft sand, and the dunes beg for jumping! Refer to the trail map given above. On the west side of Highway 1, look for an odd building "balanced" on some eroded sandstone. From the parking area, the trail contours along this gorgeous coastal hillside, climbing gradually to some benches and 180° views of the coastline. Good trail, I would classify as easy over moderate. 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. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour (Pacific Coast Highway) Welcome to the GPS-enabled driving tour of California’s famous Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway! Lots of uphill, but overall an amazing hike. Photo by Kevin Henney. Add to or improve this map // Place this map on your website. (1). 22 trails with 216 photos (3), Climber's Log Entries The yellow trail climbs straight up the hill, while a nearby paved road (red) provides a more steady climb up the slopes. Wine Tasting & Winery Tours. Furthermore, there is very little usable water on any of the Montara Mountain trails at any time of the year, especially in summer. From here, simply follow the Montara Mountain Access Road another 1.6 miles/+600 feet to the north (true) summit of Montara Mountain. There is also much more parking at the Gray Whale Cove trailhead. Add to another list. The trailhead for North Peak Access Road, the trail that leads to the summit of North Peak Montara Mountain, is on the east side of CA Highway 1 about a half mile north of Montara, 8 miles north of Half Moon Bay, 0.7 mile south of Gray Whale Cove State Beach, and 6 miles south of Pacifica. It was a little windy up top so bring a light jacket if you get cold easily. Once out from the Eucalyptus, the trail offers lush coastal scrub and beautiful Manzanita groves leading past the Brooks Creek Trail intersection. It appears to be a popular trail so it was busy and sometimes hard to be physically distant from others on the trail. Situated in Montara, 700 metres from Montara State Beach, Stunning Oceanview Coastal Home Beach Trails Family Activities features accommodation with free bikes, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk. The map on this page has the loop drawn in the appropriate direction. Both trail options meet on a high ridge. 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. Awesome trial with spectacular ocean views. Half Moon Bay State Beach. This holiday home includes 1 bedroom, a living room and a TV, an equipped kitchen with a dining area, and 1 bathroom with a bath or shower and a washing machine. Find Spooner’s Cove Beach to the right, just before the campground. Half Moon Bay – is a few miles south of Montara Beach. Amenities include restrooms, picnic tables, and free parking. 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. ", Images Hiked this trail yesterday for my birthday. Excellent workout—hike up, run down, lunch at the top. See all. Gray Whale Cove Trail. We spotted  the Golden Gate Bridge, the Port of Oaklandand the top floors of downtown skyscrapers just beyond San Bruno Mountain. Devils Slide Trail – A two-mile drive north of Montara State Beach, you can visit the Devils Slide Trail. The estimated hike time is 3:42 (6.7 miles) but I finished it comfortably in 2:20 including a short lunch break. Everything in Montara is within walking or biking distance. Overall, its a 5! Fuel yourself up, its quite a hike. With more than 91 Montara trails covering 693 miles, you’re bound to find a perfect trail like the Lincoln Hill Pathway or NWP Railroad Trail. As others have mentioned, lower trails are one-way due to COVID (the direction AllTrails shows is correct). Navigate from your starting point to MSB with Yahoo! There is another larger lot 0.2 miles farther south at Montara State Beach. Restrooms will be partially reopened. The red trail is a mile longer, with some up-and-down, though its gentler grade makes it the preferred bicycle ascent route. Montara State Beach is a popular dog-friendly destination. At the top go to the cave, the views are better there. After 0.75 miles and 250 feet of climbing, you come to an obvious junction. Lined with boutique shops and restaurants, it’s a cute coastal town. $6 cash parking, restrooms w/soap at trailhead. Montara mountain (also known as McNee Ranch) is part of Montara State Beach. It is operated by Hostelling International, a non-profit group. Pacifica, CA. 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. by David Aston. Marine Protected Area . Trails will be open for access. The hikes are short, but you should be self-sufficient. What is currently closed at this park? Finished in just over 3 hours with minimal stops. Between the Montara mountains, Montara beach and over 10,000 acres of open space to roam arround this secluded area and private beach house. This area is really popular for people who want to explore tide pools and partake in a little bit of surf fishing. "One of the best returns on uphill-hiking investment in the Bay Area has to be the Montara Mountain Trail," says SFGATE homepage editor Greg Keraghosian. When it’s small, however, Montara is hospitable to beginner and intermediate surfers. Continue up the main Montara Mountain Access Road for a steep 0.9 mile/600-foot climb. "A tautology is a thing that is tautological. This trail takes you up to the top of of Montana Mountain. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/montana-de-oro-state-park Just as state and national parks protect wildlife and habitats on land, marine protected areas (MPAs) conserve and restore wildlife and habitats in our ocean. If not for the crowds wh… I had tried to start the Montara mountain hike from grey whale cove but the parking there is atrocious, Pedro Valley was the better option. Montara Mountain Trail is a 10.8 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Pacifica, California that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. Breathtaking views of the ocean. Half Moon Bay, CA. There are 4 moderate trails in Montara ranging from 3.3 to 7 miles and from 85 to 1,886 feet above sea level. Length 6.7 miElevation gain 1669 ftRoute type Loop Hiking running Forest Views Rocky Fee No dogs Go early to avoid crowds. Compared to the SPVCP approach, the MSB approach is more exposed to the wind and has less water. Here are some guidelines for people visiting Montara State Beach: Parking is available in the south parking lot and Martini Creek parking lot. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (178) 1.5 mi. Beaches. There is a small parking area at the trailhead, with a $6 fee to park. Stunning Oceanview Coastal Home Beach Trails Family Activities, Montara – Réservez avec le Meilleur Tarif Garanti ! Wake up to the fresh ocean air and sight and sounds of the Pacific Ocean roaring in the background. This trail will be closed September 8th - 11th, 14th - 18th, and the 21st for habitat restoration. At this point, vegetation has turned to thick coastal scrub. Absolutely gorgeous! Montara State Beach is a wide mile-long beach just north of Montara along the San Mateo County Coast. When it’s small, beginners and intermediates will do fine here. Very pleasant hike through the eucalyptus to panoramic views of the ocean. Montara State Beach. Arrived at 10am and there was plenty of space, you need to pay the $6 parking fee in cash. Dogs are permitted provided they are controlled with a leash of no more than six feet at all times. Dawn Page / CoastsideSlacking The BEST time to go is when a storm is coming in as the waves crash high and powerful against the cliffs. 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