This is a moderately challenging hike that takes you through multiple types of ecosystems (including an antennae ecosystem). The trails are generally smooth and kempt, except for a steep rocky section just before Montara Mountain Trail runs into Montara Mountain Road. It's a 7.4-mile round trip with a little under 1700 feet of climbing. The views to the west over Pacifica and out to sea are incredible.

The hike to the top of Montara Mountain begins in San Pedro Valley County Park, which was the location of the final camp for the 1769 Portola expedition that "discovered" San Francisco Bay. They hiked from here up to Sweeney Ridge, where there is now a monument to the discovery of the San Francisco Bay, and they saw the bay for the first time ( for Europeans ). Luckily, we have trails to take us up the ridge.

Pillar Point and Mavericks.

Manzanita flowers.

Make sure to not miss the visitor center and interpretive nature trail in the parking area. Our trail begins on the southeast side of the parking area on the appropriately named Montara Mountain trail. The hike starts through a thick eucalyptus forest which changes to coastal chaparral after about a mile. Once we're out of the eucalyptus, we get a better sense of what the mountain is like. The sides are steep and draped with a blanket of bushes and shrubs so thick that it seems like not even a mountain lion could get through it. It's hard to understand how Portola made it up the sides of this ridge without trails. In 2.5 miles the Montara Mountain trail dead ends into the Montara Mountain Road at the edge of the San Pedro Valley park. Go left on the road and in 1.1 miles you're at the peak….but not really. The actual peak has an antennae installation on it, and you must be satisfied with getting almost to the peak ( or being a scofflaw ). Nearby is the oh so cleverly named Peak Mountain which has lovely views of the ocean and shore all the way up to San Francisco.

The actual pea, in all it's glory.

The park boundary.