Montara Mountain – Up and Over
Montara Mountain rises 1900 feet above the San Mateo County coast affording a 360 degree view stretching from the Pacific to the Bay. This hike begins at San Pedro Valley Park, summits on Montara
Mountain, and ends on the other side of the mountain, at the trailhead for McNee Ranch State Park near Montara Beach on Highway 1.
This trek starts with dropping off one car at the trailhead for McNee Ranch State Park on highway 1, on the left, about 4 miles south of Pacifica (Linda Mar Blvd). Here there is parking for about 5 cars (there is more parking a little further down the road on the right). From here drive the second car north on highway 1 to Pacifica and turn right on Linda Mar and proceed to San Pedro Valley County Park. This is a county park and charges a small fee for entry (except for us old folks who need not pay on weekdays). Park to the right, facing the hills you are about to ascend.
The trailhead is just to the right of the restrooms. We normally start on the Brooks Creek Trail, although you may take the Montara Mountain trail through a stand of eucalyptus trees. The Brooks Creek Trail ascends through a wooded area of Mazanita. As we travel uphill, look out across the canyon to the Brooks Creek waterfall. Continue climbing and soon the forest gives way to scrub brush as we move toward the intersection with the Montara Mountain Trail at about 1 mile.
Along the Montara Mountain trail the views open up to Pacifica and the ocean. The weather is either sunny and hot or foggy and cold. In either case, there is no protection from the weather on this trail.
At about 2 miles the trail intersects with the North Peak Access road at an elevation of about 1400 feet.
To the left lies the way to the top. This trail is actually a road and so is steep in places as it winds the 1 mile to the top of the montain. As we proceed up the trail, views to the left afford a look at the SF Watershed, not seen from highway 280. Underfoot are granite rock formations.
Montara Mountain consists mainly of granite formed in the Cretaceous period. Turns out the mountain is only half a mountain, the other half is further south, doen around Bakersfield. Yep, pretty crazy, huh? Montara Mountain is on the Pacific Plate and the other half is on the North American Plate. So as you stand on this mountain you are travelling North soon to be off the coast of San Francisco.
On top is a communication antenna station and a view of the ocean, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Mt Tamalpais, San Francisco, Mt Diablo, and points south. On a clear day look for the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge.
After absorbing the view and taking appropriate pictures, retrace your steps back to the intersection with the Montara Mountain Trail. 
From here you can return to your car at the San Pedro Valley Park or, as we do, continue down the steep road to the McNee Ranch State Park trailhead on highway 1. On the way down look for the junction with the old stagecoach road about a third of the way down the moutain.
