Peninsula Trails. Jean Rusmore
end of its upright branches. From this high plateau you are 0.5 mile from Montara’s peaks.
Continue up the mountain to North Peak, pass the private road leading to communications stations on the summit (1898 feet above sea level), and find a sunny, protected place to enjoy the view. On a clear day, views from the mountaintop are awesome. Southeast are the green heights of Scarpers Peak and the ridges of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Below lie the coastal terrace of Half Moon Bay and its beaches. West and north you see Mt. Tamalpais across the Golden Gate, the Bay, and the skyscrapers of San Francisco; east are the bridges, the East Bay hills, and Mt. Diablo in Contra Costa County. Below are the eastern ridges of adjoining San Pedro Valley County Park.
Gray Whale Cove seen from Montara Mountain on a crystal clear day
Your return to sea level is faster than the upward climb. In fact, the descent on the gravelly surface may be faster than you wish! Beware of speeding bicyclists around blind curves.
A SHORT TRIP TO GRAY WHALE COVE
A springtime treat on a trail festooned with flowers.
Distance: Hikers—less than 2 miles round trip; bicyclists and equestrians—2.5 miles round trip
Time: ¾ hour
Elevation Change: Relatively level
Just inside the entrance gate to McNee Ranch, hikers go left, uphill (north) onto a narrow foot trail that skirts the cypress trees and emerges on an open hillside blossoming with myriad shades of spring wildflowers. Bicyclists and equestrians follow the entrance road and bear left at the ranger station on Old Pedro Mountain Road as in as in the first trip, Old Pedro Mountain Road to the Saddle. All modes meet where Old Pedro Mountain Road veers sharply right in the ravine and a narrow trail climbs left to reach the bluff trail.
On a clear, bright day the views up and down the Coast and out to sea are superb. The Gray Whale Cove Trail meanders along above Highway 1 traffic with detours to several benches at strategic viewpoints. Toward the end of this short trail there is a dramatic view of the southernmost cove of Gray Whale Cove State Beach—deep azure blue, almost green at times, washed with the white curls of incoming waves.
As you reach the Gray Whale Cove parking area, descend around several switchbacks through lush coastal vegetation. Ferns, tall mustard, cow’s parsnip, California bee plant, blue iris, and pink Clarkia add color and fragrance. Return the way you came for views south and east, especially the uncluttered, golden strand of Montara State Beach stretching a mile along the Pacific’s edge.
Junipero Serra County Park
This 100-acre wooded park in the curve of Junipero Serra Freeway (I-280), just minutes from homes in San Bruno, provides a quick retreat from the urban scene into protected meadows and woods. The park, situated on a long ridge, once quarried for its Franciscan sandstone, offers several miles of trails, attractive picnic sites, and a visitor center.
From the park entrance, meadows, picnic grounds, and parking areas extend left and right. On weekends families and groups gravitate to this sheltered canyon. The entrance road winds uphill past park headquarters and the picnic tables, continuing to the very top, where still more picnic tables nestle in a eucalyptus grove. This hilltop site offers spectacular views. From these wide views of mountains and Bay, the eye and the ear are drawn to the San Francisco Airport. Air-age, flight-minded children (and others too) delight in the bird’s-eye view of planes taking off and landing.
At park headquarters, which serves as a visitor and information center, there are maps, exhibits, and information about long-ago inhabitants of this park—the Buri Buri tribe of Ohlones. A self-guiding nature trail through a wooded glade and a loop trail to the park’s summit make good warm-up trips before a picnic spread at one of the many tables in this attractive setting.
Jurisdiction: San Mateo County: 650-363-4020
Facilities: Trails for hikers and a nature trail; picnic areas with barbecues; covered shelters and group picnic areas available by reservation only; visitor center at park headquarters; youth-group camp by reservation
Rules: Open 8 A.M. to sunset; fees; no bikes on trails
Maps: San Mateo County Junipero Serra Park, USGS topo Montara Mountain
How to Get There: From I-280: Southbound—Take Crystal Springs Rd. exit, go under freeway, turn right on Crystal Springs Rd. and go 0.7 mile to park entrance on left. Park at lower picnic areas or continue to more parking on hilltop. Northbound—Take San Bruno Ave. exit and turn left onto San Bruno Ave. West. Go under freeway and turn left back onto 280 south. Immediately exit at Crystal Springs Road and follow directions for southbound above.
HIKE TO THE HILLTOP ON THE QUAIL LOOP TRAIL
Gaining altitude quickly on a zigzag climb, this trip leads to flowers in grasslands and woods and to protected slopes on the park’s east side.
Distance: 1.4-mile loop
Time: Less than 1 hour
Elevation Change: 300’ gain
To the right of the park entrance find the signed beginning of the Quail Loop Trail. You start climbing immediately, with oak trees overhead and patches of bright flowers at your feet. Early in spring, false Solomon’s seal plants droop with clusters of small white flowers, which later form panicles of red-brown berries. Switchbacks take you up the mountain, first out into an open grassy slope where sun-loving orange poppies and yellow mule ears dot the hillside. At the next switchback you are under the cover of oaks and toyons with ferns and snowberry underneath.
Toward the top of the hill you encounter Monterey pines and a large grove of mature eucalyptuses. Here the trail crosses the picnic grounds to reach the wide meadow on an east-facing slope. On a clear day the brilliant Bay waters are set against the backdrop of East Bay cities and tree-topped hills. After taking in the sweep of Bay from north of San Francisco to its southern shores, continue on the Quail Loop Trail past the Crows Nest picnic shelter and bear left to descend across the meadow.
Pink owl’s clover brightens trailsides
At the first trail junction you could turn left to reach the visitor center at park headquarters, but instead stay on the Quail Loop Trail, which swings right. From the next trail junction the Quail Loop Trail goes left on a long traverse through woods of magnificent oaks back to the picnic areas near the park entrance.
If you would like to extend your trip, pass up the left Quail Loop Trail turnoff and continue down the hill for around two short zigzags to the next trail junction. Park signs offer the choice of going to San Bruno City Park or back to the park entrance on the Live Oak Nature Trail. If you take the San Bruno option, this trail, following El Zanjon Creek down to the park and back, adds 3 miles to this hike. When Native Americans, the Costanoans, lived in this area, they probably followed this trail along the creek to reach San Francisco Bay. Mollusks and fish were abundant and constituted a major part of their diet, along with herbs, bulbs, nuts, and berries. By means of snares and bow and arrows they hunted birds and small mammals to fill out a substantial diet.
If you ignore this side trip to San Bruno City Park, you will take the left turn to descend quickly on the Live Oak Nature Trail. In about 200 yards, take either leg of this trail to return to the meadows below.
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