Montara Mountain North Peak Trail
About the Mountain
Montara Mountain is a well-known location near Pacifica, CA. It is at the north end of the Santa Cruz Mountains and is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers opportunities for hiking, biking, and horseback riding along its scenic trails. The Mountain also plays an important role in supporting endangered wildlife and communication. Explore the peak for a unique view of the western-side of the watershed and discover its connections to water, wildlife, and emergency response.
Learn more about the watershed, natural resources, and infrastructure below.
About the Trail
This is a short, tenth of a mile trail leading to the peak of Montara Mountain. The peak offers scenic vistas of the Peninsula Watershed. In clear weather, you can also see the coastline and nearby communities. The trail surface is decomposed granite and is also steep. Trails leading to the peak are considered strenuous.
Please stay on trail to protect the fragile habitats of the mountain.
Hours
Sunrise to sunset
How to Get There
You can access North Peak from the Montara Mountain Access Trail. The only way to access North Peak is from the west side of the mountain.
You can start your adventure from any of these locations:
- San Pedro Valley Park in Pacifica, California
- McNee Ranch State Park in Montara, California
- Gray Whale Cove Trailhead in Montara, California
-
Pilarcitos Reservoir: A Historic Source of Clean Water
Pilarcitos Reservoir is the oldest drinking water reservoir in the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. It's nestled in the heart of the 23,000-acre Peninsula Watershed. The Spring Valley Water Company built it in 1866 to supply a growing San Francisco with water. The reservoir collects water from Pilarcitos Creek and provides clean water to the coastside. Pilarcitos Creek helps sustain a delicate ecosystem below the dam. It provides a habitat for the threatened central California coast steelhead.
-
San Bruno Elfin Butterfly: A Rare Inhabitant of the Mountain
High on foggy, north-facing slopes of Montara Mountain lives a rare butterfly. This butterfly is the San Bruno elfin (Callophrys mossii bayensis). It is a federally endangered species. The San Bruno elfin relies on broadleaf stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium). This plant thrives in the mountain’s microclimate. The San Bruno elfin lives in only in a few locations. These include Montara Mountain, San Bruno Mountain, and Milagra Ridge. Biologists monitor the butterfly’s population and protect its habitat.
-
High Peaks, Clear Signals: The Role of Radio Sites
Montara Mountain is almost 1,900 feet high. Its north peak offers sweeping 360-degree views from the ocean to the bay. This lofty vantage point isn't only scenic; it's also strategic. Multi-agency telecommunication towers stand at the summit. Placing radio towers on high peaks like Montara Mountain ensures reliable communication. It allows for communication across the Peninsula Watershed and remote areas. These systems are crucial for emergency response, including wildfire response.