Gorgeous hike meandering next to the Pacific coastline, going through Mori Point in Pacifica.

Location: Mori Point

» Trail Map by National Park Service: Good map showing various trails. Mileage information is missing.

» Official Map by Park Conservancy: Good map showing all the trails. Mileage information is missing.

Trailhead: Intersection of Paloma Ave and Beach Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044.

Route:

1. To Mori Point (1.8 miles) Walk along the sea wall next to Beach Blvd to reach the fishing pier (0.2 miles). There is a cafe and public restrooms next to the fishing pier. Turn right onto the fishing pier for great views of Mori Point and Sharp Park Beach (0.3 miles round-trip). Upon returning, turn right to continue along the sea wall. Then either hop onto the sandy beach or walk along a hiking trail next to the beach to reach the southern end of the beach (0.9 miles). Continue further to reach Bootlegger's Steps, a series of steps taking you atop Mori Point, a great spot for taking pictures of Sharp Park Beach (0.2 miles). Turn right and walk along Headlands Trail to reach an overlook point (0.2 miles).
2. To Rockaway Beach (1.9 miles) See Trail Map. A criss-cross of trails, mostly without signs, makes several routes possible. For example, you may go east (by following Headlands Trail → Coastal Trail → Lishumsha Trail → Upper Mori Trail or by following Headlands Trail → Coastal Trail → Tmigtac Trail) to reach Highway 1. Then walk along Highway 1 for a short distance. Then turn right across Reina Del Mar Avenue to hop onto a paved bike trail that reaches Rockaway Beach. Alternately, from Mori Point overlook, you could follow Headlands Trail → Bluff Trail all the way to reach Rockaway Beach. This route is much more scenic as it stays next to the Pacific all through. However, it requires some scrambling for about 0.5 miles along steep trails going through "private property". In June 2011, there were no signs demarcating the "private property" or asking hikers to stay away.

Notes:

1. Yelp Reviews: Rockaway Beach — Pacifica State Beach.

Location: Intersection of Beach Boulevard & Paloma Avenue, Pacifica, CA 94044 . Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Directions: From I-280 North, take exit 47 to merge onto CA-1 South toward Pacifica and drive 3.7 miles. Take exit 506 toward Paloma Ave / Francisco Blvd and drive 0.2 miles. Turn right onto Paloma Ave and drive for 0.2 miles to reach the intersection with Beach Blvd. Plenty of street parking near the intersection.

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: None (last visited: May 2011)

Capacity: Plenty of street parking in residential areas near the intersection of Beach Blvd and Paloma Ave.

Latitude: 37.636531     Longitude: -122.494190