Montara Mountain from Gray Whale Cove Beach
10.2 miles     1700 ft
19 Jun 2010
Summary

A vigorous climb to Mt Montara, with excellent views of Pacific coastline

Location: McNee Ranch State Park

Elevation Profile
Trailhead

Location: along Cabrillo Highway (CA-1) in Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 . No street address. 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. Drive for 10.3 miles to reach a parking lot on your left, to the east of Highway 1.

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: None (last visited: Jan 2011)

Capacity: Almost 30 cars may be parked here.

Latitude: 37.563332     Longitude: -122.512836

Trip Planning

Trail Maps

» Official Trail Map: Good map showing various trails. Mileage information is missing.

Route

To Montara Mountain North Peak (5.3 miles) (~ 200 ft drop, ~ 1900 ft gain) Gray Whale Cove Trail (1.16 miles) to Montara Beach parking lot (entrance to McNee Ranch off Highway 1). North Peak Access Rd (0.95 miles) → San Pedro Mountain Rd (0.79 miles) → North Peak Access Rd (2.21 miles) to North Peak / Mount Montara. Add 0.26 miles for a short round-trip to Middle Peak.

To Gray Whale Cove Beach Parking Lot (4.9 miles): Return by North Peak Access Road (2.21 miles) → San Pedro Mountain Rd (0.78 miles) to reach intersection with North Peak Access Rd. Continue along San Pedro Mountain Rd (1.01 miles) → connector (0.06 miles) → Gray Whale Beach Trail (0.86 miles) to Gray Whale Beach parking lot.

Gray Whale Cove Trail

Full photo album — 19 June 2010

Photos are from a different hike with similar landscape: Grand Loop in McNee Ranch and San Pedro Valley.
North Peak Access Road

Full photo album — 19 June 2010

Photos are from a different hike with similar landscape: Grand Loop in McNee Ranch and San Pedro Valley.
Montara Mountain Trail

Full photo album — 19 June 2010

Photos are from a different hike with similar landscape: Grand Loop in McNee Ranch and San Pedro Valley.
San Pedro Mountain Road

Full photo album — 19 June 2010

Photos are from a different hike with similar landscape: Grand Loop in McNee Ranch and San Pedro Valley.
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