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A great trail with incredible ocean views and the shortest (and steepest) way to the top of Montara Mountain.


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Map Key

1.5

Miles

2.4

KM

59%

Runnable

1,777' 542 m

High

511' 156 m

Low

1,266' 386 m

Up

35' 11 m

Down

17%

Avg Grade (9°)

79%

Max Grade (38°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views · Wildlife

Description

The best way to approach this trail is to park at Montara State Beach or the McNee Ranch Gate off of Highway 1. It starts off on a dirt road (Old San Pedro Mountain Road), then crosses a bridge and heads through a ranch. After about 0.5 miles, you turn left and head straight up a steep hill towards the mountain. This leads to a little flat area where a mess of rutted dirt roads descend into the trees. Stay generally right/south and look for a steep trail which leads off to the left after a tenth of a mile or so. You are aiming for the water tanks up on Alta Vista Rd. Once there, head left on the road which ends and turns into a good singletrack trail at the Rancho Corral de Tierra sign. This is the start of the Alta Vista Trail.

This trail is about 1.5 miles to the top of the peak on steep (up to 40%) grades. The trail wastes no time starting the climb; the first really steep section is about 0.4 miles in, but your way is made a little easier by a series of short switchbacks. Continue climbing, and you'll reach the next very steep section about a mile into the trail. After reaching the top, there is a very short descent to the junction with North Peak Access Road Trail.

The trail surface is generally good and is mostly dirt but can be rocky at times. There are many new steps in places which help makes the climb feel much easier to tackle. There are amazing views of the mountains and ocean and you can even San Francisco from the top.

Flora & Fauna

Coyotes, hawks, rabbits, poison oak.

Contacts

Shared By:

Justin Shields

Trail Ratings

  4.2 from 6 votes

#10542

Overall
  4.2 from 6 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
50%
3 Star
17%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#976

in California

#10,542

Overall
15 Views Last Month
2,365 Since Mar 16, 2016
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
17%
0%
83%
0%

Photos

Feels like you're on top of the world up there
Nov 17, 2017 near Montara, CA
New steps installed near the top, and of course killer views
Nov 17, 2017 near Montara, CA
Awesome views on the way up.
Nov 17, 2017 near Montara, CA
Nice morning light near the top.
Nov 17, 2017 near Montara, CA
Super steep section, kinda dicey when wet.
Nov 17, 2017 near Montara, CA

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