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Sunny, flowery trail follows the ridge that is San Pedro Mountain with 360 degree panoramas of the mountains and ocean.


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Map Key

1.1

Miles

1.7

KM

88%

Runnable

1,057' 322 m

High

892' 272 m

Low

172' 52 m

Up

207' 63 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

22%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildflowers

Description

The first section of this trail was part of the original Old Half Moon Bay to Colma Road (HMB-CR), which opened in 1879. San Pedro Mountain rises about 970 feet from sea level at Devil's Slide to this junction in less than half a mile. From there, the ridge has a broad top that rises only about 80 feet over the next half mile to the top of San Pedro Mountain. I love this section. It is sunny, covered with flowers, and has sweeping views in all directions. The trail follows the ridge, and then drops down to Old San Pedro Mountain Road (OSPMR), which opened in 1915 as a replacement for the HMB-CR.

There is no easy way to make this trail part of a full loop. I generally run it in one of two ways. The first is to run up the HMB-CR, follow the full length of the San Pedro Mountain Trail (and possibly beyond), and then return the same way. The second way is to run up OSPMR to the junction with the rugged "Mile" trail, run up that, cross the San Pedro Mountain Trail to the OSPMR and then return via that road.

It would be great to be able to run up the HMB-CR, cross the San Pedro Mountain Trail, and then run down via OSPMR. However, currently, unless you have two cars, there is no easy way to get back to the starting point.

Flora & Fauna

The HMB-CR and OSPMR each have a very large variety of chaparral flowers, grasses, and trees. They start blooming early and stay green longer than neighboring areas. San Pedro Mountain trail itself is sunny and somewhat drier, so there are fewer varieties. However, if you go the two ways that I mentioned above on two separate trips, you'll see just about every common variety of flower, tree, and plant that grows in the coastal region.

Shared By:

Lee Watts

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 2 votes

#1

in Pacifica

#13487

Overall
  4.0 from 2 votes
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Trail Rankings

#1

in Pacifica

#1,397

in California

#13,487

Overall
2 Views Last Month
474 Since Mar 13, 2019
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Photos

Looking towards Tamalpais from the top of San Pedro Mountain. You can see up the coast from Pacifica to San Francisco's Sunset district
Mar 13, 2019 near Montara, CA
This is a bench just up the hill from Four Corners on Old San Pedro Mountain Road. Four Corners is a junction of many paths and trails covering the mountain.
Dec 3, 2020 near Montara, CA
From just below the high point on old Half Moon Bay-Colma Road, looking towards Gray Whale Cove and Montara.
Jun 9, 2017 near Montara, CA
Left center: San Pedro Rock. Center: Pedro Point Headlands; Upper Center: Mt. Tamalpais; Upper right: Pacifica, Daly City and the Sunset district
Mar 13, 2019 near Montara, CA
Sun, Flowers and sweeping views from along the ridge of San Pedro Mountain.
Mar 13, 2019 near Montara, CA

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