North Peak via Montara Mountain Trail

Pacifica below and Mount Tam to the north

Some stats, notes and observations:

Duration: 3 hours (including a few stops for water, snacks, etc.)
Distance: 6.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,669 feet
Weather: 54°F at 9am; 60° F at 12pm
Starting Location: San Pedro Valley CP Visitor Center (Pacifica, CA)
Hike (URL): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/north-peak-via-montara-mountain-trail
San Pedro Valley CP Information: https://parks.smcgov.org/san-pedro-valley-park
Lunch: http://www.milagrosrc.com
Notes and Observations: This is a quick and easy one, perfect after a tough week. Gentle climb through eucalyptus groves before opening up to views of Pacifica below, the Pacific (of course), and Mount Tamalpais well to the north. Coastal weather is almost always a mixed bag, except for our Indian Summers, in September and October. April can be quite nice, and today was perfect. Cool, practically no wind, sunny, digital detox in action, minus checking my phone from time to time to ensure that we were on course. 9 person crew this time. Lively conversation, as always. Quick stop at North Peak for the obligatory (and necessary, mind you) group photo, and snack, before beginning our descent to the parking lot, ice cold beverages, and a fabulous lunch at Moss Beach Distillery, fewer than five miles away, where we enjoyed fish & chips (on par with New England’s (and England’s) finest), fish tacos, and other delicacies of the sea. Be sure to reserve a table. The outdoor patio is heavenly, and the view from the indoor dining room is almost as sublime. I hiked Montara Mountain last June, from Whale Cove Parking Lot. Same distance and terminus (North Peak), but virtually no shade and a much steeper ascent (and descent). Parking is also easier on the San Pedro Valley CP side, and you can enjoy a picnic and/or barbeque if you choose not to dine elsewhere. No mountain lions sighted, this being a risk for many hikes on the Peninsula and elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. Plenty of poison oak; just stay on the trail, keep your hands to yourself, and you’ll be fine. No dogs. Sorry. There are many hidden treasures in the San Francisco Bay Area; this might be one of the better ones. Hike on.