I am so glad I gave up other SF plans to explore, hike, discover Mori Point, ( Pacifica) . Mori…read morePoint is a 110-acre park with scenic ocean views, stunning coastal bluffs, historic points, and even wildflower blooms. This is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Mori Point itself is a bluff next to the Pacific Ocean that provides scenic views of the coastline. OMG, first time ever hiking while visiting SF, which we normally just eat. drink. & continue, repeat again but this experience was WOW!! Besides the view, I was so happy to get to catch some of the wildflower blooms. perfect time to visit is during Spring for the blooms. My heart is full, thank you for these moments. Mori Point is sure a hidden Gem, @ Pacifica! Wear your comfortable shoes and go explore the wonderful outdoors, "The best things in life are free" !

Mori Point is absolutely amazing on a clear warm day...which is not that common in Pacifica. Hence…read morethe missing star... Not to mention the arduous task of dealing with parking when one does stumble upon that perfect day. I would still bring a light jacket if you think you will still be here around sunset. The coastal breeze brings a nice chill in the evening no matter how warm the day is. The hiking trail is not hard at all, perhaps a bit challenging for some older folks or someone very out of shape. "Located on a promontory just south of the city of Pacifica, the 110 acres of Mori Point are one of the newest additions to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. High up above the cold waves, the site boasts sweeping views from Point Reyes all the way to Pedro Point. It protrudes several hundred feet out into the Pacific and is plainly visible from any high point in the City of Pacifica." - https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/moripoint.htm I feel like a cheat; cut and paste...lol. Then again, I didn't know all this information about Mori Point. I didn't pay attention and actually thouth it was called Maori point and was somehow related to the Maori folks from the land of the long white cloud (aka New Zealand). "Restoration activities have helped the area recover from invasive species infestation and centuries of use by humans. In the 1700s, the Spanish mined a nearby limestone quarry to supply whitewash for San Francisco's Presidio buildings. An Italian immigrant, Stefano Mori, purchased 19 acres of farmland here in 1888. Mori built a guesthouse/restaurant, the Mori Point Inn, which developed a notorious reputation during the Prohibition days and was operated by the family until the 1940s. Mori Point was a site of gravel and sand extraction during World War II; quarrying and later off-road vehicle use left the landscape scarred. In 2000, with the help of the Pacifica Land Trust, the Coastal Conservancy, and concerned community members, Mori Point was purchased by the Trust for Public Land and added to the Golden Gate National Parks." - https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/mori-point History "For nearly a century, Mori Point served as a haven for settlers, travelers, boot-leggers and diners. Today, after a generation of development battles, this spectacular place serves as a haven for walkers and wildlife and is a link to national parklands on Sweeney Ridge and Milagra Ridge along the San Mateo coast." - https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/moripoint.htm " * The terrain here is varied; walks around Mori Point range from a level and easy 0.5-mile stroll to a steep and challenging 1.5-mile hike. * Beautiful wildflower blooms are at their peak in the springtime, with the most flowers usually present in April and May. * Parking is available on Mori Point Road or Bradford Way. * Walk to the tip of the promontory for stunning views; it's quite windy on the bluffs so dress accordingly. * Stroll down to Laguna Salada and listen for the croaking of the red-legged frog. * Walk barefoot on the black sands of Sharp Park Beach. * During WWII, workers used a pulley system of long cables attached to cement anchors to pull buckets of sand ashore. Several of these crumbling blocks remain on the western hillside." ~ "Tips and Highlights" - https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/mori-point Wish I had read this before. Some good tips and helpful information

What a fantastic park for the little ones, located at the back of Pacifica. Since it's more in the…read morevalley, it's shielded a bit from the sea winds and the weather is quite nice. The play structure is massive and definitely caters to the little ones' imaginations as you can pretend you're in a castle, complete with turrets. They also have a sandbox, playhouses, and swings, so you are sure to find something for all the kids to enjoy. They also have picnic tables and a giant grassy area where you can run around, hold birthday parties, or just sit to have lunch. A couple of bathrooms are located on site, and they are relatively clean, although they do not provide soap or sanitizer.

Great park. There are lots of trees. There are trails. There is a playground with baby swings and a…read morecool train structure. There is a tire swing! There is a walk climbing wall and a few slides as well as 2 sets of monkey bars and bridges. It is a nice big park and a great place to have a bbq or a picnic. It would also be a great place for events or birthday parties as well. I love it!

For an impressive waterfall it's pretty mid. But the area around has some trails with nice views of…read morethe ocean and beyond. Yelpers have mentioned the trail to the waterfall starts where Westline Dr. and Skyline Dr. meet. From here it's fairly intuitive on where to go. I felt the trail down to the falls seemed too steep to attempt so I opted out. I'm not sure if it was better a few years ago but when I went it felt dangerous and easy to lose footing. I wouldn't recommend this part for someone hiking alone, with kids, or with inexperienced hikers. The trail continues in the other direction along Westline Avenue with views of the ocean. If you continue you can see the top of the waterfall from here. You have to walk a little off the main trail in the ice plant but it's worth it if you want to see the falls. Another way is you can see this waterfall is by walking from Esplanade Beach. From the top of the stairs there the waterfall is about .6 miles. It's so much easier to get to this way and it's a nice beach walk. From here you can't see the waterfall as clear because there is a lot of debris in the way. In this sense it's almost a better view from above. The waterfall comes out of a storm drain which isn't as nice and only flows after a big rain. I wouldn't come out of my way to see this waterfall. But I think it's worth coming to see if you are already at Esplanade Beach or live in the neighborhood and are walking the trail alongside Westline Dr. From the start point to the beach and back it's about a 3.4 mile hike.

Very cute little water fall. Emphasize on the little. It is a nice beach to picnic at, chill, read…read morea book, etc. Pro Tip: Walk all the way to the left side of the beach & away from the hotels, during low tide you can find sea animals! Please pack in and pack out. Protect our beaches

There are a few entrances, but I think the most popular one is on Sneath Lane. This trail is paved…read moreand pretty steady and not too difficult for about a mile but then gets a bit steeper for the next mile to the top. On the way up you can see views of the San Andreas Reservoir Lake. After the rain you can hear the water flowing and see some little streams and wild mushrooms. To the ridge is a little under 2 miles. I like the fact there is a small bathroom which I find quite rare on trails like this. To the left is the San Francisco Discovery Site which has a plaque with some information. Apparently, this was the place the Spanish settlers first saw the San Francisco Bay. To the right the trail goes along the ridge to the remains of the old Nike missile site. The views are stellar, and one can see for miles on end, Marin, the city, Pacifica Mount Diablo, etc. I love watching all the planes coming in and out from nearby SFO. From Sneath the hike is about 5 miles and 2 hrs. I've also gone the Mori Trail route which is nice because it's not paved but this trail is steeper. It's worth checking out the funky Shelldance Orchid Gardens which is located at the trailhead but they are only open on the weekends.

This is a nice enough spot to go for a hike. It was easy to find my way to the Sneath Lane Trail…read moreParking using google maps, a small lot within a residential neighborhood, that fits about 10-15 vehicles. It was foggy, cold, and incredibly windy during my visit last week, and of course, there's an incline as the trail wraps around the mountain. But it wasn't too bad, the actual climb up didn't feel as difficult as it looked from a distance, starting with the sneath lane trail then connecting to other trails higher up. In fact, there are many options for different trails to take. The Baquiano Trail had a dirt pathway while the Notch Trail toward the Nike Missile Control Site was paved. Near the SF Bay Discovery Site, there's a small restroom building (it was pretty clean for a park facility, on a Thursday afternoon). The gorgeous foliage lining the various paths was captivating, along with lovely views of the hills, lake (san andreas reservoir), and sunlit scenery in the distance. Too foggy to enjoy the views the higher you get though, just a giant cloud of fog everywhere. I barely made it three miles out before turning back. It was just far too windy and foggy to wanna be out there very long (I'm sure hot days would be even worse with zero shade to be found). Plus my legs definitely had a workout from the uphill trek. Luckily the jog back down was a breeze. And I did slow down to appreciate the vegetation and vast array of plant species, once again, before leaving.

Beautiful! And clean restrooms, too…read more I'll return asap. Good picnic place. Happy Valentine's Day!

Deer Factor…read more ±1,050-acre park located in Pacifica's "Back of the Valley" neighborhood and is situated at the base of the area's impressive Montara Mountain, which peaks at ±1,900' above sea level. I can't believe I've never reviewed this place, as I used to visit at least several times a month when I lived here in P-Town. But, as they say, better late than never. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Good: *Multiple restrooms *Paid parking lot (see The Ugly below) as well as free street parking outside the park along Oddstad Rd. *Visitor Center *Campsites for Youth Camps *Beach Volleyball court *Horses OK on marked trails *Always lots of deer and wild bunnies at this park, especially in the lower bowl area by the VC. *Approx nine-miles of trails, with options ranging from flat (Weiler Ranch Trail) to hilly (Montara Mountain Trail) and everything in-between, including some loops. *The uphill on the trails we did (±4.5-miles) weren't very steep but nice and gradual, including the Montara Mountain Trail. *Ocean views and the entire Pacifica area *You can take the Montara Mountain Trail into McNee State Park, but beware you're looking at an elevation gain of ±1,800' so be prepared. The Meh: *No dogs *Most of the trails were in pretty good shape, but a few of them were a little rough-and-ready--so wear good ankle supports! The Ugly: *There's a waterfall (Brooks Falls)along Brooks Creek Trail but unless it's rained recently, it won't even be a trickle. *Parking lot requires a paymentof $6, which is whatever I'm happy to contribute, but it's cash only in the envelope kinda deal. Not everyone carries cash these days and it's time to switch to a system that accepts CCs. Conclusion:

Parking: There are two lots. One by the baseball field…read morewhich is a shortish walk to the kids playground, and one right next to the playground which I didn't park at because I couldn't figure out how to get there. A wanderer explained I would need to get back on the freeway and go around etc. so I just shrugged and hauled myself on the paved path to the park. Playground: I'm such a fan because my son is 17 months and the playground was a great size for him. The slides are low to the ground so I feel comfortable with him going down on his own. I wish the swings were longer cause it's a lot back and forth quick swings but he doesn't complain and asks to jump back and forth between the two options. The area is very small, but not crowded so a sweet low key option for a parent who doesn't want to run around too much. There's a fun dome like spinning seat and a larger swing to sit with your kid in as well. There's not a ton at this park but what there was enough. Safety: I felt super safe here! I There were a handful of people with kids resting at some of the few picnic tables who kept to themselves. There were a few teenagers that strode in but they also kept to themselves. The flooring at this park is spongey and I had no worries about my son falling. There is a concrete "stage" with concrete seating around it that my son loved climbing on so I was close-by for that play area. Resting: Plenty of grass for picnics and 2-3 picnic tables that I noticed. Nothing was shaded though. Overall: I would definitely come back. My son was not ready to leave as he loved it here. I just need to figure out the correct parking lot!

Pretty park. Nice grill area. Cool playground for toddlers and big kids…read more My daughter is in between big kid and toddler and she did struggle to get to the side bc the only way on the big slide is to climb the rope jungle gym. It took her practically the whole day to build the courage bc it's so high in the air. The park is clean and people there were so nice.

This playground is tucked away in a residential area off the coast behind a church and the Pedro…read morePoint Firehouse. It's relatively small, but is quaint and has a great treehouse feeling structure with two slides of different heights. There's also a sand box and a baby swing and a larger seat like swing with straps. This playground is definitely off the beaten path but if you happen to be in the area, it's cute and can provide quite a bit of entertainment for the 5 & under crowd (at least that's who was with me) honestly I am giving it 4 stars for the really cool construction of the tree house, but for what this park offers, it's more like a 3 star park because it's so small (my son got bored in 20 min) and there aren't bathrooms. Some other things to note: - there's only street parking, which isn't much of an issue in that area except for Sunday's which is when a church that's in front of the park holds services. - there's some llamas (or are they alpacas?) across the street that my son loved to look at. He never saw one before and kept moo-ing at them. Lol! - if you walk further down the street you can see Pacifica State Beach and catch a glimpse of the surfers trying to catch some waves. Provided my son a bit of entertainment too.

A hidden playground near the beach by Grocery Outlet. Across the street you will see Llamas!…read more People should clean up their trash here. I saw a leftover cupcake, rootbeer cans, napkins, trash.

Beautiful park with enclosed gated playground, separate astroturf area, beautiful library, clean…read morepublic restroom, water fountains, and brand new! Parking is parking, but if you have good timing, people are always leaving

This library open last year. Since it's opening. I've been there every week. Very clean and…read morecomfortable place to relax and reading my magazines there. The only problem is parking lot always full especially when there's event inside the library. (like birthday parties or special classes). Do recommended to go early when they open.

Truly a glorious park! I cannot count the amount of times I have ran, hiked, and biked thru this…read moretrail. It's so cool! There's wildlife, a bathroom, trash cans, 360 degree views of the peninsula canyons & limited parking. So you can be sure it will never be over crowded. Just make sure to be courteous to your fellow parkers so that no one walks away with dings or dents on their vehicles. There's always an option to park across Sharp Park road in the neighborhood, or hike up from Talbot avenue/ Connemara if you're feeling like extra elevation gain. I highly recommend this park, and I also highly recommend that folks keep their dogs on leash here. There is wildlife that could attack your pet, also there's bicycles that ride through here. So unless your animal has grade A recall, keep them leashed. I'm looking at you, small dog owners! Hope you enjoyed reading and enjoy your hike/bike!

I wouldn't really call this a hike because it's so easy and short. Not much parking either…read more Fairly flat on the main trail with slight incline but not for long. There are restrooms and trash cans along the main trail. Dogs are allowed. Nice walk if you have a dog.

Nice neighborhood park in Pacifica. My job takes me to Pacifica 1-2 times a week. Many times when…read moreI'm in this area, I stop at this park for a short break before getting on the highway. Why? It's quiet, shady, and there's always parking. It had lots of trees, picnic tables, play sets for kids. The turf (grass) seems a little uneven and rough. I also notice this park seems to have a fence all the way around. Which might explain why people let their dogs run around here. I used to think it was a dog park, until I read the other reviews and saw the park signs. Yeah, so dogs should be on a leash and owners are to clean up the poop. I usually see dogs running off leash. It's a nice park, quiet and shady. Just watch out for the dogs. Located at Fremont Ave x Channing Way. 3 blocks from Monterey Rd.

Shaded picnic area with small grills, in park dirt path for bikes, two play areas and a large…read moregrassy knoll. Ocean view & hill/small moun view. I am at the park several times a week while my boys run wild with planes. They use the large trees for hiding games. My youngest learned to ride his bike at this park. Before the new play structures we're added, my oldest child loved to climb thru the old wooden structure. for whatever reason the city made the decision to remove those about four years ago and put in safer modern play equipment. Given the salty ocean air - it's probably not at all surprising that the new equipment is rusting thru. But what makes the park amazing is the natur. birds constantly singing, the gentle ocean breeze and the space for kids (human and dog) to run free.