Cancel

Open app

Search

Milagra Ridge

4.4 (70 reviews)

Milagra Ridge Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Milagra Ridge

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Christopher B.

Bear and I needed to escape the Silicon Valley heat on July 4, and we didn't want to deal with all the beach traffic so we made the short drive to Milagra Ridge. While I've driven past the access road many times, this was my first time there. There are several trails to choose from, included a wide paved path for those who prefer / need it. We mixed it up a bit on the way to the summit, and then followed a trail down the other side of the mountain that dumped us out at the high school, and a short walk to the beach from there. Lots of pollinators and some great views.

Montage of images from Milagra Ridge
Ed U.

Everyone, me included, gravitates to the beaches and coastal trails in Pacifica, but I've recently started looking toward the hills for sensory fulfillment. I came upon this small patch of open space when I was reading a hiking blog about it. It was a bit hidden off Sharp Patk Road and required a left turn onto residential College Road. The trail starts at the end of the road. I got lucky and found room on the shoulder to park. There's no lot available, so hopefully there will be space for you given there's room for maybe five vehicles at the most. Surrounded by coastal scrub and wildflowers, the main trail was paved and mostly flat until I reached a dirt path with steps that took me to the summit where there were sweeping views of Pacifica below and the ocean toward the horizon. From here, I walked down a long set of steps to an old military bunker covered in graffiti. Instagram moment! Further down the hill was a fenced-off labyrinth, and the scenic trail continued to descend into a series of switchbacks lined with huge rocks and brush foliage. Retracing my steps back toward the summit, I followed the well-tended ridge trail back to my car with winds blowing at full force and plenty of dog walkers trundling the other way. It wasn't a lengthy walk, perhaps three miles at most, but the panoramic views from the ridge top made the journey here worthwhile. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

Beautiful sunset view along the trail
Shayla B.

Super short and fairly easy little hike out to the Milagra Summit. I'd say it's about 1.5 miles roundtrip, but you can shorten or extend this hike as much as you desire. After hanging out at the beach, I decided to do a quick little jaunt up the ridge to catch the sunset. If you're parking from the Sharp Park Road entrance, it's extremely limited. In fact, there isn't even a parking lot. You'll basically be parallel parking on the sides of the streets (Sharp Park Road dead ends into the beginning of the trailhead). I started up the Spur Trail and took it to the Milagra Summit. The trail is mainly a dirt path lined by shrubbery and flowers. It's a nice little trail but nothing extraordinary. I'd say that the best part of this trail are the coastal views. It won't take you too long before you're hit with the oceanside scenery. The sunset views are pretty spectacular here as well. The view from the summit it nice, but you pretty much get the same views that you would from the trailhead. There's also a neat WWII Bunker near the top of the summit. This seems like more of a locals kind of trail. Perfect for walking the dogs or for a quick neighborly stroll. The bugs can be extremely aggressive though. It actually stopped me from fully enjoying my hike. Not sure if this was because it was summer time, but I'd definitely recommend long sleeves shirts and pants. All in all, it was a nice short little trek. However, I wouldn't go out of my my way to come back. There's just too many other amazing hiking spots in this area to make me want to come back here again.

Milagra Ridge views
Mila E.

COVID-19 precautions. Beautiful trail. Short and sweet distance that's moderately difficulty. Lightly trafficked. Dog friendly. Parking at Skyline limited to few cars, but more parking at other entrance. See below for more info: COVID-19 precautions: Fellow hikers, walkers, and runners were good about mask wearing, which unfortunately is not the case for most nature places in the Bay. People keep a physical distance and are respectful about passing. The trails are clean. Beautiful trail: As a MILA how could I not love MILAgra Ridge Trail? On a serious note, the Milagra Ridge Trail is beautiful. You have views of the water and lovely nature. The trails consist of dirt surrounded by greenery but you will encounter paved areas, just to a much smaller extent. There are stairs when going from the Skyline entrance to the trail. Overall, a wonderful place to get some exercise! :D Short and sweet distance that's moderately difficulty: The trail is short and sweet, 1.4 miles one way or 2.8 round trip. Depending on where you begin will impact when you encounter the moderate difficulty. If you're like us and park at the Skyline entrance, the trail will be downhill and then all uphill on the return. If you park on the end near the Oceana Pet Hospital, then the hike will be difficult in the begging and all smooth sailing on the return. Lightly trafficked: Another reason we enjoy Milagra Ridge is how it is lightly trafficked. People can truly enjoy hikes, runs, or walks without the crowd. Dog friendly: Milagra Ridge is dog friendly. Many walk, hike or run with their furry friends on leashes. Parking at Skyline limited to few cars, but more parking at other entrance: We arrived at six in the morning and were able to get a parking spot at the Skyline entrance as there was only one other car. However, getting a spot at Skyline can get more challenging, especially later in the day as there are only a few spots. We recommend parking and hiking from the other end as there are more parking spots. You would enter the Oceana Pet Hospital to your GPS. Once you arrive there, you go all the way up Connemara Drive to the end where there is a parking lot for Milagra Ridge Visitors.

Entrance
Michael C.

Brilliant local secret... Located in Pacifica, Milagra Ridge is smack down in the middle of several neighborhoods. Apparently it has a very rich history going back to the 1700's! The city of Pacifica curently claims ownership to Milagra Ridge...but at one point the Army owned it and there were 6-inch guns mounted at Milagra Ridge!! All part of a project to defend the San Francisco Bay program! Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area; the entire open space is an isolated island ecosystem of protected habitat for native plants and animals. I did see several Butterflies and birds of prey when I was there. With several easy trails and a paved road within the entire open space I would say this is an easy spot to go "hiking" felt more like a stroll to me. The view from the top is brilliant! Unfortunately I didn't see the the Ocean due to KARL (SF fog! I have no idea why it's called that...maybe some guy named Karl discovered it?!) lurking around... Looks like I will need to return for a stroll or a nice run and try again! But I can imagine the views on a clear day.

Not much parking, kids
Anita T.

Awesome hike, even in the heavy winter fog. This is probably even more gorgeous on a warmer spring or summer day. We came for New Year's day -- it's our annual tradition to do a hike to kick off the new year. Pros: Dog friendly, and the people on this trail have been very respectful and keep this place pristine. Keep it up and if you're new to hiking here, bag your shit! Great combination of dirt trails, uphill / downhill, cliffside views, and paved roads. The paved roads are good for toddlers or early walkers but be careful of trails that are open on one side to steep hill drops in one area. Panoramic views of the ocean and Pacifica piers!! Absolutely gorgeous even in the fog. There's some benches at the best vista points for your meditation and zoning-out delight :) Decent uphill bun-burner of a hike coming back. Some interesting rock arrangements (similar to Lands End in SF) and old missile sites like at Fort Funston. Cons: Can be a little muddy on dirt trails and near the Sharp Park Rd side parking. Bring rags to wipe muddy paws. Pretty sparse parking. There's like 6 spots worth of parallel parking on a cul de sac on the Sharp Park road side (this was hard for some larger cars to turn out of), and slightly more parking in a normal paved lot on the Connemara side at the end of a neighborhood cul de sac (but it appears to be general public parking that might be shared with guests of residents, with a 2(?) hour time limit).

Sabrina S.

Milagra Ridge has a bunch of different paved trails- some are an easier climb than others, but most are fairly easy. The trail is dog friendly and my pup loved the walk. There is a restroom if you walk down the cemented trail with a trash can outside where you can throw away your dog poop- but of course not everyone picks up after their dogs- so watch out for that along the trails. Parking is a bit tough- there's probably about 6 spots you can park in right in front of the entrance to the trails. Pretty views on a clear day, but definitely bring a jacket because it gets fairly windy. I would visit again and try a different trail :)

Lily S.

If you're looking for an easy, peaceful hike, Milagra Ridge is the right place for you. It's not popular like Mori Point, so you can easily avoid people, which covid has taught us is the new necessity. There's a slight incline, so when you reach the top, you get beautiful views of Pacifica and the ocean (if the fog isn't too thick). There are only about 6 parking spots by the entrance, but you can park in the surrounding neighborhood. Overall, a very nice get away.

Historical ruins~ lol
Kristee S.

PSA: wear sunscreen! It's not super sunny (usually foggy given it's Pacifica) but just thought I'd throw this out there as a Public Skincare Announcement * Parking in the trail head by Skyline college (aka the Sharp Park road entrance) is a hit or miss-- there may or may not be street parking (the rest are private parking only). However, if you park up the hill past the Oceana Pet Hospital, you will find a smalll parking lot, or street parking in the residential area. * Distance: 1.4mi round trip. Perfect for me ha * History: you'll see small concrete buildings along the route that have a handy little sign pointing to them along the way. Makes you curious about what this trail used to be in years past.. post-trail, looking online, I found that this trail was historically a lookout site for the US army in the 1930s to defend the SF bay, and the National Guard defended the area until it was handed over to Pacifica as a National Recreation area in 1987! So there's something to tell your walking companion * Special: This is the way to the "lone tree"~

Beautiful view
Jessica E.

Beautiful views of the ocean. You could see Mori Point below if you look closely. Loved coming here! The parking situation was a hassle. We packed in the neighborhood but we had to walk quite a bit to finally get in. If you want, you can just park behind other cars on the left side of the road when you get to the small parking area.

The gnome
Kris R.

The views are spectacular. The climb is easy. The trails are kept. There's a Cypress on the hill that a gnome lives inside of. Pretty cute The bunkers are as creepy as they are cool. They include history lessons on their markers too which is pretty awesome. There are several stops along the way up (it's only about a mile) if you need/want to stop. Benches and places to sit on the ground, which is nice so you exercise but also feel you can stop if you need/want to. Pacifica offers many trails to hike along the beach front, it was cool to have a different kind of hike here. Where the ocean views are still phenomenal. A lot of off road biking here if you're into that. Dog friendly, but only 1 garbage can in the beginning to throw away Easy, not crowded (but we go on week days). Come enjoy a day or a sunset out.

Milagra Trail with Bailey

See all

13 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jen M.
11
174
3

15 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Jboogie L.
31
3908
2462

16 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Chill easy hikes but with a small trail head. Not a bad place for an afternoon stroll! Nice views of the Pacific Ocean

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

18 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

17 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of J R.
307
262
36

15 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ny H.
10
192
79

11 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

I love this place so beautiful and great for hikes! I've taken a few of my friends here and they loved it.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

18 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jason C. J.
1638
965
679

13 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Phil Y.
63
45
9

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

15 years ago

It's a very short hike with nice views of the ocean and San Bruno. There are also a few bunkers spread out around.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Trail is very nice with beautiful views overlooking the ocean and a series of mountains. But it's a bit too short. Only half an hour hike.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Michael N.
81
121
56

13 years ago

One of the easiest and scenic hiking areas in Pacifica. Wide semi paved paths that gently wander on the coastside hills of Pacifica.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Emma V.
44
53
19

12 years ago

Beautiful views down the coast. Dog friendly. Would be good for older folks as well since its mostly flat with some stairs.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of I V.
10
10
2

18 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Bao L.
53
12
1

12 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

18 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Almost no parking, so not a viable option unless you live nearby or maybe if you go very early.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

15 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 2 of 2

Ask the Community - Milagra Ridge

Review Highlights - Milagra Ridge

Easy trail, ocean views, quiet, and cute small wild life PERFECT place for a quick hike or jog.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Parks 15,731 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Mori Point - Mori Point

Mori Point

4.7(328 reviews)
1.3 mi

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

Photos
Mori Point - Mori Point

Mori Point

Mori Point - Mori Point Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Mori Point Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Mori Point - Mori Point

See all

Mori Point

Sweeney Ridge - Sweeney Ridge in mid March

Sweeney Ridge

4.3(190 reviews)
1.5 mi

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.

Photos
Sweeney Ridge - Sweeney Ridge in mid March

Sweeney Ridge in mid March

Sweeney Ridge - Sweeney Ridge in mid March

Sweeney Ridge in mid March

Sweeney Ridge - Plants and flowers along the trail

See all

Plants and flowers along the trail

Pacifica's Secret Waterfall - View from the beach, hard to get close because lots of debris.

Pacifica's Secret Waterfall

4.4(10 reviews)
2.2 mi

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

Photos
Pacifica's Secret Waterfall
Pacifica's Secret Waterfall - View of the treacherous trail

View of the treacherous trail

Pacifica's Secret Waterfall - View from on top of the hill.

See all

View from on top of the hill.

Mussel Rock Park

Mussel Rock Park

4.3(98 reviews)
2.5 mi

This is less of a park and more of hiking/waking trails but there are a few picnic benches in the…read moreparking lot that overlook the ocean. There's a decent amount of parking in the lot, much better space than nearby Thornton Beach and parking along the street coming in. I like this hike because it's not too long or not too short. The ocean is always in the background and it's a nice ocean walk without having to get sand in your shoes from the beach. I think there is a technical way to get down to the beach, but you have to climb down numerous rocks, and it didn't seem the safest. The southernmost end where you are at the actual Mussel Rock seemed a bit easier and there was a cool looking beach cave, but this would only be possible to get there in low tide. The walk is a little over 2 miles. If I wanted to go for a walk along a beach or go on a serious hike there are better places in Pacifica for that but I like it here to just get out for a walk and see the ocean.

Wow - finding places like this really inspire me to find new trails and hikes in the Bay Area…read more The views along the coastal bluffs were just so breathtaking . The trails are family friendly - mild incline, wide and safe. That being said , we had a blast climbing down the rocky cliff to go down to the small beach . I'm not an expert on tides and sea life - but when we went there were just shelves and shelves of mussels that people were picking into buckets . We also saw tons of juicy sea anemones . Another stranger showed us all the crabs he had fished out ! Super fun spot for a lovely beautiful easy (but possibly chilly) walk or adventure on the mini beach ! Dog friendly !

Photos
Mussel Rock Park
Mussel Rock Park - 1/20/25

1/20/25

Mussel Rock Park - Mussel Rock Park

See all

Mussel Rock Park

Milagra Ridge - parks - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...