If you've ever been to Fort Funston (in SF) and stand at the deck & enjoy the mountainous views…read moretoward your left, it's Thornton State Beach (in Daly City) :) The cool thing about this spot is there isn't one path. You figure it out as you go and you're above the beach. It's a peaceful walk and especially nice on a rare hot day bc of the breeze. Note some paths get really close cliff side so be careful, especially after a rainy day. I believe some people have fallen off the cliff before. I always wondered where on the news by Fort Funston and now I know.

Thornton State Beach is a good place to go hiking. Basically, there's almost no one in the beach…read moresince I only saw one person. Also, it's very difficult climbing your way down to the beach because of steep elevations. That's why I don't bother going all the way down to the beach. Some trails are harder to pass through. You may need to pick up some rock climbing skills if you want to work your way back up from where you climbed down. In terms of atmosphere, nature isn't really bad and it's as vibrant as it gets. It's not really hard hiking here because most of the time, you don't need to hike through many steep paths, but a very few ones are hard to pass through. Again, you may need to climb your way up from those areas. Overall, most trails are shallow. This park also has its own parking lot, but it's very small making it difficult to find a parking spot. Also, there are no bathrooms here. Make sure that you're well-prepared coming here and be careful hiking there.

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 !

We walked this area and there was so much discovery. I usually come into a new place, ignorant…read more.. and I love the surprises that I find along the way. Please come and create your own adventure.

Fort Funston where fun is in the name....how can I not love this dog play area? I mean, look how…read morehappy Gustav is! The one downside is that it's gets messy, so be prepared to bring towels and water to clean out the sand before they get into your car . Still 10/10 for me. I'm glad we went when the rain stopped and the sun was out. Will def bring Gustav back for another doggy play date.

Beautiful beach to visit and spend the afternoon . Lots of space and dog friendly!!!!read more

Where is everybody? Lots to see walking around even a golf course on the other side. First time…read morehere and lucky to see whales. Free parking!

It is so windy here! How do the hang gliders do it? If you've been to this park, you've probably…read moreseen a ton of these cool kids flying around. This park is right on the edge of a cliff to the Pacifica ocean(with a secured gate, don't worry). On a sunny, but windy day, you'll see a good amount of people hang gliding--pretty cool! There's lots of grass to run around, picnic tables, garbage bins,.. all standard stuff here. Ah, no public restrooms though! There's a full size basketball court, a playground and a separate structure for the little tots. Only a couple set of swings, and if you're the type that loves jumping off of them... there's tanbark instead of sand, just so you know! What's really amazing here is the VIEW. The view of the ocean is so pretty and during a sunset, it's so surreal. Since it does get windy, make sure you wear layers and a good jacket! We're talking strong, there goes my beanie, type of wind. Most of the time, there's only a few people there. It's a small corner park, but does the job. Definitely a nice option to walk around after an early dinner.

This kids park is not for everyday due to windy and chilly weather in Daly City. But today it's…read morebeautiful day and warm. The park is nice and clean! The park has BBQ grill and plenty of garbage cans. I brought my daughter to this park after picked her up from school. My daughter enjoyed! Over the fences is the ocean. And next to the park toward Eastside is Korean Central Presbyterian Church. The bottom of Korean Church parking lot you will the cliff erosion. It's one of the attractive places in San Mateo county.

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

This is one of my favorite hidden spots in the bay area. Extremely clean, plenty of parking and…read moregreat views of the bay. There's a cute little pier, plenty of picnic tables and a walking trail. There's also a marina and boat launch area as well as a Ferry station. Nice place to relax, walk or pack a picnic. There's also a restaurant nearby. I came here on a Friday and it wasn't crowded. It is pet friendly, I enjoyed bringing my pooch here. Also, a good spot to watch airplanes take-off/land on SFO.

It's nice to come here in a weekend for a walk. There's plenty for parking near the Stripe…read morebuilding and it's free. The trail is pretty nice a your are by the water,but watch out for the birds! They attack! And watch what you step on. The bird droppings are large! . I do suggest to walk in pairs if you can as there are some parts of the trail that's rather quiet. There's also picnic areas but bring your own tents, and tables and chairs. Feel free to bike along this trail and don't worry about the restrooms. It seems like they added new restrooms around the parking lot.

Crashing waves, Whales and pelicans flying in formation. They have been doing maintenance work on…read more the path, trees and removing dead snags- that's great.

My husband and I came to take a walk here as we haven't been on this pier for quite some time…read more Lots fisherman fishing on the pier. Very windy day. But the view is still nice. Nice day for a quick walk.

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.

Esplanade Beach is a great coastal spot, especially if you love dogs. It honestly feels like an…read moreunofficial dog park. Most dogs are off leash and roaming freely, so if dogs aren't your vibe -- or if your dog isn't comfortable around other off-leash dogs -- this probably isn't the beach for you. If you have food, expect a dog to come investigate. One downside is that some owners let their dogs poop on the beach and just cover it with sand, which isn't great. Outside of that, the beach itself is excellent. It's very large, stretches far down the coast, and usually has a good amount of space to spread out. There's often a decent swell, so be careful of sneaker waves. It's also a great spot for surf fishing -- perch, striped bass, and crab snaring are all popular here. There's lots of street parking, though it tends to fill up on really nice days. The view from the top of the beach entrance is beautiful and a great place to watch the sunset on a clear evening. Access is via a ramp with stairs at the bottom. The walk down is manageable, but the climb back up is steep and definitely a workout.

We've been here a few times, varying between weekdays to weekends and we've always found street…read moreparking! As it is Pacifica, the weather is quite moody, you'll get beautiful sunny days and foggy gray days. The unfortunate part is, Pacifica is often the latter! Yesterday, we lucked out! It was the first sunny day out of all the times we visited and the weather was nice and mild. We parked one block over, grabbed all our stuff and started the Trek down. It's about a quarter of a mile, and not back. I would recommend tennis shoes and no sandal to trek down, and you can slip and fall easily on the switchbacks! Other things to consider: - There is no toilet or trash can down by the beach - Bring poop bags down to the beach, there aren't any down there. Please pick up after your dog! It's nasty to have poop on the beach where kids also play. - You will encounter off leash dogs on the streets above, and on the switchbacks leading to tbe beach. If your dog feels iffy about meeting other dogs on leash, know there it gets tight! - You'll encounter some dogs that aren't friendly and on leash(that's okay, just try to give them space. Though a few times they caught us off guard when we were looking behind us). - Lastly, it's nice to bring a picnic blanket and just chill. Make sure you bring your jacket though, it gets chilly! Overall, really nice spot. Not accessible to wheelchair users or people with mobility issues due to the steep terrain and stairs at the end of the switchbacks.