I thought Pacific was just beaches but San Pedro Valley Park lies 2 miles inland away from all the beach action. I like it for its hiking trails. There are many different trails, the longest all-encompassing loop in the park is around 10 miles but you can go even further all the way up to Montara Mountain and beyond. I like the like Brooks Fall Loop (2.4 miles) and the Hazelnut and Weiler Ranch Loop (4.6 miles). Brooks Falls is fairly easy with a view of a waterfall in the distance. Keep in mind it only flows after a heavy rain and is rather far away looking through the canyon so you can't hear it flow. Someone with a nice camera lens might be able to get a good close up but otherwise in photos it looks very far away. For a waterfall hike where you can get up close, I'd go to Marin. Parking is $6 and it's cash in an envelope like it's year 2000. I don't understand why they don't have credit card machines because I've been to some other San Mateo parks that have them. The weekends there is a person where you can pay credit card. Lots of manzanita trees, iris, and yellow flower daisies. read more

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

San Pedro Valley Park - View from my picnic table - Parks Near Me - Pacifica, California

Deer Factor ±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: read more

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Love this hiking up and down for 6 miles with gorgeous view of the Pacifica valley and the coast. Sometimes, you will be under the tree tunnel but mostly be exposed under the sun. So, make sure wear protective sun clothing or wear sunscreen and hat. Watch out for poison oaks! Lots of it. Parking is limited and costs 6 dollars - ( exact cash only ) but there's also free parking near by. Enjoy! read more

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$6 to park. Get here before 11:30a on a Sunday to get a parking spot but it looks like you can park outside on the residential streets and walk in. We did the Trout Farm Trail which linked up to the Brooks Creek Trail. It is a quick elevation gain. About a mile up, there's a view of a waterfall with a bench to take break. The visitor center is worth checking out with displays of wildlife that could be seen in the park. No dogs allowed. read more

This park is my favorite place in the world. I hope to make it back there one day! I lived in Pacifica for a while (right on the cliff) and I miss those happy days. I hiked at this park almost daily! I can still picture the views and smell the eucalyptus grove. read more

I did a small 2.5 mile loop trail (Brooks fall loop) in this county park and it was really good. The trail was free of any wild growth and was easy to walk in. Also the views are amazing!. Here is the detailed loop information in case you picked up the trail map from the visitor center: 0.3 miles in Old Trout Farm trail + 0.7 miles in Brooks creek trail + 1.5 miles in Montara Mountain trail. Finally, parking is 6$ - make sure to bring cash to drop it in the envelope, if you come before 10AM as they don't have a machine to charge the fee. read more

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One of my favorite short hikes. While the waterfall (observation deck is a simple bench) was for the most part, dried up (End of March), the walk was not flat/decent incline, quiet, cool with a slight breeze, mostly shade and I felt like I was in Maine part of the time, Hawaii another, and the rest was all California!! While we didn't see any wildlife, except for a banana slug, I could easily imagine more wildlife during certain time of the day/year. We will definitely come back to extend our walk, and maybe even hike to Montara Beach! read more

Hiking today. Amazing trail. Very well maintained. Fantastic variety of geology. Several spots with some beautiful views. A great combination of open air and tree covered. Trailhead has plenty of safe parking with clean bathrooms and even a visitor center. It will definitely help to have a GPS tracker because there are a few forks in the road that could lead you wrong. Read up on the geology of this area before you come and your hike will be even better. Did I also mention, perfect combination of up and downhill. read more

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I've hiked all over Pacifica throughout the years, and I have to say that San Pedro Valley Park has definitely been one of the most enjoyable and unique parks that I've hiked in this area. This is not your typical coastal hike. Now don't get me wrong; I adore coastal hikes! In fact, this was exactly what I was expecting when I hiked here. But instead, I was showered with beautiful lush groves, heart pumping inclines, and rampant wildlife. A far cry from a typical hike that you'd see on the coast side, but I loved every single second of it. San Pedro Valley Park is located a bit deeper in the cuts than many other parks in the area. Parking is $6 and there are actually quite a bit of parking spots. You can also park outside of the park if you want to avoid paying the fee, but it's a bit of jaunt through the residential neighborhood. I just paid. It's great to support the continuance of our local parks by paying these nominal fees. I hiked the 4.5 mile Hazelnut to Weiler Ranch loop trail and it was such a gorgeous hike! Came during the winter time and it was quite foggy in the morning, but the afternoon gave way to blue skies and lovely panoramic views. The start of this loop is immersed between large trees and lush green plants. It gradually inclines for the first half of the hike and then opens up to some magnificent views of the rolling green hillsides. The amount of wildlife that you'll see is just insane. I saw deer, birds, rabbits, and banana slugs! There were a few mountain lion warning signs, but luckily I didn't run into one. I can understand why this park has so much rampant wildlife. It's so incredibly peaceful here. For a moment, I almost forgot that I was in Pacifica. I only saw one other hiker on the trail which is so unbelievable. I think this might be one of the city's best kept secrets if you ask me. If you're coming during the colder seasons, you might run into some muddy spots. This is the perfect place for a summer hike though as most of the hike is shaded and stays cool. There's also a visitor's center but it was closed when I hiked here. There are restrooms on site and an abundance of picnic tables. So many different trails to choose from too. I would have definitely explored more of the trails if I had more time. But, now that means I need to make a return trip back here. And I will, because this park is truly stunning. read more

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As you approach the gates, there may not be anyone at the booth. However, info can be found at the gate. Park your car first. Take a pic of your car reg and pick up an envelope at the gate. Write your car reg on the envelope and add $6 cash and post it in little box. Best to bring the exact amount of $, since there is no one there to give you change. Then display the torn out portion on your car dash. Restrooms are located at the trailhead as well as in the visitors center in front of the entrance. Maps can can also be picked up here too. Both restrooms are very clean, with seat covers and toilet paper. This was a lovely hike on the Montara Mountain trail, about 2.5 miles to the summit according to the map. This trail is about 50% shaded and takes you over different terrains. There will be hilly wooded and shrubby trails, open meadows and brief ocean views. Some areas are rocky with loose pebbles, so shoes with a good tread is advisable. The trail begins zig zagging and then as you get above the trees the views begin to appear. I did not see any animals but there were plenty of wildflowers and berries along the way. You might see a bench but with no views as the shrubs were too high. This trail seems popular with mountain cyclists and I noticed a few families too. Some paths are very tight and single file is best. Stay away from the edges, as some areas it was very steep over the edges and there were no safety guards. To end the hike, some people bought a picnic lunch as there were ample picnic tables. I visited the visitor center, where there were a few items for sale and a small museum of the animals found at the park. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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Sat 5/22/21 hiked at San Pedro Valley Park, Pacifica. Parking fee $6, but if you want can parking in the residential area outside. There is parking on the left or the right side if you park inside. Separate bathrooms flushed toilets, sink. We did the Montara Mtn Trail, it's One-Way during COVID-19, then down Brooks Creek Trail. There is supposed to be a waterfall with a bench overlook, but it was Dry 5/22/21. We were suppose to take Trout Farm Trail but that's one-Way so just continued on Brooks Creek Trail. Lots of wildflowers still that was nice to see. Lots of picnic tables available. read more

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It's almost always sunny and warm here. During COVID restrictions, there are two main loops and one-way designated paths marked. Parking on the residential street is the best way to access the trails free, although there are some people who prefer to pay the $6 parking fee in order to park in the lot. A lot of residents also park in the church parking lot and no one seems to mind. What I appreciate most about being here is the super clean bathroom near the Visitor's Center. If you decide to try the Hazelnut trail, be prepared for a climb, especially if it's a hot day. It's definitely the harder trail in comparison to what's available here. read more

San Pedro Valley Park - Parks Near Me - Pacifica, California

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This is a most beautiful park with easy walking or more challenging paths. Wild life is a huge plus, deer grazing, turkeys (on occasion) and once in a while, bobcats (no petting ha!). Fun times with families and friends celebrating events (space for rent). But Yelp says dogs are allowed. NO THEY ARE NOT! At frontages says, no dogs, no pets...Lot's of other dog walking places. It is a truly peaceful space. read more

COVID-19 precautions. Nature oasis. Lovely park for exercising. Great area for picnicking. Paid parking in lot, free in neighborhood. See below for more info: COVID-19 precautions: Park employees and visitors wear masks. The trails are one-way meaning you do not have to deal with encountering people coming the opposite way. People keep a physical distance and are respectful about passing each other on trails. Nature oasis: Located in Pacifica, San Pedro Valley is perhaps my favorite nature oasis since the start of the pandemic. The park is on the quieter side, making it a great area to get some exercise without the crowd. The park is ample with greenery; deer are active in the morning. (: Lovely park for exercising: San Pedro Valley Park is lovely for exercising. There is a lot of open greenery and trails. Some of the more popular activities people partake-in here are walking, hiking, running, dog-walking and frisbee. Great area for picnicking: San Pedro Valley Park is big and makes for a great area to picnic. We have been here at various times during weekends and have seen lots of places to picnic and keep a physical distance. Paid parking in lot, free in neighborhood. Parking is $6 in the parking lot of San Pedro Valley Park. Because free is my favorite, we typically park in the surrounding neighborhood main road in front of the local school. read more

I've been to almost all the hiking areas around Pacifica so I didn't really expect San Pedro to be any special or different. However, it surprised me in that it felt much more like a "mountain" hike whereas others (McNee, Pedro Point, Sweeney Ridge) felt more like rolling hills. There are beautiful views of Montara Mountain, which is quite impressive with very pretty sections of exposed rock. While a little further inland, this park still did have beautiful ocean views - just no shoreline views. PARKING Note it costs $6 to park here. We got here at 10am on a Sunday during MLK weekend, and the parking lot was maybe 2/3 full. DOG-FRIENDLINESS One of the few downsides - San Pedro is not dog-friendly. FACILITIES There were pretty clean bathrooms, water fountains (including one that dispenses water downwards for filling water bottles - this had EXCELLENT water pressure), and picnic tables at the trailhead. SOCIAL DISTANCING The loops here are marked as counterclockwise only and generally people stuck to that. We encountered a few people at the of Montara Mountain Trail going the wrong way, but no more as we ventured further up the mountain. KID-FRIENDLINESS The picnic area is good for families. There's a flat, grassy area where kids can play. We had our toddler and baby in hikers and did a decent 4-miler almost to the top of the mountain. My toddler did hike a decent amount of Montara Mountain Trail about 1-2 miles in. There was a bench about a mile up Montara Mountain Trail where I could sit and nurse my baby, and it looked out over a beautiful view of the ocean between the surrounding mountains. There is another viewpoint on Montara Mountain Trail, right before it meets Montara Mountain Road, that is cleared out and flat, where we ate and fed our baby once again. From here, we could see all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge! VIEWS There are the two resting spots on Montara Mountain Trail I mention above. Basically all of that trail has nice ocean views. Brooks Creek Trail goes inland and has more of those mountain views I mention. We could not see the waterfall - maybe it was dried out? SHADE The trails are probably 50% shaded. Be prepared for both sunlight and cooler shade! OUR ROUTE/STATS/DIFFICULTY We did about 4 miles (and 1,000 ft of elevation) of this route: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/montara-mountain-trail--3. We stopped a little before Montara Mountain Trail meets Montara Mountain Road (North Peak Access Road). My Strava shows 2 hours of moving time, and total it took us 3 hours 45 minutes (2 kids = lots of stops!). I would call this route moderately difficult; it certainly has a bigger climb than some of the neighboring hikes in the Pacifica area! read more

This park has hiking trails that are great for beginners as well as advanced hikers. There are well well-designed maps that are available at the trailheads. I found these maps to be very helpful. Today I tried the Valley View Trail as well as the hazelnut Trail. However, I confess I could never find any hazelnut trees. There is a giant Grove of eucalyptus, but I'm pretty sure those aren't hazelnuts. There are also quite a few picnic and barbecue areas. Today, there are lots of people on the trail hiking a few bikers and lots of folks having picnics and barbecues. It's really a great place to bring your family. The small charge for parking as well worth the fee. However, if you are a cheapskate like me you could park out on the street and just walk in. There are lots of people who do that. After your hike, be sure to stop at The Visitor Center. Keep in mind however that's only open Saturday and Sunday. read more

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I have been meaning to write a review about the hazelnut trail, it is one of the most beautiful hikes I think in the bay area! The valley is beautiful, I see a lot of little rabbits and tons of wildlife and beautiful flowers and then you go through this amazing forest of eucalyptus trees and then you can see the ocean as well. It is about 4 miles and it is not strenuous although you get a little bit of cardio. read more

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I've come here over the past couple years and it's a nice and quiet hike. As you gain more elevation, there are nice views of Pacifica! The open trails are all one way. All the hikers we passed were wearing masks. The waterfall is closed due to covid. Parking is $6 so make sure to bring cash! read more

I highly recommend this park for events. There is ample parking, gorgeous, well maintained trails and picnic areas and the staff and volunteers are top notch. Ranger Mark was particularly helpful with all aspects of our event from planning through execution. All the rangers were helpful and cheerful as were the volunteers in the visitor's center. We had a fundraising hike for 120 hikers and it went off beautifully. read more

Park is very nice! Wish they wouldn't mow during baby season. I would love it if Rangers can get a refresher in public safety such as how to advise public on bee and wasp stings etc If a person is alone & approaches clearly with swelling and redness please be sure they are not allergic and give the proper instructions. Did not tell me it is important to remove stinger if it were a bee. Only to use cold water. Where exactly can i get cold water? Am 40 min from my home I completely forgot as it was so painful.. am a pots syndrome patient which makes one quite lightheaded. This was two persons together and do wish one of the two would have known to look and remove stinger my neck in back was red and swollen and i asked bc i indeed forgot. Just needed a refresher . i assumed bee or wasp ? No big deal- it comes with the beautiful ecosystem but a big deal if a person is allergic. I did mention i have had allergic MCAS in past. I don't know if i react to bees or wasps but we will find out in The next 48 hrs .. I proceeded to visit the office to see if they could help and the lovely volunteers were very nice. I appreciate very much the woman mentioning what about a spider since it was under long hair and i had a Patagonia zip up on. Would be great if the park had first aid kits for insect bites in office but i should have had myself .. just out of surgery a few days ago so wasn't thinking clearly. Thank you for your kindness and consideration. read more

Want to climb the peak of Montara Mountain but don't want to deal with the crowded parking and slow traffic on the Coast Hwy? Or maybe you just want to enjoy a relatively quiet hike in a small valley, tucked behind the town of Pacifica. San Pedro Valley Park can meet either need. Unlike many of the other parks and open spaces on the Peninsula, SPVP does have a parking fee ($6). But you do get what you pay for, with a nice visitor center (incl. a small museum and bookstore) and plenty of parking. The bathrooms are clean and the staff are friendly and helpful. Plus there are several picnic areas for daytime use. As for the the park itself, for me it feels like it has two main parts: 1) a set of lower elevation loop trails along the long valley formed by San Pedro creek; 2) and a set of longer climbing trails that parallel Brooks Creek before one ascends more smartly, eventually reaching the Montara trail (within McNee Ranch State Park). From there, it's only a few miles more to reach the Montara summit. (Total round trip 7 miles and 2000 ft of climbing). It's not a perfect park. Personally I find the trails along San Pedro Creek to be a little dull, and several hillsides are dominated by large groves of non-native Eucalyptus trees (a.k.a. America's largest weed). But I can think of worse places to spend on a beautiful day. And if I want to scale Montara, my preferred starting point has become SPVP, with views that are just as nice as the more popular byway. Hiking Spot Checklist: -- Parking: Yes; A large, paved lot. -- Bathrooms: Yes; at the visitor center and at trail-heads -- Potable water provided: Yes, at visitor center -- Maps provided: Yes -- Highlights: typically quiet and uncrowded My Peninsula Hike Collection is here: (https://www.yelp.com/collection/qBI6U6Lz9LJQjnGjFW6ubg) read more

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Beautifil trails. Quiet. Peaceful. Looks like a good place to have a get together with family pr friends. Clean bathrooms. read more

San Pedro Valley Park - Random animals you can run into - Parks Near Me - Pacifica, California

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I love san pedro park! I have been coming here as long as I can remember, so many childhood memories. Now I bring my children here to make thier own! They have made some updates over the years to the signage around the park, but it mostly remains the same which is always very comforting to me. We try to get here at least a couple times a month to walk the main trail, and if we are pressed for time but want to do a quick walk the nature trail combined with the old trout farm trail is also a good little route to take. Valley view and hazelnut are my favorite trails to walk, but i dont get to do them as much as I like. Thank you san mateo county parks for keeping san pedro beautiful! read more

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For those who need a quick guide before leaving for here, here's a quick rundown before my review. ---------------------------------------------- NOTES AND RECOMMENDATIONS: -$5 Parking Fee, don't forget this! -For hiking don't wear short shorts. We once got TICKS and there's tons of poison oak (although it's off the trail, just cover up just in case) -Museum is open Saturday & Sunday 10AM to 4PM -No Pets Allowed -Park closes at 8:00PM -If you're having a picnic there, sign up or go EARLY in the morning to reserve a spot. ---------------------------------------------- San Pedro Park has always been one of my favorite family party spots since I was a little kid. This park has something for everyone. There are several picnic areas for eating, relaxing, playing football, baseball, and climbing trees (although you're actually not supposed to o_O) with bathrooms nearby. They also have a museum full of some awesome taxidermy which is cool for kids and adults alike to get an up close look at what the forest's animals look like. If you get creep ed out by that kind of stuff and it's not your scene, try hiking through the Brooks Trail or up the more rigorous Monetary trail for those who really want a good workout. The Monetary goes up for what seems like forever until you can see all of Pacific. I wouldn't bring any little kids on the Monetary unless they were REALLY full of spunk. All in all, this park is a great place for families and friends to enjoy the outdoors at however rigorous of a pace they'd like. read more

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I recently hiked the Valley View trail this past weekend, which ended up being around a 4.5 mile round trip. Due to COVID, the park has made the trail one way in efforts to avoid crowded trails while passing other groups. I would recommend starting early and bringing a mask just in case. We started as early as 7:30 and only encountered 2 other groups on the trail. The start of it goes into steep incline right away, so prepare to get your heart rate going! There are a few benches along the trail for when breaks are needed. It was pretty foggy, which is pretty often in Pacifica so I would suggest dressing in layers. Also, there has been warning signs for mountain lions for some time, so be cautious of that. The only creatures we ran into on the trail were a bunch of bunnies! The parking lot is spacious and costs $6 for self pay. If you're early/lucky, you might be able to score parking in the residential neighborhood right by the entrance. read more

A beautiful and serene place in lovely Pacifica where you can take it easy and have a picnic or take a hike on one of the many gorgeous trails. read more

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Gorgeous park, almost no people .... perfection! We ended up doing a really nice hike here. There seem to be several options depending on whether you want a quicker walk-style hike or a full-on "pack some snacks and water" hike. (We came here spur of the moment, so we did the former.) I normally hike on the ocean side of Pacifica, but this was a fun (and less windy) change. Will definitely be back! read more

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This is a really delayed review of hiking at San Pedro Valley Park. I went here in the fall, so it was a gorgeously sunny day and hot out (love to be hot sometimes!). San Pedro Valley Park has a number of trails that are different lengths and levels of difficulty. If you park in the lot near the visitor center, it is $5 or $6 for the daily rate. You can skip this and park on the street. The visitor center has maps of all the trails or you can look them up online here: http://parks.smcgov.org/san-pedro-valley-park-trails. Before I headed on my hike I grabbed a map from the visitor center and asked a ranger to point me in the right direction. Even these attempts to steer my direction didn't help my cause, though. I am not good at reading maps, so even though I had planned to take the Brooks Creek Trail and then connect to the Montara Mountain Trail for a quick 2 mile loop, that is not what I actually ended up doing! Whoops! I am geographically challenged, so it certainly would have been helpful if I could successfully navigate a paper map! Whoops again. I am clearly too reliant on my phone maps. Anyhow, I accidentally went on the Hazelnut Trail, which connects to the Weiler Ranch Trail, which was an approximately 5 mile hike! Since I thought I was going on a quick two mile hike, I didn't bring water or snacks - next time I won't leave those behind, just in case! Another whoops. The trail ascends for about three miles, so it is a good workout. There are benches along the way. There are also beautiful views of the valley and the ocean when the trail opens up to the vistas. I have to admit I was a bit nervous on this trail alone because there are mountain lions to watch out for - and apparently you should hike with at least one other person when you do hikes in mountain lion country. This is one of the reasons I only give San Pedro four stars. I was so nervous about mountain lions I couldn't really enjoy the trail as much as I would have liked. (Plus I knew I was on the wrong trail! phooey!) This was one time when I was glad not to catch a glimpse of wildlife! I do recommend going here. It is beautiful, has gorgeous views and interesting vegetation. Don't do what I did though, and make sure you get on the right trail or you'll might be saying whoops too :). read more

San Pedro Valley Park - A view from Hazelnut Trail. - Parks Near Me - Pacifica, California

I'm had high hopes for the Montara Mountail Trail at San Pedro Park. There are definitely some great balcony trails that help you gain elevation without really knowing it. It was very enjoyable and the nature is beautiful. Tall trees at the beginning that squeaked in the wind. The only downside is that the weather is somewhat unpredictable in this area. We left SF while it was sunny around 12pm and by the time we got there close to 1pm it was foggy. I'm sure the views are amazing when there isn't fog, but for us, wasn't the best. But could be good for someone just wanting to get out and walk! read more

Great county park. We have an annual San Mateo County parking pass, they run $60. I used this for my morning hike. Made sure to research what people said and I checked out the online map. Picked hiking the Hazelnut Trail, it's a 3.7 mile hike, with a 400 foot steady incline. Plus you have to hike back about 1.3 miles back to the parking lot. Make sure to pack plenty of water and some snacks. There are benches located every mile or less than a mile to sit down. My favorite things about this hike were all the bunnies, and the breath taking views of the mountainside. read more

I am really starting to love San Pedro Valley Park. I have been here a few times already and I really enjoy everything it has to offer. There are various hiking trails from easy to more advanced. I have hiked up the Montara Mountain Trail (1175 feet elevation gain) a few times. This trail is approximately 2.25 miles. It is pretty much a steady slight incline the whole way up. When you reach the top, you can either go back down, or the more adventurous can go either go 2.5 more miles down to Montara State Beach or another 1 mile up to the top of Montara Mountain at North Peak. I have done all these options and enjoyed hiking up to North Peak the most. North Peak is actually in McNee Ranch State Park. There are signs letting you know when you enter a different park. The Montara Mountain Trail is defiantly more on the challenging side. Make sure you bring plenty of water and fuel if you plan on going up Montara Mountain. San Pedro Valley Park offers surreal views of the Pacific and the San Pedro Valley. Often times, it is misty and/or foggy, which in my opinion is perfect hiking weather. The trails I've been on offer great vista points perfect for selfies with great views. The park also offers both drop in and reserved picnic areas. The cost to get in is $6 per car. The bathrooms are pretty clean for county park standards. read more

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An interesting and pretty beautiful hike. We took the Montara Mountain Trail from the parking lot and eventually got to the peak junction area where you could get a 360 view of the Ocean as well the inland area that stretched out to the bay. Most of the view on the way up is of Pacifica but I highly recommend taking the Grey Cove beach trail on the way down even though you'll end up in a different parking lot by the highway 1. Going down this way you see many flat greenlands where there's possibilities to picnic or just lay by crazy trees that are resting by the cliffs. read more

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Pack your camelbak and a few snacks! These trail hikes are a little lengthy! As everyone said, park down in the residential area so save $ on the parking fee. Some trail markers are slightly hidden because of the trees and bushes growing around it, but you can pick up a map at the Visitor's Center to see your trail options. [ WEILER RANCH TRAIL ] Level: Easy Length: 1 mile * Good for running since the length of this trail is exactly 1 mile. Go to this trail first, then the Hazelnut Trail so that when you finish the Hazelnut Trail, you finish at the parking lot (see below). [ HAZELNUT TRAIL ] Level: Moderate Length: 3.7 miles * We actually went backwards (the mile markers were counting down instead of up), but I feel like this is the better route because the "start" of the trail ends up going to the parking lot. * The path was easy to see and to follow, and the incline was not unbearable at all! * The views are amazing, stop around the 2.75 mile marker. There are benches along the way, so pick a spot to eat your snacks. The views are beautiful from the mountaintop to the eucalyptus trees. * Be careful of the acorns on the ground, you might slip! There are other trails that are more difficult and I have yet to hike them. Will post an update when I get the chance to get through them. :) read more

This is an underrated hiking spot! When it's foggy, as Pacifica usually is, you may not see much, but on a perfectly sunny day you will be rewarded with the best 360 degree view that the Bay Area has to offer! From the parking lot to the summit and back again was about 7 miles. The way up took about 2.5 hours (there were also a couple of benches/vista points along the way where we could not resist taking pictures) and the way down took a little over an hour. The trail is moderately difficult in that the incline is steady and constant from the parking lot and the latter half-ish of the hike has little to no shade. There is a lovely section not too far from the trail head where you walk through 4 different forests: redwoods, firs, oak, and eucalyptus. Pretty incredible! There are also blackberry and strawberry bushes, although we didn't see any berries when we went. Be careful of the poison oak everywhere, they blend in well with their neighbors! As for parking, you can easily park on the street on in the church parking lot prior to entering the park center. But if you want to support this park, pay the $6! read more

This is a great place to go if you live in the city, want a good hike, but don't want to drive too far. Head down to Pacifica on Route 1, hang a left at that big shopping center intersection, drive a couple of miles through a residential area, and there you are at the park ($5 parking fee). Our hike was about 7 miles and took us up to the Montara Mountain peak. It's about a 1900' climb, but much of it is a gradual climb with few really steep sections. There are some benches where you can stop and rest and take in the views. The top of the hike as you get closer to the peak is kind of exposed, but you get plenty of shade on the lower part of the trail. Much of the trail is narrow - wear long pants if you don't want to get your legs scratched up. The trails are rarely crowded, and seem to be popular with runners - I always see a few here every time I go. The peak itself is marred by the giant antenna right on it, but it still offers some pretty wonderful views (that is, when it's not fogged in). Part of the fun on today's hike was the view of the machinery that's going to be used to construct the tunnel that will take the place of Devil's Slide. Looks like they're finally getting around to building that thing. read more

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Such a perfect place to hike. Lush, green, miles of hiking trails. at certain points, feels like Hawaìi or another exotic location. We hiked on both the Montara Mtn trail as well as Brooks Fall and made it to the North Peak. total hike time was about 3:40. Grade is moderate, not too terribly bad. Very enjoyable place for a day jaunt, and I very highly recommend this place in pretty, serene, and often windy Pacifica!!! PS Coolest part was seeing view of Mt. Tam, *above* the cloud line... pretty spectacular! Utilize clean ba inside of the visitor's center before embarking! read more

Nice park for hiking. I loved that is was totally uncrowded; we only saw maybe 3-4 other hikers during our 3 hour hike. The trails are easy and well-maintained. I didn't think they were steep or strenuous at all and it's not like I consider myself to be an athlete or anything. However, I did think the trails got a little boring at times. Maybe I have no soul, but all the trees and valleys started looking the same to me. We did the Brooks Trail and most of the Montara trail. The views are great and there are several spots with benches and clearings where you can picnic. You can see out to the ocean and all of Pacifica. Overall, if you want to go hiking and don't want to deal with the crowds and Golden Gate Bridge on the way to/from Marin, San Pedro is a good choice. It's easy to get to and again, the best part is no crowds and easy parking. There are picnic tables near the parking lot and some small grassy fields for kids to run around in. The visitors center has clean bathrooms. Parking tip - there are tons of spaces in the residential area across the street from the park entrance. It's a five minute walk into the park from there and you can save yourself $5. read more

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I ran my first trail marathon @this location. It was beautiful! It had been raining the night before, so the terrain was a bit muddy. No worries, nothing a good pair of Asic trail shoes can't handle. We signed up for the 5mile run and the first mile & a half was strictly uphill. It looped up and around the hill, then down, through wide terrains then more narrow ones. Be careful where you step and watch out for those running faster than you. I love switching between trail runs and regular runs. Nature & the picturesque scenery can be a lot more breathtaking. Breathing in cleaner air is a plus as well. I can't wait for the next trail marathon in July @Pacifica. Registration is only $30 and you get a cool shirt & some snacks after you complete your run! read more

San Pedro Valley Park - Pacifica Coast Run! =) - Parks Near Me - Pacifica, California

There's something about Pacifica that I just love-the foggy, dramatic scenery is always so bracing and a welcome change from the East Bay. I figured there has to be some beautiful hikes here as well and after reading more on San Pedro Valley, my boyfriend and I decided to spend a Saturday here. It was super green, misty and yet, still had amazing views in all directions. We had the chance to sample a little of each trail. Starting out on Brooks Falls Trail, we climbed steadily, but easily with views towards the mountains. When that intersected with Montara Mtn. Trail, we took that back down to the lot. I wish we took Montara Mtn. Trail all the way up to the end, back tracking once completed, but it was getting on in the day and we wanted to sample the Hazelnut Trail as well. On Brooks Falls and the Montara Trail, it had a decent amount of people-not overly populated but enough to feel like it was a safe and friendly area. Once back at the parking lot, we embarked on the Hazelnut Trail and wound up going about 2 miles round trip. Overall, I loved each trail we took. It was all well signed and included mile markers on Montara and Hazelnut. If I were to go back,I'd like to do the complete Hazelnut Trail. That was the quietest of all the trails and seemed a little more rugged than the others. All in all, highly recommended day hike! Clean bathrooms, water fountains and ample close parking to the trails. I was perfectly willing to pay the $6 entrance fee but I only had a $20 bill and it was "self registration" with no one to give change. I ended up parking in the residential area nearby. Yelp 100 Challenge-East Bay Edition! read more