Montara Mountain
Encyclopedia
Montara Mountain, positioned between the unincorporated community of Montara, California
to the southwest and the city of Pacifica, California
to the north, forms the northern spur of the Santa Cruz Mountains
, a narrow mountain range running the length of the San Francisco Peninsula
that separates San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Its highest point rises to 1898 feet (579 m) above sea level. An unpaved fire road, the North Peak Access Road, accessible from the Pedro Mountain Road
in McNee Ranch State Park
, provides access to the summit by hikers from the south. From the north, Montara Mountain Trail, Hazelnut Trail and Brooks Creek Trail provide access to the mountain with trailheads in San Pedro Valley County Park
.
Due in part to its biologically isolated location near the end of a peninsula, the mountain has an extensive and unique biodiversity especially on the serpentine soil
s of the lower slopes. A number of plant endangered species
are only found on this mountain, including Hickman's potentilla
and San Mateo thornmint, Acanthomintha duttonii
. The rare endemic manzanita
Arctostaphylos montaraensis
was named for this mountain.
On occasions light snow has dusted the summit. On clear days the summit provides spectacular views of much of the San Francisco Bay Area
. Denniston Creek
, Arroyo de en Medio
and San Pedro Creek
rise on Montara Mountain, with San Pedro Creek being habitat for endangered Steelhead Trout. Brooks Creek, a tributary of San Pedro Creek originates on the north face of the mountain and forms a tall thin waterfall, Brooks Falls, which is the tallest in San Mateo County at 207 feet.
Historic Crossings of Montara Mountain include the Spanish Explorer Gaspar de Portolà
in October of 1769, traveling along the prehistoric Indian Trail which traverses the ridgeline between Willow Brook Estates towards Saddle Pass following the high ridgeline above Green Valley and winding down towards Martini Creek. Remnants of this trail remain visible today. During the Mexican Rancho era, a road known as Camino Pedro Cuesta also traversed Saddle Pass and connected the Sanchez Adobe in Rancho San Pedro in San Pedro Valley with Rancho Corral de Tierra Palomares in Montara. Following the Mexican-American War of 1848, this routing was known as "Road Trail" and was considered to be nearly impassible to wheeled vehicles. In 1879 this steep and rutted Road Trail crossing of Montara Mountain was replaced by the marginally improved road known as the Half Moon Bay - Colma Road, which included road grades of 24%. This road which routed closer to the ocean and Devil's Slide terminated in Shamrock Ranch and persisted until 1915.
Montara, California
Montara is a census-designated place in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 2,909 at the 2010 census. Nearby communities include Moss Beach and Princeton-by-the-Sea.-Geography and environment:...
to the southwest and the city of Pacifica, California
Pacifica, California
Pacifica is a city in San Mateo County, California, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay.-Overview:The City of Pacifica is spread along a six mile stretch of the north central California coastal beach and hills, nestled in several small valleys spanning between...
to the north, forms the northern spur of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
, a narrow mountain range running the length of the San Francisco Peninsula
San Francisco Peninsula
The San Francisco Peninsula is a peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area that separates the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. On its northern tip is the City and County of San Francisco. Its southern base is in Santa Clara County, including the cities of Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Mountain...
that separates San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Its highest point rises to 1898 feet (579 m) above sea level. An unpaved fire road, the North Peak Access Road, accessible from the Pedro Mountain Road
Pedro Mountain Road
Pedro Mountain Road describes a series of historical road crossings of Pedro Mountain, a promontory ridge located between Montara Mountain and the coastal cliffs of Devil's Slide in San Mateo County, California. This Pedro Mountain headland blocks the easy passage of coastal travelers between the...
in McNee Ranch State Park
McNee Ranch State Park
McNee Ranch State Park is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains of the United States, near the unincorporated community of Montara, California in San Mateo County. Its highest point rises to 1,898 feet above sea level. An unpaved fire road, the North Peak Access Road, accessible from the Pedro...
, provides access to the summit by hikers from the south. From the north, Montara Mountain Trail, Hazelnut Trail and Brooks Creek Trail provide access to the mountain with trailheads in San Pedro Valley County Park
San Pedro Valley County Park
San Pedro Valley County Park is a San Mateo County park located in Pacifica, California, which includes the headwaters of San Pedro Creek.-Trails:* Montara Mountain Trail, 2.1 miles, includes views of the Pacific Ocean....
.
Due in part to its biologically isolated location near the end of a peninsula, the mountain has an extensive and unique biodiversity especially on the serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s of the lower slopes. A number of plant endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
are only found on this mountain, including Hickman's potentilla
Hickman's potentilla
Potentilla hickmanii is an endangered perennial herb of the rose family. This rare plant species is found in a narrowly restricted range in two locations in coastal northern California, in Monterey County, and in very small colonies in San Mateo County...
and San Mateo thornmint, Acanthomintha duttonii
Acanthomintha duttonii
Acanthomintha duttonii is a species of annual plant endemic to San Mateo County, California in the Lamiaceae family. It is commonly called San Mateo Thornmint or Dutton's acanthomintha and is found growing on Serpentine soils near the Crystal Springs Reservoir in a six mile long strip on the east...
. The rare endemic manzanita
Arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos is a genus of plants comprised by the manzanitas and bearberries. They are shrubs or small trees.There are about 60 species of Arctostaphylos, ranging from ground-hugging arctic, coastal, and mountain species to small trees up to 6 m tall. Most are evergreen , with small oval...
Arctostaphylos montaraensis
Arctostaphylos montaraensis
Arctostaphylos montaraensis is a species of manzanita known by the common name Montara manzanita. It is endemic to northern San Mateo County, California, where it is known from a few occurrences on San Bruno Mountain and Montara Mountain....
was named for this mountain.
On occasions light snow has dusted the summit. On clear days the summit provides spectacular views of much of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. Denniston Creek
Denniston Creek
Denniston Creek is a coastal stream in western San Mateo County, California. Denniston Creek rises on the western slopes of Montara Mountain and discharges to the Pacific Ocean at Pillar Point Harbor somewhat north of El Granada Beach...
, Arroyo de en Medio
Arroyo de en Medio
Arroyo de en Medio is a coastal stream in western San Mateo County, California. Arroyo de en Medio rises on the western slopes of Montara Mountain and discharges to the Pacific Ocean at Half Moon Bay at the location of the unincorporated community of Miramar at Miramar Beach...
and San Pedro Creek
San Pedro Creek
San Pedro Creek is a perennial stream in the City of Pacifica, San Mateo County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area whose tributaries originate on Sweeney Ridge in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Montara Mountain in the Santa Cruz Mountains.The creek mainstem flows through the...
rise on Montara Mountain, with San Pedro Creek being habitat for endangered Steelhead Trout. Brooks Creek, a tributary of San Pedro Creek originates on the north face of the mountain and forms a tall thin waterfall, Brooks Falls, which is the tallest in San Mateo County at 207 feet.
Historic Crossings of Montara Mountain include the Spanish Explorer Gaspar de Portolà
Gaspar de Portolà
Gaspar de Portolà i Rovira was a soldier, governor of Baja and Alta California , explorer and founder of San Diego and Monterey. He was born in Os de Balaguer, province of Lleida, in Catalonia, Spain, of Catalan nobility. Don Gaspar served as a soldier in the Spanish army in Italy and Portugal...
in October of 1769, traveling along the prehistoric Indian Trail which traverses the ridgeline between Willow Brook Estates towards Saddle Pass following the high ridgeline above Green Valley and winding down towards Martini Creek. Remnants of this trail remain visible today. During the Mexican Rancho era, a road known as Camino Pedro Cuesta also traversed Saddle Pass and connected the Sanchez Adobe in Rancho San Pedro in San Pedro Valley with Rancho Corral de Tierra Palomares in Montara. Following the Mexican-American War of 1848, this routing was known as "Road Trail" and was considered to be nearly impassible to wheeled vehicles. In 1879 this steep and rutted Road Trail crossing of Montara Mountain was replaced by the marginally improved road known as the Half Moon Bay - Colma Road, which included road grades of 24%. This road which routed closer to the ocean and Devil's Slide terminated in Shamrock Ranch and persisted until 1915.