Old Pedro Mountain Road

There have been multiple roads traversing Pedro Mountain between present-day Pacifica and Montara, north of Half Moon Bay, the earliest being described by the Portola Expedition in 1769. The concrete paved road that today is called Old Pedro Mountain Road was built in 1915 and was a route for cars headed over this promontory ridge. The trail is a very popular one and is accessed from either the Montara Trailhead near Gray Whale Cove Beach or on Higgins Avenue in Pacifica. This adventure describes the hike from the Pacifica side up to the major trail intersection and Pacific Ocean overlook about mid-way along the trail.

From the cramped street parking at the end on Higgins Drive, go through the gate and follow the decayed concrete remnants of the old road as it winds up and around the hills through fragrant eucalyptus groves. Increasingly more lofty views of Pacifica and its beaches are seen as the trail climbs. The grade is a steady but easy uphill, and the trail winds lazily around the soft hillsides. Eventually the trail meets the North Peak Access Trail and continues downhill to the Montara Trailhead. Be sure to take the short side trail up to the power pole and the expansive view of the coastline below. A car shuttle would make this route an interesting one to do, as the trail has great views all the way down to the highway and Gray Whale Cove.