Introduction
Sweeney Ridge is situated 15 minutes south of San Francisco. It affords
stunning views of both the Bay and the Ocean.
Directions
From the south Bay: Take 280 north, take the hwy35 exit, turn left on Sneath Ln, drive to the dead end. Park.
From the north Bay: Take 280 south, take the Hwy 1 south exit, take 35 (skyline) south, turn left on Sneath ln.
(Map)
Links:
From Sweeney Ridge it is possible to hike south to connect with the
Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail , which
descends towards the reservoir (about 15 kms) and ends at
"Skyline Quarry Gate", 1 km west of the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Highway 92 (drive up hwy 92 as if you are going to Half Moon Bay, but turn right
into the gate about 500 meters after the traffic light, and then drive to the
end of the road).
It is not clear if it is possible to hike from Sweeney Ridge to San Pedro Park.
Nearby San Pedro hike: go back on hwy 35, turn left on hwy 35 and then left
again on Sharp Ave, then left again on hwy 1 to Montara, then left on Linda Mar
to the end of the road.
(Map)
A trail of about 4kms takes you to the top of Montara Mountain.
The Brooks Creek Trail (1.5 km) goes by the Brooks Falls (three-tier 50m drop,
but only in winter and early spring).
San Pedro Valley Park - 650 355-8289
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Pictures of the hike
Hike description
From the parking lot to the top takes between 30 minutes and one hour.
Before the top, there is a fork:
- The trail to the right reaches the top and
then descends to the Shelldance Nursery. Then you have to cross highway 1
in order to reach the beach. (A steep shortcut before the nursery takes you
directly to the backyard of a high school and then to highway one: because
this has a traffic light, it is a safer way to get to the beach).
You are now just south of Sharp Park and of Pacifica.
Take the trail south that goes up and down the cliffs with magnificent
views of the ocean.
Continuing south on this trail, one reaches Linda Mar's beach.
- The trail to the left splits: if you go straight, you eventually reach
the end of the Ridge Trail; if you turn right, you descend towards Linda
Mar (Baquiano Trail). The trail ends on Fassler Ave. Take the first
opportunity to cross the hill south of Fassler Ave and you reach Linda
Mar proper. You can walk south to the point where highway 1 starts
climbing towards Devil's Slide.
These two trails can be used to make a loop.
It takes between 30 and 45' from the top to the beach, and at least one
hour from the beach to the top.
The main attraction of this hike is the view: 360-degree views from the ocean to Mt Diablo.
The trail from Sneath Ln to the top is about 5kms. The trail from the top to
highway 1 is about 7kms. From highway 1 to the beach is about 1km.
From Linda Mar two little detours are also possible:
- To climb the hill overlooking Devil's Slide: cross at the traffic light
(hwy 1 and San Pedro Ave)
to get on the Taco Bell side, then walk to the end of the road. Right at
the curve, you find a white building and an Italian restaurant. In between,
there is a gate: that is the trailhead to the summit. After about 50 meters,
it joins a fireroad. The fireroad winds its way up to the promontories
overlooking the ocean with stunning views (in a good day). The road/tral
ends just above a series of striped cliffs. On the right hand side on can
see a secluded beach and the houses surrounding it.
Directions to Linda Mar Blvd & Hwy 1:
take Westborough exit off 280 and go west all the way, then south (left) on hwy 1 for 5 minutes.
Map.
At that traffic light on the beach side, next to Taco Bell, there's a
little shopping center with a couple of restaurants etc.
Technically, it's the beginning of San Pedro Ave. Park there.
- To reach the beach below Devil's Alide (possible only with very low tide):
cross at the San Pedro Avenue traffic light to get on the Taco Bell side, then walk to the beach and follow the contour of the beach south. It bends south.
You have to walk
over rocks and make sure you don't slip. How far you can go depends on
how low the tide is.
- Tide information
- 2004 tide predictions
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