San Francisco & Pacifica, CA: Northern California Chapter, Coastal Hike Doubleheader

Come with us on an epic adventure down our spectacular coastline on two back-to-back hikes. Join one or the other or both!

• Hike 1 is Friday, May 16 from San Francisco to Pacifica and is about 13 miles. We’ll start from Ocean Beach and walk on the beach all the way down to Mussel Rock Park in Daly City. From there, we’ll take the paved trail along the bluffs into Pacifica and back down to the beach before hiking over Mori Point to Rockaway Beach.
• Hike 2 is Saturday, May 17 from Pacifica to Half Moon Bay and is about 14 miles. We’ll start from the Linda Mar neighborhood and climb up and over San Pedro Mountain on the remnants of old State Route 1 to Montara. Then we’ll trod along more coastal bluffs and end with a beach stroll to Pillar Point Harbor at the north end of Half Moon Bay.

Schedule

Hike 1: San Francisco to Pacifica (Friday, May 16) — Meet at 9 AM outside Java Beach Café at Ocean Beach. We’ll have lunch at Mussel Rock Park in Daly City and expect to arrive at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica around 4 PM, then take a bus back to BART (see Getting There & Back below).
Hike 2: Pacifica to Half Moon Bay (Saturday, May 17) — Meet at 9 AM at the Linda Mar Shopping Center in the Bank of America parking lot. We’ll have lunch on the trail into Montara and expect to arrive at Pillar Point Harbor around 4 PM, then take a bus back to Linda Mar (See Getting There & Back below).

Level of Difficulty: Both hikes are challenging due to length and terrain. Total mileage for Hike 1 is 13 miles with a total elevation gain of 439 feet that is over Mussel Rock and Mori Point. Total mileage for Hike 2 is 14 miles with a total elevation of 1345 feet that is mostly over San Pedro Mountain. To enjoy these hikes, you should have recent experience with comparable distances and elevation gains or be actively training. Expect to maintain a moderate pace (~3 mph) for several hours with periodic breaks. If you’re just starting out or haven’t been training, we strongly recommend joining one of our monthly Lake Merritt walks or spending time building your endurance on similar hikes.

Advance online registration is required. Click the Register Now button below to sign up for one or both hikes. Space is very limited. Please register if/when you are certain you can attend.

Cancellation: Please email us at norcal@americanpilgrims.org so we can offer your space to someone else.

Getting There & Back

• HIKE 1: Take BART to the Embarcadero Station (or Civic Center, if coming from the Colma direction). Go up two floors to the Concourse level and enter the Muni station. Take an N Judah/Ocean Beach train all the way to the last stop at 48th Avenue (~45 min). Java Beach Café is one block further at the very end of Judah Street. From Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, we’ll catch the SamTrans 110 bus to the Daly City BART Station (~30 min) and arrive by 5 PM.
• HIKE 2 (by car): From Highway 1 South, take a left (and from Highway 1 North, take a right) onto Linda Mar Blvd. in Pacifica and then make an immediate right into the Linda Mar Shopping Center. Go past Safeway and Ross Dress For Less and take a left to the Bank of America side parking lot. The area is clear on weekends and free to park, and you will easily spot our group. From Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, we’ll catch the SamTrans 117 bus back to Linda Mar (~30 min) and arrive by 5 PM.

Carpooling: On the registration form is a link to an online “Carpool Bulletin Board” to post a message if you need a ride, can give one or want to rideshare (e.g., to return to your parked car at the end of the hike).

Overnight Option: If you plan to join both hikes, you can stay overnight in Rockaway Beach and book a room directly with a hotel or through Booking.com (there are several, though pricey this time of year). It’s a 1.5-mile walk (~30 min) to the Linda Mar Shopping Center.

What to Bring: Water, snacks, a bag lunch and hat/sun protection. Layers as it might be sunny or cold, or both. Hiking poles are recommended. And your Clipper app or card with enough funds for the transit rides (Muni: $2.75/$1.35 Senior, SamTrans: $2.05/$1.00 Senior, BART: depends on your starting point).

Leader: Guy Joaquin

The Ruff Stuff: For insurance purposes, we are unable to welcome dogs, except service animals, at our events.