Summit
Loop,
San Bruno Mountain State and County Park,
County of San Mateo,
San Mateo County
In brief:
3.5 mile loop to the summit, with loads of native vegetation all along the trails.
Getting there:
• From US 101 in San Francisco County, exit #429B Cow Palace/Third Street.
Drive south on Bayshore about 2 miles, turn right on Guadalupe Canyon Parkway
and drive uphill about 2 miles to the park entrance on the right side of the road.
• From Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, exit #50 Mission Street,
then take Market to Guadalupe Canyon Parkway and drive east to the park entrance
on the left side of the road (it's about 3 miles from 280).
Trailhead details:
$5 entrance fee (self-registration if kiosk is unstaffed). Maps available at the
kiosk. Once past the kiosk, drive past the first lot, under the parkway to the
trailhead on the south side of Guadalupe Canyon Parkway. Parking for about 20
cars. Restroom and pay phone available near the trailhead on the north side of
Guadalupe Canyon Parkway. One designated handicapped parking spot, and trails
may be wheelchair accessible with assistance. There is no direct public transportation
to the park.
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, restaurants, and stores available to the northeast on Bayshore near Geneva,
and to the west near I-280. No camping.
Rules:
Bikes permitted on a few trails. Horses and hikers share the rest. No dogs. Park
is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (may close earlier in winter).
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 3.5 mile loop hike is easy, with about 650 feet in elevation
change. Trailhead elevation is around 730 feet. Highest elevation on this hike
is around 1200 feet. The hikes climbs and descends on well-graded, but rocky trails.
This is a good hike for beginners.
The Official Story:
CSMP's
San Bruno page.
Park office 650-992-6770
Map Choices:
• Use AAA's San Francisco Bay Region map to get there.
• Map
from CSMP
• 
This hike is described
and mapped in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco, by Jane Huber (yup,
that's me, the creator of this website). Order
this book from Amazon.com.
• Afoot and Afield: San Francisco Bay Area, by David Weintraub (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a great map and descriptions of this hike.
• 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area, by Ann
Marie Brown (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a simple map and featured hike.
• Trails of the Coastside and Northern Peninsula (map) is a good guide
(available from Pease Press).
• Peninsula Trails, by Jean Rusmore, has a simple map and trail descriptions
(order
this book from Amazon.com).
• Tim Taber's The Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Book has a simple map
and park descriptions (order
this book from Amazon.com).
• View 79 photos from the featured
hike.
The third time 
proved
to be the charm for me at San Bruno Mountain Park. On my two previous visits I
tried the Ridge Trail, and Saddle Trail. The
parking area near the summit, which serves as the trailhead for the Ridge Trail,
is used as a party spot by locals on occasion, and I felt uncomfortable hiking
alone there. Saddle Trail is heavily used by joggers (also open to cyclists),
and is a short, kind of bland loop. But like Goldilocks, I found the third hike
was just right. Summit Loop Trail climbs easily on a well-graded path to the ridge
line, and then drops back to the trailhead, about a 3.5 -mile circuit. Along the
way, the trail runs along a creek, ascends through chaparral, and provides excellent
views of downtown San Francisco, the East Bay hills, and the Santa Cruz Mountains
from the ridge. The spring wildflowers are outstanding; lots of variety and something
blooming just about everywhere. I have a soft spot in my heart for San Bruno Mountain,
because it was here I first saw a coyote (along the side of Radio Road).
There are 4 loops of various lengths at San Bruno.
The
most popular seems to be Saddle Trail, which is a nearly flat 3 mile circuit originating
at the trailhead on the northern part of San Bruno (close to the entry kiosk).
Of the trails south of Guadalupe Canyon Parkway, Summit is the longest and most
challenging loop, though still an easy 3.1 mile hike. Eucalyptus Loop Trail is
just over 1 mile, and Dairy Ravine Trail and Summit Loop can extend that loop
another 1/2 mile or so. Ridge Trail is an out and back path (2.4 miles one way),
the only trail in the southern portion of the park. To access Ridge Trail, park
at the summit lot, at the end of Radio Road.
For the featured hike, start at the trailhead near
the volunteer-built demonstration garden. Follow the signpost's directions
toward the Summit Loop Trail, right (west). The path splits into the two ends
of Summit Loop Trail after just 350 feet. Bear right at the signed junction.
Shortly after, the trail crosses the street. This
narrow path, closed to cyclists but open to equestrians, descends slightly through
grassland,
with elderberry trees giving way to eucalyptus and cypress trees as Summit Loop
Trail nears a creek. In the spring, expect to see suncups and blue-eyed grass.
After a damp fern-lined stretch, the path turns west and runs parallel to Guadalupe
Canyon Parkway, which is visible and audible, but not much more than a passing
distraction from the flowering cow parsnip, blackberry vines, sticky monkeyflower,
California poppies, scarlet pimpernel, strawberry, California buttercup, and checker-bloom.
A tiny bridge crosses a damp spot where shrubs have grown up and over the trail
like an arbor. Summit Loop Trail makes a turn to the south and runs along April
Brook. You might see lupine, manroot, and bluedicks blooming in the spring, and
California scorpionweed, which has a distinctive curving flower bract, and dusty
purple flowers. Coyote brush, lizardtail, California coffeeberry and ferns line
the trail. After crossing April Brook, Summit Loop Trail turns north and begins
a gentle climb. California sagebrush becomes
a dominant plant, but showy springtime plants include poppies, checker-bloom,
and an occasional johnny-jump-up. Traffic noises recede as the trail ascends.
Hummingbirds, hawks, northern harriers, and vultures swoop through the skies,
along with a variety of butterflies, including red admirals and common buckeyes.
A bench provides a nice spot to look back downhill, gauging the progress you've
made. Mount Tamalpais pops up to the north, and San Bruno Mountain's summit is
visible to the south. Summit Loop Trail continues an easy climb through the shrubby
plants. A sharp-eyed hiker may pick out the distinctive holly-shaped leaves of
Oregon grape, and the aptly named twinberry bush. Closer to the ground, goldenfields
provide a burst of yellow color in the spring. Poison oak thrives in large clumps
along the trail. Fences keep trail users away from communications equipment on
the ridgeline, as the path continues to climb toward the summit. Figwort, cinquefoil,
and nightshade may be glimpsed along the path, as cottontail rabbits and lizards
scurry through the scrub. A special treat in spring is the emergence of hummingbird
sage's large purple flowers.
At 2 miles, Summit Loop Trail crosses a private, gated road and makes a run for
the ridgeline. Views to the west are unobstructed, and include Montara Mountain,
the Farallones, and the ocean. It can get very windy up here, and only sturdy
plants thrive, but look for bush lupine, poppies, owl's clover, and plenty of
irises in the spring. Some shortcuts have been worn in, making it tough to pick
out the official trail. At 2.36 miles, Summit Loop Trail crosses the road again
(for the last time!), at the hike's high spot, then begins a drop to the east.
The views to the east and north distract from the trail. At a signed junction
at 2.44 miles, Ridge Trail heads south on the right side of the trail. Continue
straight on Summit Loop Trail.
Ceanothus is common along the trail, as are more
blooming flowers in the spring, particularly paintbrush, goldenfields, and poppies.
You might even notice a few huckleberry shrubs. A bench sits on the edge of a
bluff and features million dollar views of downtown San Francisco, 
Marin,
and the East Bay, including Mount Diablo. A few steps later Dairy Ravine Trail
begins on the right side of the trail at a signed junction, at 2.61 miles. Either
Summit Loop or Dairy Ravine are optional here; for the featured hike, turn
right on Dairy Ravine Trail.
Dairy Ravine Trail switchbacks gently downhill,
through a panoply of springtime flowers, including johnny-jump-ups, poppy, bluedicks,
goldenfields, California buttercup, scorpionweed, blue-eyed grass, rock cress,
checker-bloom, and paintbrush. This side of the mountain is frequently visited,
and so shortcuts are common. The trail approaches a grove of eucalyptus trees
growing in Dairy Ravine, but turns back into grassland, away from the ravine.
This eastern exposure is more dry and exposed than the northern exposure Summit
Loop Trail passed through earlier, so moisture-loving plants like cow parsnip
are few and far between. Dairy Ravine Trail ends at a signed junction with Eucalyptus
Loop Trail at 3.04 miles. Again, either end of the trail returns to the trailhead,
but for the featured hike, turn right.
As Eucalyptus Loop Trail winds downhill, the path
features views to the remote southern canyons and slopes of the mountain. A faint,
unsigned trail breaks off on the right side of the trail. This is Old Ranch Road,
which runs a ways along Guadalupe Canyon Parkway and then ends. Continue straight
on Eucalyptus Trail. The trailhead is visible straight ahead. Eucalyptus Trail
ends just before the parking area.
Total distance: 3.54 miles
Last hiked: Saturday, April 3, 2004
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page
proved
to be the charm for me at San Bruno Mountain Park. On my two previous visits I
tried the Ridge Trail, and Saddle Trail. The
parking area near the summit, which serves as the trailhead for the Ridge Trail,
is used as a party spot by locals on occasion, and I felt uncomfortable hiking
alone there. Saddle Trail is heavily used by joggers (also open to cyclists),
and is a short, kind of bland loop. But like Goldilocks, I found the third hike
was just right. Summit Loop Trail climbs easily on a well-graded path to the ridge
line, and then drops back to the trailhead, about a 3.5 -mile circuit. Along the
way, the trail runs along a creek, ascends through chaparral, and provides excellent
views of downtown San Francisco, the East Bay hills, and the Santa Cruz Mountains
from the ridge. The spring wildflowers are outstanding; lots of variety and something
blooming just about everywhere. I have a soft spot in my heart for San Bruno Mountain,
because it was here I first saw a coyote (along the side of Radio Road).
The
most popular seems to be Saddle Trail, which is a nearly flat 3 mile circuit originating
at the trailhead on the northern part of San Bruno (close to the entry kiosk).
Of the trails south of Guadalupe Canyon Parkway, Summit is the longest and most
challenging loop, though still an easy 3.1 mile hike. Eucalyptus Loop Trail is
just over 1 mile, and Dairy Ravine Trail and Summit Loop can extend that loop
another 1/2 mile or so. Ridge Trail is an out and back path (2.4 miles one way),
the only trail in the southern portion of the park. To access Ridge Trail, park
at the summit lot, at the end of Radio Road.
grassland,
with elderberry trees giving way to eucalyptus and cypress trees as Summit Loop
Trail nears a creek. In the spring, expect to see suncups and blue-eyed grass.
After a damp fern-lined stretch, the path turns west and runs parallel to Guadalupe
Canyon Parkway, which is visible and audible, but not much more than a passing
distraction from the flowering cow parsnip, blackberry vines, sticky monkeyflower,
California poppies, scarlet pimpernel, strawberry, California buttercup, and checker-bloom.
A tiny bridge crosses a damp spot where shrubs have grown up and over the trail
like an arbor. Summit Loop Trail makes a turn to the south and runs along April
Brook. You might see lupine, manroot, and bluedicks blooming in the spring, and
California scorpionweed, which has a distinctive curving flower bract, and dusty
purple flowers. Coyote brush, lizardtail, California coffeeberry and ferns line
the trail. After crossing April Brook, Summit Loop Trail turns north and begins
a gentle climb. California sagebrush becomes
a dominant plant, but showy springtime plants include poppies, checker-bloom,
and an occasional johnny-jump-up. Traffic noises recede as the trail ascends.
Hummingbirds, hawks, northern harriers, and vultures swoop through the skies,
along with a variety of butterflies, including red admirals and common buckeyes.
A bench provides a nice spot to look back downhill, gauging the progress you've
made. Mount Tamalpais pops up to the north, and San Bruno Mountain's summit is
visible to the south. Summit Loop Trail continues an easy climb through the shrubby
plants. A sharp-eyed hiker may pick out the distinctive holly-shaped leaves of
Oregon grape, and the aptly named twinberry bush. Closer to the ground, goldenfields
provide a burst of yellow color in the spring. Poison oak thrives in large clumps
along the trail. Fences keep trail users away from communications equipment on
the ridgeline, as the path continues to climb toward the summit. Figwort, cinquefoil,
and nightshade may be glimpsed along the path, as cottontail rabbits and lizards
scurry through the scrub. A special treat in spring is the emergence of hummingbird
sage's large purple flowers.
At 2 miles, Summit Loop Trail crosses a private, gated road and makes a run for
the ridgeline. Views to the west are unobstructed, and include Montara Mountain,
the Farallones, and the ocean. It can get very windy up here, and only sturdy
plants thrive, but look for bush lupine, poppies, owl's clover, and plenty of
irises in the spring. Some shortcuts have been worn in, making it tough to pick
out the official trail. At 2.36 miles, Summit Loop Trail crosses the road again
(for the last time!), at the hike's high spot, then begins a drop to the east.
The views to the east and north distract from the trail. At a signed junction
at 2.44 miles, Ridge Trail heads south on the right side of the trail. Continue
straight on Summit Loop Trail. 
Marin,
and the East Bay, including Mount Diablo. A few steps later Dairy Ravine Trail
begins on the right side of the trail at a signed junction, at 2.61 miles. Either
Summit Loop or Dairy Ravine are optional here; for the featured hike, turn
right on Dairy Ravine Trail.