Sweeney Ridge Trail — Attraction in Pacifica

There are different entry points to this hike but I took the one beginning at Parking Lot 2 at Skyline College. From the parking lot, it was a 4-something mile hike round trip to get to the Nike Missile Site and to the SF Bay discovery point. It was fairly challenging, I knew there were some stairs but I did not anticipate that there would be that many. Definitely felt the burn the next morning. I believe this hike connects with a couple other trails, including Milagra Ridge if I'm not mistaken. Either way, there's more than just the 4 mile hike. Although I was just hiking it, saw plenty of people also biking the trail and people walking their dogs as well. Be aware that the trail is not always paved, there are times when its strictly a dirt path and there are shrubs and other flora and fauna that may be obstructing your path so you may want to wear pants!

On the rare days that it's sunny in this part of town, the views are pretty nice. You can see all across the bay at certain parts as long as Karl the Fog isn't out to play. The old missile site is pretty neat, even though there isn't really anything to see. Although the buildings are in a pretty dilapidated state, the graffiti does make for a cool artsy photo. Not gonna say much about the rock, because well..it's a rock haha. It is pretty awesome to think that this where the San Francisco Bay was discovered though. Also surprisingly enough, there's pretty good reception all...

I’d noticed this area during a flight over it, and marked it to check out. I finally did that, or at least started by marking it to the top and a bit along the trail, although it keeps going. It’s all paved, so it’s not a trail hike, but it’s a nice park walk with good elevation and steep incline so you feel like you did some legs. The views are really cool, as it goes right into the marine layer, which blows over the ridge. There are views down to the water and over SFO. There are a few trail options, but it’s out and back, not a loop. There’s a bathroom at the top of the trail up, where the road splits. There’s an old Nike missile launch area with an interpretive sign, and a sign indicating when Europeans first got there, but otherwise no interpretation, which is in line with the fact that it’s just a park. You just park at the space in the small lot.

In short, it’s nice for what it is, and worth doing. It’s not what I would call...

I LOVE this trail. I park at Skyline College, either up in Parking lot A - the bottom lot or C? The top parking lot. Top lot is locked with a gate on weekends and night. Steep incline for a mile, reaching the abandoned look-out building with changing graffiti art every time I go. View of the Jail on the left as you're going up. Stairs after the building for a quarter mile down, then another quarter mile up. Those stairs are a freakin workout, dude! View of the ocean, landscape roped off to protect a sensitive environment, trying to bring back native plants, and the trail goes and goes. I've taken this trail all the way until Highway 1. It took me 3 hours and I was upset because to continue, I had to cross the highway. And NO ONE DOES THAT!! lol It continues to Mori Point, but I ended at the Orchids store off HWY1. Thats another beginning to this trail, but you'll begin with a couple mile incline....