The hook
The ridge where a lost Spanish expedition first laid eyes on San Francisco Bay, now a windswept hike with the whole thing at your feet.
01Why it's worth it
In 1769 the Portolá expedition, trudging up the coast hunting for Monterey Bay, climbed this ridge above Pacifica and instead stumbled onto San Francisco Bay, a body of water no European had ever seen. A rough granite monument marks the spot. Getting there is a genuine hike: a few miles and a solid climb up open, wind-raked grassland from Pacifica or San Bruno. At the top you get the same payoff those explorers did, the ocean behind you and the whole bay and its cities spread out ahead, often with fog spilling over the ridge between them. It's exposed and frequently socked in, so pick your day. On a clear one it's one of the great "see the entire Bay Area at once" spots, with real history under your boots.
02How to experience it
Hike up from the Sneath Lane or Skyline College trailheads in San Bruno, or from the Pacifica side; it's a few miles round trip with real climbing. Dress for wind and fog. Clear days give the big view. Find the granite monument at the top.