In
brief:
A 2.2 mile loop through eucalyptus woods and coastal scrub.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 2.2 mile loop hike is easy, with about 640 feet in elevation
change. Trailhead elevation is about 200 feet, and the high point is about
840 feet. If you want a longer hike, you can extend this hike out of the
park and into McNee Ranch State Park (you'll enter the park at about 1400
feet), where the high point is over 1800 feet.
Exposure:
Mix of sun and shade.
Trail traffic:
Moderate.
Trail surfaces:
Dirt trails.
Hiking time:
1 1/2 hours.
Season:
Nice any time; lovely in early spring.
Getting there:
From CA 1 in Pacifica (San Mateo County), turn east onto Linda Mar Boulevard,
drive to the end of the road (about 2 miles), turn right onto Oddstad, and
make the first left into the park.
GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude
37°34'41.38"N
Longitude 122°28'31.85"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, restaurants, and stores on Linda Mar, about 2 miles west. No camping.
Trailhead details:
Entrance fee of $6 is charged even when entry kiosk is unstaffed, so bring
exact change for self registration. Lots of parking. Restrooms, pay
phone, and drinking water on site. There's a nice Visitor Center with books
and maps for sale, open on weekends. Maps available at the information
signboard near the start of the Plaskon Nature Trail (just off the south
parking lot). There are designated handicapped parking spots, but this loop
isn't suitable to wheelchairs (the Plaskon Nature Trail and Weiler Ranch
Road are). SamTrans line 110 stops near the park --
visit SamTrans for details.
Rules:
Most of the trails at San Pedro are narrow, and bicycles are permitted only
on wide Weiler Ranch Road. Some trails are designated hiking only, and a
few allow equestrians, but horses are often prohibited when trails are wet.
No dogs. Park is open from 8 a.m. to about sunset (hours vary seasonally).
The Official Story:
CSMP's
San Pedro page.
Park headquarters 650-355-8289
Map Choices:
• Hazelnut Loop is mapped and described 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.
• A hike through San Pedro to the top of Montara Mountain is described and mapped in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco,
by Jane Huber. Order this book from Amazon.com.
• Hiking, Bicycling, and Equestrian Trail Map of Pacifica and Trails of the Coastside and Northern Peninsula
are the best map guides to the park (available from Pease Press).
• Map and brochure from SMCP
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page