A ridge trail with no ridge, and very little trail
Distance: 8.6 miles (4.5 miles and 4.1 miles) Elevation Gain/Loss: 655 feet/565 feet
I’m hate to say it, but the two ridge trail sections that make up this hike were both my least favorite so far. I was not expecting much from this primarily urban hike as it is pretty much just a walk through Daly City and the south western corner of San Francisco. I was basically hiking through someones neighborhood or alongside a busy road. Fortunately it was not all bad, there were a few highlights to this hike.
Mussel Rock, where we started, is very scenic and is apparently a very popular spot for viewing the coastal cliffs. There are flowers all around as well, making for some very dramatic photos. Lake Merced had some nice spots also, but the constant traffic from nearby John Muir and Skyline drives definitely detracted from the scenery. A large section of the lake is blocked by a wall though, leaving nothing but a sidewalk along an expressway.
Stepping into Pine Lake Park near the end was also a highlight, and a nice way to wrap up the hike. It was great to finally get away from the city sidewalks and to be once again surrounded by greenery for the final mile of the trail.
In this post I’ve included two separate sections of the ridge trail. We combined the two in a single hike for a total of 8.6 miles, starting at the parking lot of Mussel Rock and using a ride share to return from Stern Grove.
Maps of these segments can be found here: Mussel Rock to Lake Merced Lake Merced to Stern Grove
Next segments:
Clockwise: Stern Grove to Presidio (coming soon, next available: El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve to Huddart County Park)
Counterclockwise: Skyline College to Pacifica via Milagra Ridge
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