If I were to make a list of kid-friendly hikes in the San Francisco Bay area, Mori Point in Pacifica would easily fall into the top five on it. Here, you have not one but a few great trails varying in difficulty levels. What pushes these trails to the top of the list is not just the fact that they are family friendly ones. The terrain and the views are great too.
Mori Point is a bluff that juts off Pacifica and into the Pacific. You can take the straight trail through the fully flat trail to the bottom of the bluff or you can take the trails that go over hills. They all take you through different kinds of landscapes and each trail is topped off with views of the Pacific Ocean.
Now let me take you through the trails that we ‘tried-and-tested’ and I now highly recommend.
Recommended Trails
Our plan was to park at the parking lot on Mori Point Road and take the trail (Old Mori Trail) that led away from it. However, when we got there, it was around 11 a.m. and already overflowing. The cars had spilt on to the road and it took us some time to find parking room. We were at the end of the road before we found a spot. There we found another trail, which we chose to take, simply because it was the first one we saw.
As such, we got on to Upper Mori Trail till it intersected with Lishumsha Trail. Then we got on to the Coastal Trail followed by the Mori Headlands Trail which ended at the end of the bluff.
Follow these trails and you will be hiking through some windswept evergreen trees and then some shrubs and wildflowers. Then, as you walk over the hill there’s hardly any vegetation. In its stead, you will be shown views of the City of Pacifica and the Pacific Ocean from some vantage points.
The views from the hike to Mori Point
Mori Point
And this is what the hike culminates in:
The Pacific Ocean from the bluff —
Sharp Park Beach and the City of Pacifica, CA —
A cove on the left side of Mori Point —
Another uphill trail
Things to know before you hike to Mori Point
- The hike through the trails mentioned in this post should be around 2 miles, on the whole.
- Difficulty levels – mild and moderate
- There are no restrooms on the way
- Make sure to carry some water.
- Recommended clothing: You might want to layer up
- Wear a good pair of shoes. You will be going uphill and downhill, and parts of the trail are quite gravelly.
- Go as early as possible in order to find a good parking spot.
- In addition to being kid-friendly, these trails are pet-friendly too. Just make sure your dogs are leashed.
- Most of these trails are jogging stroller/wheelchair friendly if you do not mind a bit of a bumpy ride.
- Exercise caution at the top of the bluff; the drops are quite steep (and there aren’t railings, there).
Happy hiking!
Lovely place and awesome photography!
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Thank you, Carol. 🙂
Fabulous blue skies and scenery.
Thank you for stopping by, Lady Fi.
I hope you’re having a good week. 🙂
Enjoyed the Mori Point trail with you Divya! Loved the pictures of the scenic beauty around including the wild flora and fauna.
I’m so, so glad!!
Thank you so much, Mr. Bhatia. 🙂
प्रभावी !!!
शुभकामना
आर्यावर्त
Dhanyavad, Rajneesh.
Beautiful clicks ? Dee
Hey Sachin,
Thank you. 🙂
Traveled the trail with your beautiful pics. A well-written blog.Thanks for sharing.
Welcome here, Bikram.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Do come back. 🙂
Lovely captures and very informative.
Thank you so much, Magiceye.
I hope you are feeling better. 🙂
Amazing place. Very useful post.
Beautiful photos.
Greetings
Hey Rupam,
Thank you. 🙂
Amazing Beauty
It is lovely around there. 🙂
Thank you for visiting, Yogi.
Hi! The sea coast scenery is very cool. Mori means forest in Japanese. Thanks for sharing.
Oh is it? Thank you so much for sharing that, Minoru. 🙂
Very nice…but no much greenery. Was it summer?
It was on a fall day. California is pretty dry. It gets a bit greener in the winter and spring months, thanks to all the winter showers.
Thank you for coming this way, Ranjana. I hope you are doing well. 🙂
not only kidfriendly I think. For elderly too 🙂
You’re right, Monica. 🙂
Thank you. 🙂 Have a good week.
Wonderful place,loved the clicks.
Thank you, Jyotirmoy. 🙂
The views are amazing!
Arent they?! 🙂
How was the Paris trip, Mridula?
That seems like a lovely hike. Gorgeous views!
The views were the best part.
It was also nice to watch the waves hit one of those beaches and retreat. From that vantage point, it was like watching an artist at work. 🙂