A Sunny Spring Day on San Bruno Mountain

It would be hard to imagine a more perfect day to hike on San Bruno Mountain than I had today with my College of San Mateo Peninsula Parks & Trails class. The fog cleared before we commenced and the wind didn't pick up until we were nearly back to the parking lot. In between we enjoyed spectacular views, lots of wild flowers, and mild weather.

From the park & ride lot at the intersection of Bayshore Blvd. and Tunnel Road, we carpooled to the park entrance on Guadalupe Canyon Expressway and then proceeded to the trailhead parking lot. We then headed out counter-clockwise on the Summit Loop Trail, which is rather narrow and nearly overgrown in places with dense vegetation. Because of frequent fog, this park remains green, lush, and wildflowery long after more inland locations have entered their dry season dormancy.

Among the many wildflowers we enjoyed were buckwheat, iris, seaside daisies, asters, red and yellow Indian paintbrush, stonecrop, California perennial phacelia, checkerbloom, and wild onions. The biggest treat was the hummingbird sage, which was in full bloom and quite abundant. It is a native that is quite rare in other places.

We walked past the antennas on top of the mountain

and then stopped for lunch at an overlook with a panoramic view of the Bay Area. We then completed the loop by heading downhill on the Ridge Trail, Summit Loop Trail, Dairy Ravine Trail, and Eucalyptus Loop Trail.

TO GET THERE... From Highway 101 take the Bayshore Blvd. exit in Brisbane. Head north on Bayshore Blvd.  and turn left (west) on Guadalupe Canyon Expressway to the park entrance.