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San Bruno Mountain: Summit Loop Trail (San Bruno Mountain Summit Loop)
Hiking Trail
Easy
3.37 mi
709 ft
City skyline views from an ecologically diverse mountain in the metro area.
San Bruno Mountain is the pronounced ridgeline rising from the metro area near South San Francisco. Its summit and signal towers on top are visible from all around. Despite the development, this mountain is still a great hiking destination because of the sweeping views, intact ecosystem on its slopes, and convenient access from the city.
San Bruno Mountain State & County Park preserves the mountain as a uniquely large open space and maintains trails within it. Of the three main trails in the park, Summit Loop is the longest and most rewarding. On the winding climb to the summit and rambling route back down, views point to all directions of the compass, and you'll gain many different vantages over the city. On a clear day, you’ll get one of the best views anywhere of the San Francisco skyline. You can see the ocean on both sides of the Peninsula and the Santa Cruz Mountains unfolding to the south.
On the trails, you will experience multiple vegetation communities that are characteristic of the Bay Area’s environment. These include coastal scrub, savannah grassland, upland chaparral, and riparian forest. Plant diversity is surprisingly superb on this urban island of green, and in spring it is further colored by wildflowers. To enjoy more scenery, you can make a longer loop with Diary Ravine or Eucalyptus Trails.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
San Bruno Mountain is the pronounced ridgeline rising from the metro area near South San Francisco. Its summit and signal towers on top are visible from all around. Despite the development, this mountain is still a great hiking destination because of the sweeping views, intact ecosystem on its slopes, and convenient access from the city.
San Bruno Mountain State & County Park preserves the mountain as a uniquely large open space and maintains trails within it. Of the three main trails in the park, Summit Loop is the longest and most rewarding. On the winding climb to the summit and rambling route back down, views point to all directions of the compass, and you'll gain many different vantages over the city. On a clear day, you’ll get one of the best views anywhere of the San Francisco skyline. You can see the ocean on both sides of the Peninsula and the Santa Cruz Mountains unfolding to the south.
On the trails, you will experience multiple vegetation communities that are characteristic of the Bay Area’s environment. These include coastal scrub, savannah grassland, upland chaparral, and riparian forest. Plant diversity is surprisingly superb on this urban island of green, and in spring it is further colored by wildflowers. To enjoy more scenery, you can make a longer loop with Diary Ravine or Eucalyptus Trails.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Loop - April brook | 1.08 mi | 430 ft | 7.5% |
| Summit Loop - April Brook to Radio rd | 1.81 mi | 679 ft | 7.1% |
| Seashore Dr Climb | 0.27 mi | 144 ft | 9.7% |
| Radio Rd Climb | 0.67 mi | 279 ft | 7.9% |