"Parked at the end of Alta Vista Rd near the water treatment tanks. Used Alta Vista Trail. Gained 1200’ in about 1.3 miles. Trail is steep with loose gravel on several sections. Highly recommend trekking poles. Amazing views 360. Was able to easily see San Francisco, Marin Headlands, South San Francisco and Oakland to the north and Half Moon Bay to the south. Had the trail all to myself till Middle Peak when I came across one hiker, two mountain bikers and two workmen working on the array of antenna on Middle Peak. Used North Peak Access Road for North Peak which is also decorated with various antenna and other noisy equipment. The true summit for North Peak is behind a fence covered in warnings. Moved on to South Peak. Used a road for power lines loosing some altitude to quickly regain it. South Peak required some bushwhacking. " — Mtstalker • Jan 24, 2020

"NOTE TO ANYONE FOLLOWING THIS GPX: YOU WILL GET AWFUL POISON OAK RASH BY FOLLOWING MY BUSHWHACK TO MONTARA SOUTH. I wrote this before it showed up, and boy did it ruin my next few weeks. Big trip to finally conquer Montara Mountain. Sunny at the top, with a wide expanse of ocean fog a few hundred feet below. The road hike itself is easy, but the bushwhack to Montara South is not. I would say Montara South is not worth the effect required to summit it legally. If you do, be prepared for navigating a wet jungle. I'm just over six foot and the foliage came up to my chest for a longer than desired stretch of the climb. Montara and Peak, on the other hand, make for a low stress day hike with great views of the shore, the ocean, and the Bay... if you can find a day when the fog isn't rolling in. However, being a little bit above the fog is always cool too, and I imagine this a more common scenario for the top of this hike. Lots of wild rabbits darting in and out of the trail made it fun on the lower slopes." — robkleffner • Jul 17, 2019