Article

By Majken Talbot

Mori Point is one of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's best-kept secrets. A hidden gem nestled in a quiet Pacifica neighborhood, Mori Point offers 360-degree views of the majestic California coastline. Lands End—eat your heart out! In addition to stunning beaches and coastal bluffs, this 110-acre park boasts scenic wetlands with benches and boardwalks.

The Wetlands—Fun For All Ages
Sandwiched between Sharp Park Golf course and coastal bluffs, the wetlands maintain vital habitat for not one, but three endangered native species. During the wet winter, volunteer-dug ponds fill up and host a thriving community of rare San Francisco Forktail Damselflies and California Red-Legged Frogs. Perhaps ironically, the pond habitat also supports this native amphibian's chief predator: the endangered San Francisco Garter Snake. This beautiful little snake is easy to spot with its orange head, striking blue-and- red markings, and bright turquoise belly. Though a menace to frogs, it is quite harmless to humans.

Bring the kids for a fun outing the whole family can enjoy. To get to the ponds, park at the trailhead near the intersection of Mori Point Road and Bradford Way near the Pacifica Moose Lodge. Follow Old Mori Trail about 1/3 of a mile to where the boardwalks begin. As you walk, keep an eye out for Brush Rabbits darting for cover and listen for the high, trilling calls of the dapper little Spotted Towhee.

Trailhead Parking and Trail Use
The trailhead off Mori Point Road has two ADA-accessible bathrooms and just a handful of parking spaces. Not to worry…there is ample street parking nearby. The wider trails, such as the Lishumsha and Old Mori Trail, are multi-use. Hikers and wheelchair riders can expect to share the trail with dog walkers and mountain bikers

The Wild and Rowdy History of Mori Point
A wild promontory overlooking a large coastal lagoon, Mori Point has been the site of intense human activity for thousands of years. Ohlone villages and shell mounds gave way to Spanish limestone quarries in the 1700s. Each era has left visible fingerprints on the landscape.

Mori Point was named after an Italian immigrant who grew artichokes and raised cattle on the land in the 1880s. The 21-room farmhouse later became Mori Point Inn, which functioned first as a speakeasy and then as a roadhouse and dancehall until it burned down in the 1960s. During prohibition, the beach was even the scene of a notorious gunfight between federal agents and bootleggers.

Colorfully graffitied concrete ruins scattered across the bluffs are the remains of a World War II gravel-and-sand mining operation. Later, Mori Point became a popular site for off-road vehicle use and motorcycle racing. It took years and the labor of thousands of volunteers to restore this battered coastal ecosystem to some of its former natural glory.

Superblooms at Mori Point
From April to May, visitors are treated to colorful hillsides of California Poppies, Goldfields, Lupine, and Tidy Tips. In precolonial times, wildflowers such as these dominated California's landscape, but invasive plants such as European bromegrass triggered a wide-scale collapse of these native blooms. Today, park restoration projects are reviving these native wildflower habitats.

In the spring, if the conditions are just right, visitors flock to Mori Point hoping to witness rare and spectacular superblooms. However, the ecosystem supporting this botanical bonanza is fragile, and visitors must refrain from trampling or picking the wildflowers. Hilltromper Managing Director, Mike Kahn, created a BloomTracker resource to educate hikers and to help them locate these rare, spectacular superblooms in real-time.

Find a complete guide to Mori Point Trails below.

FILMS BUFFS WILL WANNA KNOW The unforgettable ending to the iconic 1971 film Harold and Maude was shot at Mori Point. In the scene, Harold races his hearse along what is today the Lishumsha trail up to the top of the bluff. The car careens over the cliff and crashes on the beach below. For more fun facts and photos, check out this ReefSF article.

YOU WILL KICK YOURSELF FOR NOT bringing your date to Mori Point! Bring a blanket and have a romantic picnic on the bluff with epic views. Don't forget the binoculars for better whale watching and seal spotting!

YOUR MOM WOULD TELL YOU to bring a windbreaker. You will work up a sweat getting to the top, but even on a hot day, the ocean breeze can be cool. And yes, bring water, a sun hat and shades.

LOCALS KNOW to skip the morning and opt for a gorgeous sunny afternoon hike. Hot weather draws the marine layer inland. In the early morning and late evening, Mori Point can vanish in the fog like Brigadoon. Know when to go!

FUN FACT! The California Red-Legged Frog got a significant brand boost when Mark Twain popularized the amphibian in his beloved short story: "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

DON'T MISS THIS! A wildlife advocate with a sly wit posted a notice on the wooden fence along Old Mori Trail admonishing people for repeatedly calling the police for a coyote sighting. The sign urges people to call the police ONLY if said coyote is spotted carrying an anvil or TNT or posting Bird Feed signs. Hilarious!

TRAILS:

Mori Point Peak Loop Trail—the most adventurous
Mori Point Peak Loop Trail is a moderate hike of approximately 2.5 miles with an elevation gain of 400 feet. The loop starts from the trailhead at Mori Point Road follows Old Mori Trail along boardwalks through Arroyo Willow-bordered wetlands ponds before climbing to the top of the bluff via the steep Bootlegger steps. The trail winds southward toward Rockaway Beach, where it crosses the park boundary onto private property, the remains of an old limestone quarry. The landscape here is raw and denuded of vegetation save for tufts of invasive pampas grass. The trail crosses Calera Creek before looping back along the bluff, linking up with the tail end of the Timigtac Trail, named after the Aramai (Ohlone) Indian village that once existed there.

A shorter version of this loop, the Mori Point Ridge Peak Loop Trail, stays within the park boundaries. Simply turn east at the top of the bluff and take the Coastal Trail up to the top of the peak. Follow the Timigtac Trail all the way back to the trailhead. The hike is roughly 1.4 miles in length.

Old Mori Peak Loop Trail [Alternative]—the most accessible
Some of the trails, like the Timigtac Trail, are rugged and unmaintained. The ascent up the 200 Bootlegger steps is sure to get the heart pumping, but there is a bench at the halfway point for a rest. However, hikers can skip the steps and opt for the Lishumsha trail's gentle ascent instead.

For an easier hike without sacrificing the views, take Old Mori Road, ascend via the Lishumsha Trail to the top of the bluff, descend the Bootlegger Steps, or return via the Lishumsha Trail again to where it links to Upper Mori Trail and follow it back to the trailhead parking lot near the Pacifica Moose Lodge.

The Headlands Trail—best views and whale watching
Though it takes some effort to get there, the view at the top is well worth it. A well-placed wooden bench at the top of the bluff offers the perfect rest spot to soak in the view. The Mori Headlands Trail follows along the promontory to Mori Point—with sweeping Pacific Ocean views. A prime spot to glimpse migrating humpback, blue, and gray whales during the winter and spring. On occasion, dolphins and orcas have been sighted too. Snail Rock sits just off the point and is home to hundreds of Pelicans and other seabirds.

Turn south for an unforgettable view of the beach. Hunt for seals cavorting within the dark, squid-like tangles of sea kelp amidst the aquamarine waves. This is the same beach where Harold crashed his hearst in the ending scene of the 1971 iconic film Harold and Maude.

Mori Bluff trail—best for close encounters with hawks
After drinking in the panoramic views, take a short detour on the Mori Bluff trail that meanders southward over the beach. Stay back from the cliff edge and don’t wander off the path as this area is prone to erosion and can prove treacherous for the unwary hiker. Pause and look skyward. Watch the exquisite ballet of hawks as they swoop and dive, hovering close enough to see the rustle of sinew beneath their checkered feathers.

The trail continues South toward Rockaway Beach where it ascends the next bluff, but frankly, doesn't offer better views than the promontory at Mori Point.

Promenade to Mori Point trail—best beach and bluff experience
For an optimal beach experience, park near Pacifica Municipal Pier and stroll the paved promenade along Sharp Park Beach to Mori Point. It's about 1 mile to the base of the Bootlegger steps. Ascend to the top of the bluff and enjoy the views, or plan a picnic on the black sand beach, then hike up the steps to take in the sunset.

The Battle to Save Mori Point—a love story
Mori Point is a poignant and powerful lesson in community activism. In 2000, the land was on the brink of being sold for commercial development. The Pacifica Land Trust launched a grassroots campaign to save Mori Point. The community rallied and quickly raised several million dollars to purchase the property at auction. Thanks to this action, this historically significant and beautiful site is now preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Learn more at the official Mori Point website.