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    San Bruno Mountain State & County Park

    4.4 (170 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Katie R.

    Beautiful county/state park located just south of the city. The park has plenty of trails, a nice big grassy area, and some picnic tables. With so many different trails to choose from it's easy to choose your own adventure and difficulty for the day. We did the summit loop trail which was a little over 3 miles and took us just over two hours. We started at the park entrance parking lot, but there is a lot a little closer to the trailhead. While there was a bit of incline, it wasn't anything too hard for someone in good/moderate shape. This trail was mostly sun exposed no matter which way you went, excluding some trees at the start and finish. We went clockwise which seemed to have a steeper incline quicker. The park is lush with plants, bushes, and trees, though the trees seem to be concentrated to certain areas like the grassy field and the lower part of the mountain on some of the trails. Though it is a county and state park, they do not accept state park passes, so you do need to pay an entrance fee unless you have a San Mateo county park pass. The kiosk was closed when we arrived, but they had a pay station at the entrance that accepts credit cards.

    Joan W.

    This is the place for great views of the city and the bay. The views are quite expansive, it's not as tall as Mt. Tam or Mt. Diablo but much closer and easier to get to. There are many different trails. The easiest is the Saddle Loop trail which is about 2.5 miles which loops around the southern part of the park. The Bog Trail intersects this which I'd recommend because it feels a little marshy and woodsy. This trail gets lots of wildflowers in the spring. For more of a hike with elevation the Summit Loop trail is better and not too strenuous because there are a lot of switchbacks. The last few times I went the beginning half of this trail was very overgrown with vegetation, not sure why. You can hike up to the radio towers or continue down the ridge. It doesn't look far but roundtrip it's about 9 miles to go to add the end of the ridge and back. Parking is $6 and there are bathrooms and picnic tables next to the lot.

    Scott H.

    Tourists should hike here. There are few better hikes in the San Francisco Bay region for a tourist to get an amazing view of the city of San Francisco and an amazing view of the South San Francisco Bay. San Bruno mountain is that mountain that everyone sees when driving northbound on highway 101 from San Francisco International Airport. Just south of San Bruno mountain is that hillside with the words "South San Francisco." It costs around $7 to enter and there's plenty of parking. Do the Ridgeline Pike combined with the loop and you'll be blown away by the views.

    Saddle trail is a great hike. Goes in a loop- fantastic views of SF, Bay budge, bay lands.
    Jim A.

    Big State park, several hiking trails. The trails up the mountain are suitable for strong mountain bikers and hikers- the reward is great 360 degree views of the mountains, bay, ocean, and several cities. No dogs allowed. Paved trail and packed earthen trails. Big parking lot on main entrance- $6 entrance fee - but annual state/ federal park pass can be used.

    Matthew L.

    What an interesting hike, albeit treacherous at some points, with beautiful views. Did this hike yesterday with a friend, starting at the trailhead at Mills Montessori, up a very steep incline making it to the Ridge Trail up on top. The trailhead starting from Mills Montessori doesn't appear to be named, but it offered some amazing views going uphill. The hike up was unshaded, rocky and felt dangerous. Hiking poles would have been useful (which we didn't have). It took around an hour to get from the base to the top of the Ridge Trail. From there we walked along the Ridge Trail to the summit of San Bruno Mountain, which offered even better views as the day was sunny (and NOT foggy). After exploring the summit, we had bypassed our original trail that we came up by, so instead of going all the way back, we went on a different trail (which was marked on Alltrails and on Google Maps). It was unnamed (it leads to Greenpark Terrace), so for the purpose of this review, I shall call it the Greenpark Terrace Trail.  We eventually made our way down...but it was much more dangerous, unkempt, and extremely narrow compared to where we originally started from. I don't recommend the Greenpark Terrace trail. At the end of this trail, it was fenced off due to being on private property. So, instead, so we had to walk on this narrow path around the fence, go through a bunch of shrubs/grass, and hop around on a concrete water duct. What an adventure at the end... My friend and I were worried that we would need to hop over a fence, or worse yet, turn back around to go back all the way to the summit and go back the same way we came from. I find it interesting that despite the Greenpark Terrace trail being marked on Alltrails, none of the suggested hikes recommend coming this way. Gee whiz, I wonder why?  Well now I know (and all you on Yelp know!). More of the story? Go back from where you started.  Not sure if we saved time by going the alternate route, but it was definitely a hike to remember.  Also, bring hiking poles if you decide to go trek up the mountain from Mills Montessori, for balance and support.  Other items to bring are plenty of water/electrolytes, a hat, long pants/shirts (due to tick and poison oak risk!), and plenty of sunscreen!

    Josie C.

    The San Bruno Mountain Park is a hidden gem! + Not too crowded + Great views of the bay and the ocean + Parts of the trail are woodsy and shaded + Plenty of parking: 1 parking by the gate and an overflow parking down the road + Restroom by the overflow parking + Many trail options: The trail I did was the Summit Loop and Dairy Ravine Trail which was about 3.6 miles. Although it was 717 ft elevation gain, the climb was gradual and not super steep. - Poison oak present - Parts of the trail are narrow from plants growing into the trail - Most of the trail is uneven and 1 part was really muddy (luckily I had walking poles) - Weather can be a hit or miss, sometimes the fog can obscure the view Tip: * Bring $6 or a card to pay for vehicle entry at the gate * Wear long pants, proper footwear, and maybe bring walking poles * Check the weather before you go

    Montage of images from San Bruno Mountain State Park
    Ed U.

    If you've ever seen the famous car chase scene in "Bullitt", you've probably noticed how Steve McQueen criss-crosses San Francisco at breakneck speed in his 1968 Ford Mustang GT. If you look hard, you notice how his route would be impossible to repeat in your 2015 Prius. Well, the chase ends in what I now know is San Bruno Mountain. Having never visited before, I recognized Guadalupe Parkway as where the car explosion occurred, and given how fast the more selfish motorists were driving, I wouldn't be overly surprised at the possibility again. What did surprise me was the $6.25 car entrance fee. I didn't mind paying it as much as I had to deal with a highly uncooperative cash machine that flat out refused my currency. Five minutes later, it finally was willing to overcome the crimp in my five-dollar bill, and I could park for roughly the hour left before the lot closed. Once on my way, it was quite nice though I had to be careful not to go too far up the mountain and find myself in an inadvertent overnight camping situation. I decided to follow the inner Summit Loop Trail and double back on the Dairy Ravine Trail. The shortened route still gave me panoramic views of the bay and full immersion in the flora and foliage. At first, I thought it seemed anal to make the trails one way, but I figured out it was due to the likely trampling of otherwise innocent wildflowers. As it turned out, I had enough time to walk the Saddle Loop Trail on the other side of the parkway. This was a much wider path with more immediate views of San Francisco in the distance. Granted the elevation makes it a more windswept situation than your baseball cap will likely be able to handle. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

    Shirley N.

    Our semi weekly e-bike group rode over from San Francisco this past Sunday. We were on an quest for sunshine. We biked over. No sunshine here. It was very misty. We came in through the Crocker Gate onto the paved path. The canopy of trees was awesome. This was my first visit here. Lots of walkers. We made a stop at the restroom. Then we exited through the parking lot onto Guadalupe Canyon Parkway and headed down into Brisbane.

    Mission Blue Butterfly, it's as beautiful as described.
    Dawn B.

    After enjoying many hikes on the numerous trails atop San Bruno mountain, my husband and I finally got to see the endangered mission blue butterfly. It was just as beautiful as others have described it. We kept our feet solidly on the trail, but enjoyed admiring its beauty. The lovely thing about this state park is the mission blues are only one of many activities to enjoy. There are picnic areas, steep hikes, easy inclines, and views of downtown SF as well as the Bay. It really is a special place so close to the city. It's special when you walk down a trail and find yourself surrounded by seasonal wildflowers and butterflies. They have a small parking lot, so if it's a weekend you may want to avoid the high traffic times. At 6 dollars for parking, it's definitely reasonable and the park staff will give you a trail map upon entrance if you ask them.

    Al L.

    Visiting a cousin who lived in the area, she suggested we take hike in the nearby San Bruno Mountain State Park before dinner. We parked on Crocker Ave next to a trailhead and we started on our 3.2 mi hike. Starting on the Old Guadalupe Trail, we then went on the Saddle Trail, which were hiking/biking trails for some amazing views. Though it was overcast, it was clear looking west and we got a view of the Farallon Islands, Downtown San Francisco and the East Bay. We then went Bog Trail, which was a hiking only trail, before connecting back to the Old Guadalupe Trail and to the trailhead. It was a nice easy hike with minimal elevation. The trails were well maintained. Being more familiar with the East Bay parks for hikes, this was my first hike in a West Bay park. Hope to hike more of the trails in San Bruno Mountain State Park.

    9/22/18 bring $6 exact
    Ann L.

    Hiked Sun 10.11.20 to do a short 2.7 mile loop hike. We paid the $6, but check Yelp tip on residential parking and walk-in. Will have to try that another time. Separate Flushed toilets with soap and hand dryer open during Covid19, masks on in restrooms. We did Saddle Trail & Guadalupe Trail. Nice views on a clear Spare The Air Day.

    Trails are marked clearly
    Cathrin P C.

    Some of the trails are covered with lush greenery. I love a good loop trail that has some decent incline for thigh burn. As someone who suffers from a small bladder, I'm happy to report that there is one main bathroom available in the middle of this park. First time I came, I paid $6 to park my car at the main entrance but I discovered many side streets through the neighborhoods to access these trails. The best is off of Crocker Ave -- Old Guadalupe Trail feeds into Saddle Trail nicely. There are 3 main trails here: Saddle about 2 miles, Summit about 3 miles, and Ridge about 2.5 miles. My favorite is the Summit because it has a variety of incline, shaded trees and views. If you like single track trails where you won't run into too many people, this will be your favorite too. Just be prepared for a less maintained tighter trail with lots of rocks as your terrain. The ridge is pretty boring because it's a straight line with no shade -- on a windy or hot day, this can be brutal -- but this might work if you're looking for extra miles to add to your hike. Most people seem to loop around Saddle and that's bi-directional. Dress in layers as the temperature can vary from one area to another. The worst way to access San Bruno mountains is by Quarry Road -- heavily graveled, just awful, especially coming down. The most challenging and possible treacherous way is through Firth Park Canyon in Brisbane -- straight cliff climbing. Lastly a very hidden path is accessing Old Ranch Trail through the residential area of Brisbane. I discovered all these access points by studying Google map and it's been an interesting challenge to find different access points! Weekends will draw more families around here but weekdays are pretty quiet, especially on the Summit side. I saw 2 snakes on the trails Summit trails and got a couple of bug bites so definitely wear long pants!

    Beautiful views from San Bruno Mountain!
    Shayla B.

    What a hike! What a view! San Bruno Mountain State Park is truly breathtaking. Did a 10 mile out and back hike up to San Bruno Mountain and it was an excellent workout! There are two parking lots near the entrance. If the first one is full, drive down and around the hill and park at the other lot. The first lot is closest to the recreational area and the second lot is closer to the hiking trails. It costs $6 to enter and can be paid with either card or cash (bring exact cash if using this payment method). Apparently there are frequent car break-ins, so please don't leave anything visible or of value in your vehicle. There are tons of different trails to choose from and all of them are well marked with the difficultly level and distance. We started on the Summit Loop Trail which measures 3 miles one way. It's categorized as "hard" but I'd say that it's moderate with some difficult inclines involved. This trail starts off as a narrow dirt ridge trail that inclines gradually. We came during the end of September and there was so much greenery! About a 1.5 miles into the Summit Loop Trail, the path widens and turns into a paved path. It also starts to really incline. Some of these stretches are on the steeper side but nothing too gnarly. As you ascend up the hill, you'll see some amazing city views. We ended up connecting to the Ridge Trail for about 2 miles. I'm a sucker for Ridge Trails, so I really enjoyed this one. Not much inclining here, but the views of San Francisco are pretty wild. Even from here you'll be able to see some of the city's most famous skyscraper buildings. When you reach the end of the trail, you'll have 360 degree views of SF, Brisbane, San Bruno, and daily city. It was freezing at the top and super windy, so I suggest that you dress in layers and bring a heavy sweater if you plan on staying up there for a while. We took the Ridge Trail back and took a small shortcut through the Dairy Ravine Trail. If you plan on taking this trail back, beware of poison oak. As a matter of fact, poison oak may be common on any of the trails, but we noticed it a lot more during this particular trail. Also, this trail wasn't maintained as well as the others so watch your footing on the way down. The park is full of pretty wildflowers and vibrant ferns. There is no shortage of greenery here. Such a lovely hike with stellar views! I'd definitely come back again to explore some other trails.

    Remember to scrape your shoes before you enter!

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    Trails on trails. You don't realize how much land there is to run. Hidden gem near the city but giving that mountain in-the-boonies vibe.

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    Ask the Community - San Bruno Mountain State & County Park

    Review Highlights - San Bruno Mountain State & County Park

    at the gate to the Old Guadalupe Trail & ran up to the main park entrance & then on to the Summit loop trail.

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    Alta Loma Park

    Alta Loma Park

    4.3
    (20 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Parking: There are two lots. One by the baseball field…read morewhich is a shortish walk to the kids playground, and one right next to the playground which I didn't park at because I couldn't figure out how to get there. A wanderer explained I would need to get back on the freeway and go around etc. so I just shrugged and hauled myself on the paved path to the park. Playground: I'm such a fan because my son is 17 months and the playground was a great size for him. The slides are low to the ground so I feel comfortable with him going down on his own. I wish the swings were longer cause it's a lot back and forth quick swings but he doesn't complain and asks to jump back and forth between the two options. The area is very small, but not crowded so a sweet low key option for a parent who doesn't want to run around too much. There's a fun dome like spinning seat and a larger swing to sit with your kid in as well. There's not a ton at this park but what there was enough. Safety: I felt super safe here! I There were a handful of people with kids resting at some of the few picnic tables who kept to themselves. There were a few teenagers that strode in but they also kept to themselves. The flooring at this park is spongey and I had no worries about my son falling. There is a concrete "stage" with concrete seating around it that my son loved climbing on so I was close-by for that play area. Resting: Plenty of grass for picnics and 2-3 picnic tables that I noticed. Nothing was shaded though. Overall: I would definitely come back. My son was not ready to leave as he loved it here. I just need to figure out the correct parking lot!

    Pretty park. Nice grill area. Cool playground for toddlers and big kids…read more My daughter is in between big kid and toddler and she did struggle to get to the side bc the only way on the big slide is to climb the rope jungle gym. It took her practically the whole day to build the courage bc it's so high in the air. The park is clean and people there were so nice.

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    #IrieBeBe had the Playground all to herself (Panoramic, 06.11.14)
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    Finally under well deserved construction! View of the smaller lot & playground

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    Finally under well deserved construction! View of the smaller lot & playground
    City of Brisbane

    City of Brisbane

    4.5
    (13 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Welcome to the city of Brisbane, the city of the stars. If you haven't been to it, you have just…read morebeen passing it by. The sun comes out and shines on the lagoon, giving off a beautiful view of the bay. No wonder the people here are friendlier. It has that small town feel, the donut and coffee shops, deli and the restaurants all are so comfy for being so close to the city and our major airport. You might even feel at home. Or you could forget where you are, the sun shines here here almost daily, since you are tucked in the side of the mountain, it can get a couple degrees warmer as well. The parks are beautiful, the gazebo and picnic areas, a skateboard park and basketball court. I went to a baby shower here recently and it was really nice. The outdoor areas are great for park parties. The streets are clean and the main sign in town announces when your Utility Bills are due. Small town charm is alluring when you grow up in the city, having both in my life is balancing. I love Brisbane.

    I love it here in Brisbane ! After my first visit a couple of months ago, I've been coming over…read morefrom San Mateo ever since. (Every weekend ) I love the small town, homie, cozy, escape, mini vacation feeling about this beautiful city. Especially the location so close to the bay. My favorite is that every home here has a symbol of a and I love it when they are all lit up for whatever reason... it almost makes you feel that much closer to the stars and the . My favorite view is the moon's reflection on the bay when it appears and disappears. That nice crispy air definitely not dry at all to breathe. The friendly neighborhood locals. The family oriented feeling and seeing everyone out and about. The park events and the fact that I feel safe here.

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    City of Brisbane
    City of Brisbane
    Fog rolling in over the hill.

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    Fog rolling in over the hill.
    Wind Harp Tower

    Wind Harp Tower

    4.4
    (33 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    Very cool, and very odd at the same time. Over the years while working nearby, I've come to…read moreappreciate the "wind harp" sculpture. A 92 foot structure of metal, it's actually very cool. When windy, this "thing" really howls with a tone like no other. If in a nearby building, you can actually hear it while inside at a meeting. At the same time, you get used to it. Recommendation: Pick a windy day to visit There's rumors about it (I suggest to try it): ================================= * If you throw a metal object, it will redirect and cling like a magnet to the sculpture * Try to throw a ball thru the sculpture, and it will bounce/reflect away and not penetrate. A Poem: ======== In South San Francisco's gentle breeze, A wind harp sculpture sways with ease, Its graceful form, a work of art, Sings a song from the depths of heart. A melody woven from the wind's embrace, Whispers secrets in an airy space, Strings of metal, resonating free, Echoing the city's symphony. Tall and slender, it reaches high, Against the clear, blue, open sky, Capturing the essence of the coast, In its harmonious, airy host. As the Pacific's breath does flow, Through this sculpted harp, music grows, A serenade for those who pass, A moment of peace, a breath, a class. So, in South San Francisco's grace, This wind harp sculpture finds its place, A reminder of nature's artful dance, In the city's embrace, a sweet romance.

    We came on a cool and quiet day, there was a bit of wind, but not much. We also didn't go…read moreunderneath the structure, just around it, along the concrete pathways circling the grassy area where the towering piece of art is situated. We sat on a bench looking out into the distance. The area's not high enough to really offer spectacular views of any kind (the more desirable scenery is blocked by ordinary looking buildings). But the atmosphere at this site was peaceful. And the sculpture, stretching toward the sky, resembled a harp in its unique way, even if it didn't sound like one. We parked at a lot for TMB Baking since it was most convenient.

    Photos
    Wind Harp
    Wind Harp
    Iconic
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    Harp in hand

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    Harp in hand

    San Bruno Mountain State & County Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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