McNee Ranch State Park, State park in Montara, United States.
McNee Ranch is a 690-acre unit of Montara State Beach in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Montara, San Mateo County. Its highest point reaches 1,898 feet, and an unpaved fire road, the North Peak Access Road, leads from Pedro Mountain Road to the summit.
The area was originally home to Native American peoples before turning to cattle ranching in the 1800s. During World War II, the land briefly served as a training site for military commando units.
The ranch is part of Montara State Beach, and its lower slopes carry serpentine soils where Hickman's potentilla and the San Mateo thornmint (Acanthomintha duttonii) grow. Both are endangered plants that visitors may notice on the lower trails. The name comes from the ranch that once occupied the land.
Parking areas are located at several trailheads including Martini Creek, Montara Beach, and Gray Whale Cove, making access straightforward for hikers. Spring through early summer offers the best visiting conditions when the weather is more stable and paths are dry.
The lower slopes of Montara Mountain sit on serpentine soil, a poor, mineral-heavy ground where Hickman's potentilla and the San Mateo thornmint (Acanthomintha duttonii) grow, both endangered. On rare occasions light snow dusts the 1,898-foot summit.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,635 contributors worldwide.