With A Black Sand Beach, The Little-Known Mori Point In California Is Unexpectedly Magical
By Lysa Allman-Baldwin|Published May 23, 2022
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Lysa Allman-Baldwin
Author
For over 25 years Lysa Allman-Baldwin has fed her wanderlust for “everything the world has to offer” by passionately writing travel and feature articles for numerous global print and online publications. A Digital Nomad, Lysa is also a professional speaker, workshop facilitator, and author.
Located along historic Highway 1 in Pacifica, just 20 minutes south of downtown San Francisco, Mori Point is a magical place. Come see for yourself what makes this delightful slice of nature so unique to the area.
The site is named after Stefano Mori, an Italian immigrant who settled here in the late 1800s.
Back in the day, materials from a limestone quarry were used, in part, to construct the various military outposts and buildings at The Presidio in San Francisco. Other enterprises that took place here included a roadhouse and a bootlegging operation.
Visitors here will find 110-acres of beautiful coastal scrub habitats, wetlands, and grasslands that together make it a unique hiking destination.
Extensive restoration efforts have created healthy habitats for the California red-legged frog, as well as the once-endangered San Francisco Garter Snake.
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Classified as a coastal park, Mori Point is part of the Golden Gate National Parks system.
From flat and easy to steep and challenging, the distinctive hiking trails here are suitable for hikers of all ages and abilities. The Mori Point Peak Loop, Pollywog Trail, Lishumsha Trail, Old Mori Trail, and Mori Headlands Trail are just a few of the options.