McNee Ranch State Park
Encyclopedia
McNee Ranch State Park is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains
of the United States
, near the unincorporated community of Montara, California
in San Mateo County. Its highest point rises to 1,898 feet above sea level. An unpaved fire road, the North Peak Access Road, accessible from the Pedro Mountain Road
, provides access to the summit by hikers. The mountain has an extensive biodiversity especially on the serpentine soil
s of the lower slopes where such endangered species
as Hickman's potentilla
and San Mateo thornmint, Acanthomintha duttonii
, are found. On rare occasions light snow has dusted the summit. On clear days the summit provides spectacular views of much of the San Francisco Bay Area
.
The ranch is part of Montara State Beach
.
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, near the unincorporated community of Montara, California
Montara, California
Montara is a census-designated place in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 2,909 at the 2010 census. Nearby communities include Moss Beach and Princeton-by-the-Sea.-Geography and environment:...
in San Mateo County. Its highest point rises to 1,898 feet above sea level. An unpaved fire road, the North Peak Access Road, accessible from the Pedro Mountain Road
Pedro Mountain Road
Pedro Mountain Road describes a series of historical road crossings of Pedro Mountain, a promontory ridge located between Montara Mountain and the coastal cliffs of Devil's Slide in San Mateo County, California. This Pedro Mountain headland blocks the easy passage of coastal travelers between the...
, provides access to the summit by hikers. The mountain has an extensive biodiversity especially on the serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s of the lower slopes where such endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
as Hickman's potentilla
Hickman's potentilla
Potentilla hickmanii is an endangered perennial herb of the rose family. This rare plant species is found in a narrowly restricted range in two locations in coastal northern California, in Monterey County, and in very small colonies in San Mateo County...
and San Mateo thornmint, Acanthomintha duttonii
Acanthomintha duttonii
Acanthomintha duttonii is a species of annual plant endemic to San Mateo County, California in the Lamiaceae family. It is commonly called San Mateo Thornmint or Dutton's acanthomintha and is found growing on Serpentine soils near the Crystal Springs Reservoir in a six mile long strip on the east...
, are found. On rare occasions light snow has dusted the summit. On clear days the summit provides spectacular views of much of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
.
The ranch is part of Montara State Beach
Montara State Beach
Montara State Beach is a beach located eight miles north of Half Moon Bay on State Route 1, USA.Operated by California State Department of Parks and Recreation under the San Mateo Coast Sector Office...
.