Visitors can expect to see a **breathtaking 360-degree panorama** with **clear views** of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown, San Bruno Mountain, and the hills of the East Bay.
The hill's **windswept slopes** support a **thriving grassland community**, with **native grasses** and **wildflowers** that bloom in the winter and spring, and **red-tailed hawks** soaring overhead.
The hill is home to a **diversity of plant life**, which supports a variety of **native animals**, including over **40 species of birds**, such as Anna's hummingbirds, American kestrels, and Townsend's warblers, as well as **insects**, **field mice**, and **small reptiles**.
The hill was originally part of a **4,446-acre land grant** awarded to José Cornelio de Bernal, a soldier in Juan Bautista de Anza's 1776 expedition, and was later settled by a **tight-knit community** of Irish, Scots, and Scandinavians who used the hill for **cattle and dairy ranching**.
The hill is a **special place** for the city's human and wildlife inhabitants, offering a **peaceful escape** from the complexities of urban life, with its **paved limited-access road** and **network of well-defined dirt trails** providing access to the summit and its stunning views.
2024 / forcalifornialovers.com
