From Route 35 (Skyline Blvd.), in Pacifica, take Sharp Park Road west to College Drive. Make a sharp right at College Drive and continue to the gate at the end of the driveway.
Parking is limited
Milagra Ridge, located in Pacifica California, is a 230 acre section of the
Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Milagra has an interesting history and
is home to two endangered butterflies;
Although Milagra is one of the smallest sections of the GGNRA, it contains a rich variety of plants and wildlife. On clear days, panoramic views from Milagra include Sweeny Ridge, San Pedro Point, the Farallon Islands, the Marin Headlands and Pt. Reyes. The Ridge overlooks the the Sharp Park Golf Course, Pacifica Beach, and the Pacifica Fishing Pier.
Before the arrival of Europeans, the Ridge was probably grassland and may have been used by the Ohlone Indians for seed collection and hunting. In the late 1700's, the Mission San Francisco de Asis established farms in the San Pedro valley and in San Mateo to supply the mission and the hills were used to graze livestock. The secularization of the missions resulted in the hills of Pacifica; Milagra Ridge, Sweeney Ridge, and San Pedro Mountain becoming Rancho San Pedro. The Rancho was granted to Francisco Sanchez on June 26, 1839. Sanchez served as alcalde of Yerba Buena and was acting commandante of the Presidio of San Francisco when American forces took over.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, there was a rush to build defense
emplacements on the East and West Coasts. Milagra Ridge was chosen to be part
of the San Francisco
Bay coast defense. Milagra was the site for a six-inch gun battery designated
as "Battery Construction 244". The Milagra Knob command post was located in
a large bunker, at the northern point of the ridge. Two small bunkers above
and below the command post were used for coast surveillance and were manned
by soldiers with machine guns.
In the 1950's Milagra was again used for defense in the cold war. A NIKE missile site was established at the Ridge. A large section of the site was excavated to provide underground storage for the missiles. On the surface, a large area in the center of the park was paved. Bleachers erected by the missile elevators enabled visitors to view elevation of the missiles to firing position. The administration buildings and barracks for the NIKE installation were located near the gate to the park and have been replaced by private townhouses. At the end of the Cold War the site was dismantled and turned over to the city of Pacifica. All that remains of the NIKE site are the two missile elevators that were sealed with concrete and other military junk that occasionally surfaces. In the 1960's, the City of Pacifica used the bunker as a police station, jail, and civil defense center. It was also used to store old city records for a brief period.
Over the years the park became a popular place for local residents to walk, hunt, to run their dogs. The old bunkers were popular but possibly dangerous play areas for local youngsters.
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area acquired Milagra Ridge and Sweeney Ridge on September 15th, 1987 from the City of Pacifica.
Over the years, development around the ridge has created an urban wildlife island. Heavily traveled roads and homes along the borders limit the range of the wildlife in the park. Surrounding gardens and untended weeds outside the park also provide an unending source of exotic plants. Survival of park wildlife and plants is dependent on work by community volunteers.
Plant Communities at the RidgeThe plant communities at Milagra are Northern (Franciscan) Coastal Scrub, Coastal Terrace Prairie, Freshwater Seeps, and a small manmade Freshwater Marsh. These communities receive moisture all year from the fog and are subject to strong winds off the ocean throughout the year. In autumn and winter, inland winds bring dry cold air. |
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Northern Coastal Scrub is found on the north and west facing bluffs at Milagra as well as in the ravines. Common plants include Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis), California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus), Poison Oak ( Toxicondendron diversilobum), Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), Lizard Tail (Eriophyllum staechadifolium), Cow Parsnip (Hercaleum lanatum), Coast Angelica (Hanelica herdersonii, Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus) and many others. Milagra is also home for several uncommon plants: Rockcress and San Francisco Wallflower. Springtime at the ridge begins with the appearance of Footsteps-of-spring late in February or in March and continues with a progression of bright blooms through June and even July. |
| Coastal Terrace Prairie is found on the ridges and hill sides at Milagra. The native grasses at Milagra include California Brome (Bromus carinatus), Blue Wild Rye (Elymus glaucus), and Purple Needle Grass (Stipa pulchra). Native annuals and perennials in grassy areas include Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons), the host plant for the Mission Blue butterfly,Bicolor Lupine (Lupinus bicolor),Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), Checkerbloom (Sidalcia malvaeflora), Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), Suncups (Camissonia ovata), California Buttercup (Ranunculus californicus), Bladder Parsnip (Lomatium utriculatum),Footsteps-of-spring (Sanicula arctopoides), Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma pulchellum), California Strawberry (Fragraria vesca subsp. californica), Beach Strawberry (F. chiloensis), Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana), Cobweb Thistle),and Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum). Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium) the host plant for the San Bruno Elfin butterfly is found on rocky outcroppings on the north facing sections of the ridge. |  |
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Freshwater seeps occur in several low lying areas of the park. Plants in these areas include Horse Tail (Equisetum arvense) and shrubs such as Twinberry, Creek dogwood and Willows. An old irrigation pond enclosed by a chain link fence is home to rushes, sedges, tules, blackberry,and poison oak. |
Milagra Ridge is home to endangered the Mission Blue Butterfly which hosts primarily on silver lupine and the San Bruno Elfin butterfly which hosts on Stonecrop. In spring, 1999, the threatened Red Legged Frog was discovered at Milagra. Egg masses and pollywogs were observed in the old irrigation pond. There have also been several unconfirmed sightings of the San Francisco Garter Snake.
Swallowtail, Blue Acmen, Bay Checkerspot, Ringlet, Damsel flies, Dragon flies, Mosquitoes and many others.
Other animals at the Ridge include:
Birds - Harrier Hawk, Red Tail Hawk, Kestrel, Finches, Mocking Bird, Scrub Jays, Califonia Buzzards, Ravens, Great Horned Owls, Barn Swallows, and Hummingbirds.
Mammals - Gophers, Skunk, Raccoon, Red and Grey Fox, Deer, Field Mice,Long tailed Weasel, Coyotes, Bobcat, signs of Wildcat..
Reptiles - Garter Snakes, Tree frogs, Red Legged frog, Alligator Lizards, Salamanders.
Restoration ProgramRestoration efforts are focusing on the removal of exotic plant species that crowd out native plants. Seeds and cuttings are gathered from native plants in the park, propagated at the NPS nursery at Ft. Funston, the Marin Headlands, and Oceana High School are planted in the park during the wet winter months. |
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Milagra is also one of three sites selected for the Golden Gate National Park Association Site Stewardship program. Community volunteers work with the National Park Service to develop and implement a management plan for sites within the GGNRA.
Tom Elliot 415-561-3034 ext. 3435
Sue Gardner 415-561-3034 ext. 3427
Ft. Funston Ranger Station 415-239-2366
Golden Gate National Park Association 415-776-1607
Last Update Tuesday, July 30, 2002 12:38 PM by G. Grant