Why is this place called Milagra Ridge? This 275-acre park holds stories from indigenous settlements to military fortifications. It is an island ecosystem south of San Francisco between Pacifica and Daly City.
Native Ohlone people first inhabited Milagra Ridge. Later, Spanish settlers and Mexican ranchers claimed it. The United States Army acquired the land in the late 1930s. It was part of a defense network for San Francisco Bay. Similar fortifications existed in San Francisco, Angel Island, and the Marin Headlands.
In 1943, the Army began building Battery Construction No. 244 on Milagra Ridge. It was then called Milagra Ridge Military Reservation. Two 6-inch guns were moved from Fort Columbia to Battery 244 in 1948. These guns were mounted on shielded long-range carriages. The battery was decommissioned in 1950.
Plans were made for a second gun emplacement with larger 16-inch guns. This was Battery Construction No. 130. World War II ended before construction began.
In 1956, Nike missile site SF-51 was built here. It converted to the Nike-Hercules system in 1958. Nike sites had three parts: an administrative area, an integrated fire control area, and a launcher area. At Milagra Ridge, SF-51A and -51L were located. SF-51C was in the neighboring Sweeney Ridge.
In 1961, Pacifica considered using the empty Battery 244 as a police station. It would also serve as an emergency civil defense headquarters. Limited access led to choosing a different location in 1969. However, the City of Pacifica leased some underground space for county records storage in 1970.
In January 1971, students from Oceana High School broke into the bunker. They set the records on fire. Another arson attack occurred in March 1972. Officials stopped using the bunker shortly after.
The National Guard managed the Nike missile site from 1963 to March 1974. In May 1974, the land was given to the City of Pacifica. Before this, areas had already been transferred. This included 73 acres in 1962 which became residential, and 36 acres in 1972.
The buildings at SF-51A were demolished in 1983. A condominium complex was built on that site.
In 1987, the National Park Service acquired the remaining 240 acres of Milagra Ridge. It became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Community efforts improved the habitat for endangered species. These include the Mission Blue and San Bruno elfin butterflies. Also the San Francisco garter snake and the California red-legged frog.
Residents blocked a large development on Milagra Ridge’s slopes in 1995. A smaller group of 23 homes was built as a compromise.
Today, Milagra Ridge is a protected area open for hiking. The Milagra Battery Trail was completed in November 2016. It provides access from Connemara Drive in Pacifica. The trail is about 2000 feet long.
Milagra Ridge is also home to a USGS seismometer. It provides nearly real-time data to the public.
This area hosts threatened and endangered species. The Mission blue butterfly thrives here due to lupine plants. The San Bruno elfin butterfly was discovered in the mid-1980s. The San Francisco garter snake could potentially live here. The California red-legged frog is presumed to exist from small burrows.
Remember to stay on marked trails. Protect the fragile ecosystem of Milagra Ridge.