Guides
A short hike along the Mavericks cliffs at one of the most famous surfing spots in the world
This hike is an easy walk along the cliffs overlooking Mavericks surf spot, famous for its (often deadly) surf competitions. You will have nice views of the water below from the cliffs with very little elevation change after the first small climb. If you are up for it, you can continue along the harbor towards the rock pier where you may see seals...
10.5 mile trail near Halfmoon Bay, California
Purisima Creek - Whittmore Gulch hike is about 10.5 miles long and located near Half Moon Bay, California. The trail is a moderate hike and can take about half a day. This is a slightly longer version of the popular Purisima Redwood Preserve area hike and starts on the eastern trailhead on the coastal side. The trail begins at the point where 3...
Open space preserve in the Midpeninsula region.
The preserve is located on the weestern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay. The open space features not only redwoods, but ferns, wildflowers, coastal scrub, several babbling brooks which can grow to sizable creeks in the winter. The elevation can dips down almost 1600 ft from Skyline Blvd and depending on the route, some sections...
10.4 mile trail in Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP, California
This is a wonderful hike that usually takes no more than 4 hours.. There are terrific views from up top and nice redwoods along the way.
5.8 mile trail near Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
A Sunny Spring Hike Around Bald Knob is about 5.8 miles long and located near Grabtown, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. I did this hike last August while the Lockheed fire raged around Bonny Doon. The resulting view was hazy at best, and downright unseamly at worst. Today was a different story, however. It...
"I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people,"
The Pulgas Water Temple was built at the terminus of the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct as a monument to the new water system. It’s located within the watershed, just south of Crystal Springs reservoir. An inscription at the top reads, "I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people," a biblical quote from Isaiah. The...
Overlook pristine coastal landscapes from a mountain top that’s just a short drive from San Francisco.
If you’re looking for sun along the fog-bound San Francisco peninsula coastline, then Montara Mountain is the place to head for. Rising almost 2,000 feet above the beaches of Pacifica, here is where the sun often breaks through the clouds. Even when the sun continues to hide, there’s still a chance that by the time you hike to the summit you’ll...
Best way to see a luscious - and little-known - redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Silicon Valley
Phleger Estate is a gorgeous swath of second-growth redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains just west of Silicon Valley. It's a remote section of Golden Gate National Recreation Area that gets few visitors, making it a prime getaway if you need a break from civilization. This route starts on Skyline Boulevard, AKA Highway 35. Parking is free in...
This 8-mile hike explores the best features of Huddart County Park west of Woodside, Calif., and Silicon Valley
Combine two fine loops in one great hike on this eight-mile route at Huddart County Park west of Woodside. The abundance of redwood forests and mixed evergreens along this route is a stark contrast to the busy picnic areas of the poplar park and the massive sprawl of Silicon Valley just a few miles to the east. Trails on this hike: Dean Trail...
Easy-to-moderate look hike provides a shady getaway from festivities at the popular park
Huddart County Park west of Woodside, Calif., has popular picnic areas that attract noisy crowds; fortunately the hoots of hollering kids fade into the tweets of singing birds within minutes of hitting the trails. Huddart has a nice mix of redwoods and mixed evergreen forests plus a few expanses of open chaparral. This hike has a just-right mix...
6.2 mile trail near Woodside, California
Phleger Estate is a nice little hideway compared to the relatively busy Huddart Park, which is typically where you enter the estate. Park at the Zwierlin trialhead in Huddart Park and follow the Crystal Springs Trail down to the riverbed where you'll see signs leading you to Phleger, part of the GGNRA. Keep an eye out for exotic mushrooms in winter...
3.3 mile trail in Edgewood Park, California
Edgewood Park Serpentine Trail is about 3.3 miles long and located near Emerald Lake Hills, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours
Although this trail is not open for walk-in use by the general public, volunteer trail leaders head trips 3x a week.
Local nature lovers can enjoy the rare opportunity to hike, bike, or ride their horses through pristine stands of old growth Douglas Fir, evergreen and fragrant coastal scrub while enjoying ridge-top vistas of our watershed lands, reservoirs, the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. Although this trail is not open for walk-in use by the general public,...
Explore the history of the Bay Area from atop Sweeney Ridge, or just come to admire the great coastal scenery.
Twelve hundred feet above the Pacific Ocean the Sweeney Ridge trail traverses the most northerly part of the Santa Cruz coastal range above the town of Pacifica. Up here you can explore the abandoned buildings of the 1950's Nike missile base or step further back in time and visit the spot where Gaspar de Portola first discovered the San Francisco...
Secret little coastal hike with unparalleled views of the San Francisco peninsula shoreline.
An area of outstanding coastline and natural habitat of several endangered species, the Pedro Point Headlands tower above Linda Mar beach and the southern most point of Pacifica. Now publicly owned, these lands are slowly recovering from dirt-bike use and are gradually being nursed back to health with plans to eventually open series of official trails. Not...
Enjoy the many trails in the unspoilt hills and valleys of this great Pacifica park.
Pacifica’s reputation for fog may be well deserved, but the little coastal town on the San Francisco peninsula still basks in the sun throughout much of the year. Coupled with the fact that San Pedro Valley County Park is nestled in the sheltered hillside next to Montara Mountain means that this area gets more than its fair share of good weather. The...
Towering redwoods and eye-opening vistas make this hike a great escape from the stress of Silicon Valley.
This hike at Wunderlich County Park takes you through some of the most common ecosystems in the South Bay: second-growth redwood, oak, madrone and open meadows. The park, just outside of Woodside on the west side of Silicon Valley, draws crowds on the weekends, and it can be hard to find a parking spot. That's why I recommend taking a day off from...
Short coastal bluff hike with outstanding views and wildflowers.
Just a short distance down the coast from the city of San Francisco, Pacifica is where the concrete truly ends and gives way to green hills and dramatic coastal scenery. Mori Point is a great place enjoy a sunset, do a spot of whale watching or simply enjoy the waves of the Pacific Coast washing up onto the shores. Remember to check out the ridgeline...
A permit only section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail
This guide covers a 13 mile section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It is a through hike that starts at the Sweeney Ridge Trailhead behind Skyline College and ends at Skyline Quarry near Hwy 92. Elevation gained is about 2400' with 2800' lost.The Fifield-Cahill Ridge trail traverses coastal scrub and old growth douglas fir forests. The majority...
10.8 mile trail near San Bruno, California
Mori Point and Sweeney Ridge Loop is about 10.8 miles long and located near San Bruno, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 5-6 hours with breaks and photos. A nice trek along the Ridge and then down to the coast and looping back up to the Ridge. Awesome views. Up Sweeney Ridge Tr, R on Mori Ridge Tr, carefully cross Hwy...
A nice quick escape for Peninsula hikers in need of a fix and a good workout.
This is a good hike to knock out if you're short on time, live in the area and don't want to waste time driving. You still get great scenery, a bit of wildlife, moody weather, and more and yet you can launch just outside of Portola Valley. But on the flip-side you'll see a lot of people and hear some road noise once you near Skyline. Last time I...
Scanning it's expanse, you can see ocean beach, streams, grasses, bushy scrub, and tall, ancient trees.
Pescadero State Beach, a mile-long stretch just south of Half Moon Bay in Northern California is no simple place. If you look more closely you can spot some of the more than 250 species of birds that make their home here. The landscape, especially at the water, is never the same two days in a row. This Exploration created in collaboration with the...
A hike in Sam McDonald County Park promising both old-growth redwood trees and sweeping mountaintop views.
In the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains and roughly on a parallel with San Jose, you’ll find Sam Mc Donald County Park a great place to explore. Our recommended route around the Heritage Grove Loop will take you to grasslands with sweeping open views of neighboring mountain ridge tops, before leading you down into a valley of old growth redwood...
A scenic 4-mile loop on steep, paved trails with great views on Stanford University and the San Francisco Bay.
The Stanford Dish loop is a popular route for Stanford University students as well as Silicon Valley professionals. Its steep paved trail is suitable for running, walking, and hiking. Bicycles are not allowed. Opening hours vary depending on the month of the year: January 6:30 AM-5:30 PM February 6:30 AM-6 PM March 6 AM-6:30 PM April 6 AM-8 PM May...
Hike the popular wilderness preserve on this great San Francisco Peninsula hike.
Looming large over San Francisco and the northern peninsula, the wilderness preserve of San Bruno Mountain state and county park is home to several rare and endangered species of flora, fauna and wildlife, including the elfin butterfly. Our guide focuses on two popular hikes. The 3½ mile Summit Loop trail takes a counter-clockwise route around...
Nice 1.4 mile trail for a quick hike with kids. Also suitable as an extension to other trails in Arastradero.
Arastradero Park offers nice trails for hiking, mountain biking and horse back riding. This guide describes the Redtail Loop Trail, which is the only trail on this site of Arastradero Road. The majority of trails is at the other site of the road. The Redtail loop is a short, 1.4 mile trail that provides an achievable goal for little kids. It has...
Get your nature fix and add a short hike at this bucolic pond in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco.
Alpine Pond is one of the prettiest places in the string of open-space preserves along Highway 35, also known as Skyline Boulevard. That's saying something, given the abundant beauty in this stretch of the Santa Cruz Mountains between Santa Cruz and San Francisco. A nature center looks out over the lake. While it's possible to hike more than...
A family-friendly audio guide to a wildlife mecca in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
MROSD docent program manager Renee Fitzsimons and docent Sharon Thomas lead a 0.3-mile-long hike around Alpine Pond. Along the way, they explain where to look for brush rabbits, cormorants, crayfish, banana slugs, and pond turtles. They even make the shrubbery interesting, with stories about age-old human uses of cattails, willow, and oaks.
The San Andreas Fault runs nearly the length of the state. See it up close and personal.
Most Bay Area residents have felt the earth move—quite literally. You probably know that the San Andreas Fault runs nearly the length of the state. But did you know that you can see the fault for yourself? As you follow the lines of posts that mark the various fault breaks in the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve, you can find out what's happening...
Multiple viewpoint loop hike along Skyline
This hike passes through 4 different Midpenninsula open space preserves. Monte Bello, Skyline Ridge, Russian Ridge, and Coal Creek. Along the way you will get some of the best long range views available on the penninsula, weather permitting. Begining in Monte Bello, you hike the easy route to the summit of Black Mountain via the Canyon and Bella Vista...
A moderate 5.3 mile loop with a 900-foot climb. A great springtime wildflower hike!
Spring in the Silicon Valley is an amazing time! The hillsides turn vibrant green and wildflowers sprout up everywhere! Only 20 minutes off Interstate 280, Monte Verde Open Space Preserve is a great place to view wildflowers! Directly from the parking lot, we started on the Stevens Creek Nature Trail, expecting to meet up with the White Oak Trail...
A family-friendly audio guide to a wildlife mecca in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
MROSD docent program manager Renee Fitzsimons and docent Sharon Thomas lead a 0.3-mile-long hike around Alpine Pond. Along the way, they explain where to look for brush rabbits, cormorants, crayfish, banana slugs, and pond turtles. They even make the shrubbery interesting, with stories about age-old human uses of cattails, willow, and oaks. The audio...
1.4 mile trail near Vista Verde, California
One of the top easy hikes in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and perfect for just about anyone, no matter their size or ability. And it's got a lake, which always adds to the pleasure of a hike. The trail tread up to the dam is easily wheelchair accessible, and beyond that is a little more difficult, including a hillside traverse - not recommended for strollers...
This 15-mile loop passes through five parks that promise some of the best hiking in the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you've got the legs for 15 miles of ups and downs along the fabulous terrain near California Highway 35, aka Skyline Boulevard, then this hike deserves a spot on your to-do list. The route passes a bucolic pond, forests of oak and Douglas fir, and wonderful vistas overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains west of San Jose and south of San Francisco....
Explore 4 plant communities—riparian, forest, chaparral, grassland—in a short, scenic hike in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
A lively, sound-rich introduction to Skyline Ridge, one of the most beautiful and intriguing preserves in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. The adventure starts at the David C. Daniels Nature Center. Then you move to the watery world of cattails and willows at Alpine Pond, climb up through a mixed evergreen forest, weave through some scented...
A family-friendly audio guide to a wildlife mecca in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
MROSD docent program manager Renee Fitzsimons and docent Sharon Thomas lead a 0.3-mile-long hike around Alpine Pond. Along the way, they explain where to look for brush rabbits, cormorants, crayfish, banana slugs, and pond turtles. They even make the shrubbery interesting, with stories about age-old human uses of cattails, willow, and oaks. The audio...
All-day hike to grove of ancient redwoods in Portola Redwoods State Park is a must if you can do the distance
Delayed gratification is the story of this hike at Portola Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Silicon Valley. The first six miles are nice enough -- lots of ups and downs in second-growth redwoods -- but the real payoff is at the midpoint: Peters Creek Loop tracks through one of the last remaining stands of old-growth redwoods...
Great mix of redwoods and Santa Cruz Mountains terrain on this hike near Portola Redwoods State Park.
This is one of the better redwood hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area -- which is nice because not so long there was no forest left here: almost all of it had been clear-cut. The second-growth redwoods at Pescadero Creek County Park demonstrate a forest's uncanny ability to regenerate itself, if people give it the chance. Several groves of skinny...
Vigorous and diverse six-mile hike takes samples the best of Portola Redwoods State Park west of Silicon Valley.
This is the essential loop at Portola Redwoods State Park. In just over six miles it ascends two ridges and stops in on the most impressive old-growth redwood in the park. It starts out near the park headquarters, climbs up Coyote Ridge, descends to Peters Creek, climbs again up the Slate Creek Trail, then descends via the Summit Trail, and takes...
Beautiful redwood hike to Slate Creek Trail Camp at Portola Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
This is an excellent moderate hike through the second-growth redwood forest at Portola Redwoods State Park. It ends at Slate Creek Trail Camp, a popular overnight camping destination. The park is in the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Highway 35 in one of the best hiking regions in the San Francisco Bay Area. While ancient redwoods are scarce because...
