The Bay Area Ridge Trail ultimately will be a 500+ mile trail encircling the San Francisco Bay along the ridge tops, open to hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts of all types. So far over 330 miles of trail has been dedicated for use by Bay Area residents, now and forever.
The REI-Ridge Trail Service day is an annual event in which the Trail Center has participated for many years. This year, we'll be working in the Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve, partnering with staff from the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
Dedicated as part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, the nearly two-mile multi-use Saratoga Gap trail parallels Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35), and connects with trails leading to Sanborn-Skyline County Park, Castle Rock and Big Basin State Parks, Upper Stevens Creek County Park, and Long Ridge, Skyline Ridge, and Monte Bello Open Space Preserves, and beyond. The Trail passes under the spreading branches of weathered oaks before dropping into a cool, wooded Douglas fir forest. Trail ends across from the Hickory Oaks trailhead to Long Ridge Open Space Preserve and Highway 35. (Source: MROSD)
Location: Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve, Santa Clara County - Saratoga Gap Trail
Directions: Parking for volunteers will be at the Caltrans vista point on the southeast corner of the Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) and Highway 9 intersection.
From the North: Saratoga Gap is approximately 13.7 mi. south of the Highway 84/Skyline Blvd. intersection and 6.5 mi. south of the Page Mill Rd./Skyline Blvd intersections.
From the South/East: use Saratoga Ave or Saratoga-Sunnyvale Rd. to get onto Highway 9/Big Basin Way and proceed approximate 7.3 mi. to reach Skyline Blvd.
View destination on Google Maps
Agency: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Supervisor: Hank Magnuski
Project Lead: Hank Magnuski
Additional Information: Participants should bring water, sunscreen, sturdy shoes and normal precautions against poison oak exposure (work gloves, long sleeved shirts and long pants). The Trail Center provides tools, training, gloves, and refreshments after the workday. Typically Chipotle provides a burrito for each participant at lunch time during this event.