18 May 2003
The Long Ridge Open Space Preserve is a very pleasant parkland just south of Silicon Valley. Lush, green, springtime meadows and copses of oaks compete with shaded canyons and shallow streams make the area a popular weekend spot for hikers and moutain bikers.
The intersecting trails allow for hikes of varying lengths and sights. I did one that was a little over 4 miles. Starting from the trailhead off Skyline Blvd., just past Portola Heights Road, I headed downhill to the creek-bed at the canyon valley.
When I reached the valley floor, I left the trail and followed the creek downstream for a mile or so. I then backtracked to the trail, and headed uphill, and after crossing a bridge and a few more trail intersections, left the woodland for a stretch of trail that led across the meadows you see in the pictures.
It was still early enough in the year for the green grass (compare these rolling hills with the pictures from Mount Tamalpias in late June. And that green, combined with the cloudless blue sky gave me the perfect chance to test out my new digital camera.
Supposedly, wild turkey and deer are common sights in the preserve, along with the occasional raptor, but I didn't see any on this trip.
Directions: From Palo Alto, take Highway 280 to Page Mill Road, and head west to Skyline Boulevard. Turn south on Skyline, and continue on for about 3 miles, until you reach Portola Heights Road. Just past the intersection, there is a dirt parking area on the west side of the road, as well as a larger parking lot on the east side. The trailhead I started from was off the east side of the road. There was a box of trail maps at the trailhead, but it was empty when I was there.