Long Ridge Open Space Encore

This 6-mile hike was a new trail for me at Long Ridge Open Space Preserve. The last time I came to Long Ridge, I made a loop into Upper Stevens Creek County Park. This trip, I explored a part of the park that borders Portola Redwoods State Park. I hope to one day make the trek from Portola through Long Ridge so that I can explore the site of the historic Page Mill! The hike that I did most recently was a really nice one that offered some shade through a mixed forest of oak, madrone, and bay laurel. The eponymous ridge offers some amazing views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, but with that comes intense exposure to sun. The shaded woods were a welcome respite from the sun.

Detail of the trail I took at Long Ridge Open Space

I parked on Skyline Drive, just a few miles north of the intersection of Highways 35 and 9. I took Hickory Oaks Trail across the ridge and then downhill towards the Ranch Spring Trail loop. As I returned uphill, I followed Ward Road, making the trek first toward School Road and then back towards where it returns to the Hickory Oaks Trail.

There was fog gathering along the mountains to the north, and it made for a dramatic skyline; however, the sun was shining directly overhead, which made all the golden yellows of the grasses and the dark greens of the forest just pop.

This park is an excellent one to visit if it's too cloudy/foggy at Skyline Open Space Preserve or Windy Hill. I was surprised at how tranquil the park was on a Labor Day weekend. I would have expected more mountain bikers, but I only encountered about half a dozen people. It was really lovely.