A visionary idea inspires grassroots action.

About us.

OUR MISSION

To plan, promote and sustain a connected hiking, cycling, and equestrian trail on the ridgelines around San Francisco Bay—linking people, parks and open space for today and future generations.

How we work.

With help from our supporters, we're closing gaps, forging partnerships, and securing funding. The challenges and opportunities identified in the Ridge Trail's Gap Analysis Report and Action Plan serves as a guide to realize our shared vision for a continuous world-class regional trail. Download excerpts from the Gap Analysis Report here.


Get outside.

We're here to help you explore the Ridge Trail. We provide maps, guided outings, work parties, and more.


Trail Advocacy.

We advocate for closing "gaps" in the trail, sustainable trail design, and accessibility by foot, bike, or horse.


Funding.

We help secure funding for our agency partners for planning, acquisition, design, building, and maintenance of the Ridge Trail.


Stewardship.

Staff and volunteers work side-by-side with our many partners to build new trail and maintain existing Ridge Trail.

Trail history.

 How one man's vision inspired action around the Bay.

History.

Over thirty years ago park visionary William Penn Mott, Jr., who served as Director of the National Park Service as well as East Bay Regional Park and California State Parks, brought forth a big idea. He wanted to unite the ridges encircling the Bay Area into one continuous park with a 550-mile Ridge Trail. Ultimately the vision included connecting the Ridge Trail, and the metropolitan center it served, to the Sierra Nevadas.
In 1987, the Greenbelt Alliance, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the National Park Service as well as citizen advocates came together to help form the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. Thanks to their pioneering leadership the Ridge Trail is growing mile by mile.

Progress.

Trail Progress: The first Ridge Trail segment was dedicated in May 1989. During the first few years, the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council made rapid progress, dedicating 200 miles of existing trail on public lands by 1995. Today, over 400 miles are open and ready to explore 80% of which is open to bikes and horses. Bit-by-bit continuous sections are being knit together to provide true thru-hike (or bike, or ride!) opportunities. On our Western Ridge we have an 80-mile stretch from northern Marin to Highway 92 and on our Eastern Ridge we have a 43-mile connected stretch from El Sobrante to Union City. Get your maps out and make a plan!

Meet the staff.

Joey Rocha-Perez headshot

Joey Rocha-Perez

Database & Operations Administrator

Headshot of Gillian Schneider

Gillian Schneider

Office & Administrative Coordinator

Photo of Kyvan Elep wearing sunglasses with mountain behind

Kyvan Elep

Trail Project Manager

Janet McBride

Janet McBride

Executive Director

Ryan Mack

Ryan Mack

Deputy Director

Marie Sayles

Marie Sayles

Development Director

Photo of Natalia Cortes, smiling

Natalia Cortes

Event & Volunteer Manager

Ryan Fritz

Ryan Fritz

Trail Project Manager

Alex Sabo

Alex Sabo

Advocacy and Outreach Manager

Lisa Rigby

Lisa Rigby

Development Manager

Meet the Board

Photo of Deb St Cyr

Deb St.Cyr

Secretary

Photo of Alan Fox

Alan Fox

Treasurer

Suzanne Wilson Headshot 2024

Suzanne Wilson

Governance Chair

Charlie Bowen

Charlie Bowen

Immediate Past Chair

Photo of Taylor Jang

Taylor Jang

Vice Chair

Photo of Karen Rhodes

Karen Rhodes

Chair

Headshot of Ken Grant

Ken Grant

Headshot of Heather Minner

Heather Minner

Photo of Bob Berman

Bob Berman

Photo of Baldwyn Chieh

Baldwyn Chieh

Photo of Luana Espana

Luana España

Photo of Ross Heitkamp

Ross Heitkamp

Photo of Sam Jackson

Sam Jackson

Photo of Pamela Kramer

Pam Kramer

Photo of Eileen Kutnick

Eileen Kutnick

Photo of Nina Lagpacan

Nina Lagpacan

Photo of Bill Long

Bill Long

Chair Emeritus

Dave Manchester

Dave Manchester

Photo of Morris Older

Morris Older

Photo of Anil Rao

Anil Rao

Photo of Rachel Royce

Rachel Royce

Photo of Nargis Solis

Nargis Solis

Photo of Bob Siegel

Bob Siegel

Contact.

Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

Mailing address: PO Box 3367, Berkeley, CA 94703

Physical address: c/o Workstation West, 2247 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

415-561-2595

info@ridgetrail.org

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DONATE TO SUPPORT THE TRAIL

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lovers like you. Become an important part of the Ridge Trail community.

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