A visionary idea inspires grassroots action.
About us.
OUR MISSION
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!
Featured news
Ridge Trail Featured on OpenRoad
Watch the EpisodeRidge Trail E-news - March 2023
Read full e-newsletterRidge Trail E-news - February 2023
Read full e-newsletterMeet the staff.
Janet McBride
Executive Director
Ryan Mack
Deputy Director
Marie Sayles
Development Director
Sharon Bone
Operations and Database Coordinator
Natalia Cortes
Event & Volunteer Manager
Kyvan Elep
Trail Project Manager
Ryan Fritz
Trail Project Manager
Lisa Rigby
Administrative Coordinator/Development Associate
Alex Sabo
Advocacy and Outreach Manager
Meet the Board
Contact.
Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
We've moved! As of April 2023, our new address:
Mailing address: PO Box 3367, Berkeley, CA 94703
Physical address: c/o Workstation West, 2247 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
415-561-2595
Newsletters and Impact Reports
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lovers like you. Become an important part of the Ridge Trail community.