Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the Ridge Trail

The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion on and off the trail. We believe that parks and open spaces must be available and accessible to all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, including people from underrepresented communities, and the Council is dedicated to doing our part to help achieve this objective, now and for future generations. 

Our goal is for the Ridge Trail to reflect the breadth and rich diversity of the Bay Area. We strive for DEI in all aspects of our work, including hiring, retaining, and promoting staff; recruiting members of our Board of Directors; expanding community support for our organization; and ensuring that our programs, outreach, practices, and partnerships support these priorities.

Read our DEI policy here, adopted December 3, 2020.

Building Partnerships

Partners on the Trail

The Ridge Trail Council partners with organizations, agencies, and local community groups to increase equitable access to the Ridge Trail through events, guided outings, and outreach. Join us for an upcoming event or outing!

Latino Outdoors
aims to inspire, connect, and engage Latino communities in the outdoors. The Ridge Trail partners with Latino Outdoors to host collaborative community outings and supports their work to inspire, connect, and engage Latino communities in the outdoors.
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Outdoor Afro
celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Through our co-hosted collaborative outings we aim to create a welcoming space and provide more public access to restricted trails.
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TOGETHER Bay Area
offers a program, in collaboration with Redbud Resource Group, called Right Relations. We participated to learn about alliances with local Native American communities, how to move beyond land acknowledgements, and explore future collaborations with Tribal nations.
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Let’s Go Outside Y’all
founder Heather (Diaz) Woodson, aims to help women feel empowered, included, and prepared in the outdoors. We collaborate with Let’s Go Outside Y’all on Latine/o/x Heritage Month outings and other outreach to make the Ridge Trail more welcoming to all.
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510 Hikers
make it their mission to invite, educate, and empower black people through outdoor adventures in nature. The Ridge Trail collaborates with 510 Hikers to create opportunities for outdoor recreation on managed or restricted access trails.
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Saved by Nature
works to expose and connect people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and abilities to the natural wonders & recreational opportunities of the outdoors. We partner with Saved By Nature to provide inclusive, accessible trail outings and share multilingual outreach materials.
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Partner with us!

Partner with us to make the outdoors more welcoming and accessible! Have an event, campaign, or other idea? Get in touch!

Sharing Diverse Perspectives

Leaders in DEI

To deepen our organization’s understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, we have invited experts on DEI to present to our Board of Directors. Past speakers include:

Community Stories

Celebrating Latine/Latinx Heritage Month Afuera
By Heather Woodson Diaz

Heather Diaz is a first-generation hiker who has hiked over 2500 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, and is now hiking the Ridge Trail. Read about how she is building a community–especially for Latinos and other first-generation hikers and campers–to learn to navigate, and love, the outdoors.

Read More

Native Land Acknowledgement

The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council seeks to connect communities to nature and inspire care for the land. We cannot do this without acknowledging the Native Peoples who have served as this land's past, as well as present and future stewards. We recognize that the Ridge Trail passes through traditional territories that were forcibly taken from the Miwok-, Pomo-, Wappo-, Patwin-, Karkin-, Chochenyo-, Mutsun-, Awaswas-, Thámien-, Muwekma-, and Ramaytush-speaking peoples, among others. We acknowledge the contributions and enduring presence of these and all Indigenous peoples in California and the greater United States.

Additional Resources

Strategic Plan

A key component of our Strategic Plan 2025 is to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on the trail, in the organization, and in our plans, programs and communications. We are meeting this goal by cultivating partnerships with a wide array of community groups, connecting residents with limited transportation to the Ridge Trail, and reducing other barriers to access in order to create a sense of belonging for all trail users.

Resources in your preferred language

To meet the multilingual needs of the Bay Area, we offer brochures and other materials in multiple languages. Learn about some of our projects and trails in your preferred language at the links below.

Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail

Penitencia Creek Trail / Berryessa BART Connection

Trail Accessibility

Although much of the Ridge Trail route consists of natural-surface trails, often with steep grades and rugged terrain, there are sections that are flat, paved, and/or are considered accessible. Our interactive Planning Navigator provides information to help people of all abilities determine which trails best suit their individual needs. Additionally, the Ridge Trail passes through many parks that feature trails specifically designed to be ADA-accessible and may provide more accessible alternatives to the Ridge Trail route in that park.