Southern Skyline Ridge Trail Extension

PROJECT UPDATES

This project was approved to move forward by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) in May 2021. The project is now in process, and this page will be updated again when more progress updates are available.

THE PROJECT: Southern Skyline Ridge Trail Extension

The SFPUC is proposing to build a new 6-mile section of Ridge Trail on the San Francisco Peninsula. This multi-use trail will take you along stunning ridgelines and through pristine forests in the Peninsula Watershed in central San Mateo County.

Project Objectives

• Provide multi-modal access to the Peninsula watershed in accordance with the Peninsula Watershed Management Plan;
• Extend and enhance the Bay Area Ridge Trail on the Peninsula Watershed via construction of trail segments and associated facilities;
• Ensure watershed protection;
• Protect sensitive habitat; and
• Enhance educational opportunities.

Project Includes
Two separate and distinct trail sections:

1. A new 6-mile trail and staging area south of Hwy 92, and
2. An improved staging area and ADA accessible loop on the southern end of the Fifield Cahill Trail.

Trail Access
Two distinct trail access systems:

1. Public access by permit system (unsupervised, but restricted) on the new Southern Skyline Ridge Trail, routed along the ridgeline near Highway 35/Skyline Blvd. on less environmentally sensitive land; and
2. Public access through a supervised docent program on the existing Fifield Cahill Trail. This docent program is currently in use and has full support of the Ridge Trail.

Resources:
Project Map
SFPUC Commission Memo (May 2021)
Draft Environmental Impact Report (July 2020)
Response to Comments (April 2021)
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (April 2021)

PROJECT BENEFITS

• More Inclusive Access to the Outdoors: Public access in the outdoors matters now more than ever! Parks and open spaces around the Bay Area are experiencing record high visitorship, and trails are essential in these unprecedented times.
• Strong Partner Support: For over 20 years, the Ridge Trail has collaborated with all the major land management agencies in the area including Peninsula Open Space Trust, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and San Mateo County Parks.
• Balancing Access and Natural Resources: The agencies involved are experts at balancing the desire for public access with the need for natural resource integrity, and this balance was carefully considered in designing the project.
• Connecting The Ridge Trail: The addition of the Southern Skyline trail will bring us closer to connecting 100 continuous miles of Ridge Trail from northern Marin County deep into San Mateo county.

Thanks for supporting our work and the Southern Skyline Ridge Trail project!