Are you ready? It’s time for our annual Anti-Vday & Red Glow Night Hike, hosted by the No Worries Amigo Hiking Club
You’re invited for a night packed with fun, red glow and good vibes for all.
This night is for those looking to skip out on the expensive reservations, might not have a date and or just want to get out at night and move in a new way. This is also a family friendly event, but the furry ones must stay at home.
The night will kick off @ 6PM with snacks, warm drinks and some special surprises for our early attendees.
AboutRancho Cañada del Oro:
The preserve is in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains in South Santa Clara County. A glistening creek runs along the Llagas Meadow and deer, bobcats, mountain lions, and other wildlife roam throughout the preserve. In the spring months, wildflowers adorn the meadow and hillsides. Recreation amenities include parking for cars and horse trailers, accessible restrooms, and picnic tables.
Bills Introduced to Designate the Ridge Trail as a National Scenic Trail
Legislation would connect Bay Area parks, expand access, and boost recreation economy
San Rafael, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, along with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and every member of the Bay Area delegation, introduced legislation to help designate the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a National Scenic Trail. This designation would enhance the trail’s visibility as a world-class recreation opportunity and attract new visitors, in addition to helping connect the different routes within the trail.
Hikers climb steps on Bay Area Ridge Trail in front of Golden Gate Bridge. Photo courtesy of Christine La
“The Bay Area Ridge Trail is a crown jewel of our region, providing millions of people with access to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the country and connecting our communities to the outdoors,” said Rep. Huffman. “Designating it as a National Scenic Trail would not only help complete it – it would set it on par with iconic trails like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest and elevate the incredible and diverse Bay Area landscapes. This would be a major boost for the recreation economy, and our bill gets that ball rolling.”
The Bay Area Ridge Trail is a scenic multi-use trail stretching 550 miles along the natural features that surround the San Francisco Bay. With over 415 miles already complete, the trail connects more than 75 parks and open spaces and provides recreational opportunities for hikers, cyclists, tourists, and more across nine Bay Area counties. This bill directs the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study on making this designation, which is currently held by only 11 trails across the country.
“The Bay Area Ridge Trail gives visitors to the Bay Area and its residents the opportunity to enjoy more than 500 miles of some of California’s most incredible outdoor beauty, including parks and preserves. Providing federal recognition to this ridgeline trail will help preserve it for future generations, and I’m proud to partner with Congressman Huffman and our Bay Area delegation in the effort to make it so,” said Senator Schiff.
“This legislation kicks off a quest to add the Bay Area Ridge Trail to an elite group of National Scenic Trails, like the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail. The Ridge Trail traces the ridgelines around San Francisco Bay, offering hikers, equestrians, and cyclists access to stunning views and diverse scenic, historic and cultural landscapes, for both close-to-home jaunts and epic adventures,” said Janet McBride, Executive Director, Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. “NST status would raise awareness and expedite completion of this world-class trail, which boasts over 400 completed miles, on the path to a 550-mile fully connected loop. We applaud Congressman Huffman for spearheading this legislation, and the entire Bay Area delegation for signing on as co-authors. We invite everyone to join us on this journey!”
Cyclist traverses Marin Headlands on Bay Area Ridge Trail. Photo courtesy of Maureen Gaffney.
The legislation requires the National Park Service to complete the feasibility study within one year, in consultation with the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and relevant federal and state agencies. The trail meets all the required criteria established in the National Trails System Act of 1968 for National Scenic Trail designation, including:
Extended trail route of more than 100 miles
Provides maximum outdoor recreation potential
Provides for enjoyment of nationally significant scenic, historic, and cultural qualities
Represents desert, marsh, grassland, mountain, canyon, river, and forest
Represents landforms that exhibit significant regional geographic characteristics
Connects with side trails, which provide additional public access
“The Bay Area Ridge Trail lines a remarkable stretch of over 500 miles of stunning scenery around Northern California, giving millions of Californians access to nature and outdoor recreation opportunities,” said Senator Padilla. “Jumpstarting the effort to designate this multi-use recreation destination as a National Scenic Trail would bring in new visitors to bolster our tourism economy and safeguard some of the region’s world-class parks and landscapes for generations to come.”
“The Bay Area Ridge Trail is an iconic landmark that connects communities to nature, to open space and to one another,” said Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. “The Bay Area Ridge Trail Act will help us understand how to best preserve accessibility for exploration of the beautiful landscape that defines and surrounds our region. By studying the Ridge Trail’s future, we take an important step toward recognizing its national significance and ensuring that it can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
“Our National Scenic Trails provide wonderful opportunities for recreation, connection, and admiring our beautiful public lands,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I am proud to join this to bring this worldclass recreational experience to our community and promote access to and conversation of public lands across the country.”
“The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most beautiful recreational treasures in America, and our regional trails are beloved by local residents of all ages and welcome visitors from around the world. Congress has a unique power to help protect and expand access to precious outdoor spaces, and I wholeheartedly support elevating the Bay Area Ridge Trail to become a National Scenic Trail. As a lifelong Bay Area resident now raising my kids here, I want to do everything we can to help ensure they and future generations will continue to cherish our regional trails. I’m proud to cosponsor the Bay Area Ridge Trail Act, and thank my colleague Congressman Huffman for his steadfast leadership as Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee,” said Congressman Mullin.
“The Bay Area Ridge Trail provides over 400 miles of public trails and counting, opening our beautiful outdoors to walkers, hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. The beauty and ecological diversity of the San Francisco Bay ridge is unparalleled anywhere else in our country and I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting this critical first step toward designating the Bay Area Ridge Trail as a National Scenic Trail,” said Congressman Thompson.
“California’s natural beauty is truly one of the wonders of the world,” said Congressman Eric Swalwell. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting the Bay Area Ridge Trail Act to preserve this treasured landscape and designate it as a National Scenic Trail. One of our greatest assets as a state is our environment, and I intend to always protect it for future generations.”
“As a lifelong Californian, I am proud to join Ranking Member Huffman in introducing this critical legislation to protect the historic Bay Area Ridge Trail for generations to come,” said Rep. Garamendi. “Across the East Bay, residents come together along the Trail to hike, bike, and experience California’s breathtaking natural beauty. I will always fight to protect and expand access to America’s extraordinary outdoor spaces.”
“The Bay Area Ridge Trail is such a beautiful path, and I’m particularly excited that they’re working on nearly 50 miles of new pathway through the 18th district,” Rep. Lofgren said. ”Designating this as a National Scenic Trail will be a great boost to tourism for California, and I am excited by the prospect of more people experiencing the natural beauty of the Bay Area.”
“The Bay Area Ridge Trail’s beauty deserves national recognition. This first step toward national scenic trail status will help make our region’s national treasures available to more of our outdoor-loving community,” said Rep. Sam Liccardo.
“I am proud to support Congressman Huffman’s Bay Area Ridge Trail Act, and I’m grateful for his leadership on this issue,” said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. “The Ridge Trail protects open space, connects communities, and provides current and future generations with access to northern California’s unrivaled natural beauty. This legislation is an important step in the Bay Area Ridge Trail finally getting the federal recognition it so richly deserves.”
“The Bay Area Ridge Trail is one of the Bay Area’s greatest outdoor treasures, connecting 75 parks and allowing millions of people to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the region,” said Rep. Panetta. “This bill takes an important step toward recognizing the national significance of the trail by directing a feasibility study for National Scenic Trail designation. By preserving the beauty of this remarkable trail, we can ensure future generations can enjoy the Bay Area’s stunning natural beauty.”
“We must make sure we protect the beauty of our public lands. I’m proud to work with Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) on his National Trails System Act that will authorize the study and extension of national scenic trails that help connect communities and preserve the Bay Area,” said Rep. Ro Khanna.
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Congressman Jared Huffman represents California’s 2nd Congressional District, which spans the North Coast of the state from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, and includes Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, and Del Norte counties. He currently serves as Ranking Member of the Committee on Natural Resources and as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He is the founder of the Congressional Freethought Caucus.
The introduction of this legislation is the first step in an exciting journey for the Ridge Trail on our way to National Scenic Trail status!
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Doug McConnell, beloved host of Bay Area Backroads and OpenRoad. Doug was a gifted storyteller who helped raise awareness of the Bay Area’s rich bounty of parks and trails.
The Ridge Trail has been fortunate to work with Doug many times over the years on feature stories about Ridge Trail treasures and progress. He was a master of his craft, and his infectious enthusiasm, passionate love of nature, and joyful sense of adventure connected with generations of viewers.
He was skillful at shining a spotlight on so many environmental projects and their champions. He instantly drew people out, making it easy and fun to be out with him on a shoot.
Doug was always tremendously generous with his time – he served as Master of Ceremonies, on-stage interviewer, donor to auctions, and more. In recent years, he also used his personal health challenges to talk about the healing power of nature.
Doug fully embraced the audacious Ridge Trail vision. As he writes in his forward to our Guidebook: “I look forward to seeing you out (on the trails) … and when we meet, let’s make a date to join the big party when the last golden spike is nailed to the final trailhead and the Ridge Trail loop is complete. It will be the most epic urban trail through nature the world has ever known, another global treasure in our own backyard.”
We are so grateful to Doug for being part of the Ridge Trail journey. He was widely loved and will be deeply missed.
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
OpenRoad with Doug McConnell EP 71: The Bay Area Ridge Trail Reaching 400 Miles (2021)
Doug McConnell highlights the vision of Bay Area Ridge Trail founder, William Penn Mott, Jr.
OpenRoad with Doug McConnell EP 89: Ridge Trail Sections Increasing Accessibility in the Outdoors (2023)
OpenRoad with Doug McConnell: Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail (2018)Watch on Facebook
5.4 Miles – Newly constructed trail along the SF Peninsula opening to the public soon!
Coming soon!
5.4 Miles
After more than twenty years of anticipation, the wait is almost over—5.4 miles of brand-new Bay Area Ridge Trail will open on the San Francisco Peninsula in 2026. Led by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), with planning and support from the Ridge Trail, the Southern Skyline Ridge Trail will offer a spectacular new route parallel to Skyline Boulevard, just south of Highway 92. Complete with parking, interpretive signage and restrooms, the trail will soon welcome hikers, cyclists, and equestrians to explore this exceptional landscape for the first time.
North of Highway 92 lies the Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail, accessible only through docent-led tours. In contrast, the new Southern Skyline segment will allow visitors to explore independently with a permit. As part of the project, Fifield-Cahill will be enhanced with a new parking area and a 0.5-mile loop trail designed to be accessible for those with mobility limitations.
While the new segment greatly expands recreation opportunities, this new trail will not yet connect with existing Ridge Trail to the north or south. To the north there is currently no safe way to cross Highway 92 between Skylawn Memorial Park and the new trail. Closing this gap will require advocacy, planning, and funding—but opening the Southern Skyline Extension makes it a higher priority than ever.
To the south, the trail will end near–but not connect to–Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. Progress is underway to create a safe crossing of Skyline Boulevard. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, with funding support from the Ridge Trail Action Fund, is leading the design and construction of a crossing and an expanded parking lot that is expected to open in the next few years.
Construction is currently underway on the Southern Skyline Ridge Trail, with a public opening expected in 2026. This project stands as a powerful example of how public access and habitat protection can go hand in hand—opening one of the Bay Area’s most scenic ridgelines to a new generation of explorers.
This spring, as wildflowers bloomed across Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve, Ridge Trail staff set out on the trail with an exceptional group of visitors. Youth from the Teen Tech Center (TTC) at Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA) arrived to document the preserve through an innovative media project.
The TTC, a free San José arts education program serving youth ages 11-19, partnered with Ridge Trail staff to create three videos showcasing the preserve. Funded by a Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (the Authority) grant, the project aimed to make open spaces more accessible to diverse communities through digital storytelling.
The students’ motivation was deeply personal. As TTC student Natalia explained, “There have been times where I have wanted to visit a park or trail but was anxious because there wasn’t much information about what to expect. I wanted to create a virtual reality video to help people like myself who experience anxiety when going to new places and for people with other abilities that would benefit from an in depth video of a trail.”
The three videos each serve distinct purposes. The first explores Máyyan ‘Ooyákma’s biology, geology, and cultural significance while educating visitors on preserving its biodiversity. The second documents the filming day, capturing the students’ perspectives and their connection with the preserve’s beauty. The third offers an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience, best viewed with a VR headset.
This collaboration furthers the Ridge Trail Council’s mission through the Authority’s Urban Open Space grant program to broaden access for historically underrepresented communities within the Authority’s jurisdiction. While the Council hosts outings with partners like Latino Outdoors and Saved By Nature, these events can only reach so many people. The videos transcend those constraints, offering the preserve’s benefits—physical health, mental wellbeing, and connection to nature—to those who face barriers to visiting in person.
When asked if there was anything they’d like others to take away when viewing the videos and the VR experience, TTC student Cammie expressed,”I would like people to focus on the beauty and relaxing feeling provided by nature and really appreciate what mother nature has given us.”
The Ridge Trail Council thanks MACLA’s Teen Tech Center students for their remarkable work and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority for making this project possible.
Check out the videos below to experience the beauty of Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve!
The Ridge Trail team curated our favorite sections to inspire your next adventure!
During 2025 we celebrated the addition of 20 Ridge Trail miles, including an impressive 14 miles in Rancho Cañada del Oro Preserve and Calero County Park, plus 2.5 miles in Coyote Canyon. As we look ahead to 2026, there’s so much to explore: these brand-new sections, over 400 miles already waiting for you, and even more miles on the horizon. Where should you start? The Ridge Trail team curated our favorite sections to inspire your next adventure – check them out!
The redwoods provide shade in the summer while staying green and lush through the winter as other trees lose their leaves. And the vineyards here show off vibrant colors in the fall.
Offers stunning valley views dotted with oak trees and fall colors. Nearby Calistoga offers delicious food, plus tent and yurt camping at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.
Challenging climb out of Rancho Cañada followed by a fun and flowy descent into Calero County Park. Spring brings spectacular wildflowers and butterfly displays. Also accessible for gravel bikes.
Coming spring 2026: the wait is almost over! This new multi-use trail will reveal extraordinary views and landscapes to the public for the first time. Amenities include parking, interpretive signs, and restrooms. Read more about this upcoming trail in the SF Chronicle.
Iconic San Francisco skyline views, challenging elevation gain, and the perfect blend of urban and wild landscapes. Reward yourself with a great sandwich nearby after a hike or a run!
Perfect for spontaneous family outings. Shaded, mostly flat trails lead to the iconic bridge, then celebrate with playground time and food trucks at Tunnel Tops.
One of the best parts of Ridge Trail outings is how they bring people together in the outdoors. Group hikes and rides offer a chance to feel more confident on the trail, meet new friends (hopefully with snacks to share) and create space to share stories that inspire and connect us. When Nicky Chhetri joined this year’s East Bay Hills Hike & Ride event for the first time, she brought with her powerful stories from Nepal’s remote mountain regions—where her groundbreaking work has helped more than 2,000 women build confidence in the outdoors over the past three decades.
Nicky at the 2025 East Bay Hills Hike and Ride
A Father’s Legacy
Nicky’s journey began with a powerful example at home. Growing up as one of eight children, she watched her father—a man who never had the chance to attend school himself—work tirelessly to ensure his children could pursue higher education. He became her mentor and business advisor, and, recognizing the limited opportunities afforded to women in their rural Nepalese community, encouraged Nicky to pursue not only a better life for herself, but also for other women.
The Need for Change
In 1994, while operating a guesthouse and restaurant in Pokhara, Nepal, Nicky and her sisters, Lucky and Dicky, noticed many women trekkers were struggling with negative experiences with male guides. The three sisters realized there was a real need for women trekking guides—a profession long dominated by men—and that they could be the ones to meet it. What’s more, they could use their guesthouse and restaurant during the off season to train other women to become guides too. So, the sisters launched their trekking agency, 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking, paired with a transformative training program in Nepal’s trekking industry through a nonprofit they call Empowering Women of Nepal.
An Uphill Challenge
In the early days, the sisters faced negative responses from the nearby rural communities. Trekking was seen as a profession reserved for men, while women were expected to stay home and raise children. Many questioned whether women could handle the physical and leadership demands of guiding trekkers through rugged mountain terrain. The sisters were even sued, accused of violating cultural traditions by bringing innocent girls from remote mountain areas to the cities, allegedly to exploit them, while others, out of jealousy, resented seeing young women enter the tourism business. Still Nicky, Lucky, and Dicky persisted, driven by their vision of what women could achieve.
A Holistic Approach
The program runs two intensive training sessions each year: one month of classroom education followed by five months of paid work experience during Nepal’s trekking season. This approach not only provides both knowledge and practical skills, but also offers immediate financial independence.
The transformation goes beyond professional development. Women from remote areas with limited opportunities and low self-esteem develop confidence and leadership abilities through practical learning and group activities. By graduation, participants who once struggled to speak up are confidently sharing their experiences and inspiring others.
Nicky’s organization also addresses women’s health issues, provides free education and housing for girls from remote areas, and has created significant cultural shifts—communities that once viewed women as incapable of leadership now celebrate their daughters’ achievements as guides and entrepreneurs. Many graduates have established their own businesses, traveled internationally, and become respected community leaders—breaking cycles of arranged marriage and limited opportunities.
The Journey Continues
Today, 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking operates across Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and India, employing about 100 female and 40 male staff during peak seasons and continuing to prioritize opportunities for women from underserved communities.
Nicky’s story reminds us that powerful change can begin with a single person—or three sisters—willing to challenge the status quo, and that change can happen in the classroom and on the trail. Recreation, whether trekking up peaks in Nepal or hiking the Bay Area Ridge Trail, can build confidence and create a positive impact that ripples through a person’s life and their community. The Chhetri sisters’ mission demonstrates the transformative power of believing everyone deserves the chance to reach new heights.
If you’d like to get in touch with Nicky, you can contact her on WhatsApp (+977 98460 47356) and via email (karkinicky69@gmail.com).
14.1 Miles – One of the longest single Ridge Trail sections ever dedicated at once!
Dedicated: May 30, 2025
14.1 Miles
On a beautiful morning in late May, the sun spilled over the ridgelines, lighting up wild grasses and casting long shadows across the trail. At the Casa Loma Staging Area, hikers, cyclists, equestrians, and community members gathered to celebrate a milestone nearly three years in the making: the dedication of a spectacular 14.1-mile section of the Ridge Trail in Santa Clara County—one of the largest stretches ever to be added to the Ridge Trail network at once.
This new route winds through the rolling beauty of Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve and Calero County Park, offering panoramic views of the Diablo Range to the east and the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west.
The celebration brought together partners whose vision made this dedication possible: State Senator Dave Cortese; Patrick McGarity representing Supervisor Sylvia Arenas; Todd Lofgren of Santa Clara County Parks; Virgilio Cuasay of the State Coastal Conservancy; Andrea Mackenzie of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority; and Janet McBride of the Ridge Trail. Mackenzie summed it up perfectly: milestones like this are “fueled by collaboration, thoughtful stewardship, and a shared vision for equitable access to nature.”
The journey to this point began with a route study, generously funded by the WoodNext Foundation and the State Coastal Conservancy. Ridge Trail staff and partners analyzed 46 possible trail alternatives, ultimately mapping a bold 31-mile planned route from Mount Madonna to Almaden Quicksilver County Park. This newly dedicated segment completes 40% of that re-route—extending the Ridge Trail into one of the most remote and least developed parts of the Bay Area.
Santa Clara County hosts more Ridge Trail miles—current and planned—than any other county in the Bay Area, and more are on the horizon. The next step: extending the trail further south through a yet-to-be-opened part of Rancho Cañada del Oro, in partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and supported by the Ridge Trail Action Fund. As Supervisor Arenas reminded us, this is “more than just recreation—it’s about connecting families to open space, neighborhoods to nature, and our communities to each other.”
2.5 Miles – New Ridge Trail extending north from Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear County Park.
Dedicated: May 3, 2025
2.5 Miles
In early May, the Ridge Trail marked an exciting milestone with a ribbon-cutting for a new 2.6-mile segment at Coyote Lake–Harvey Bear Ranch County Park. This extends the Ridge Trail northward into the recently opened 2,741-acre Coyote Canyon area. Along this new segment, nearly a mile of trail meanders the ridgeline, offering sweeping views of Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San José, and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Just beyond, another two miles follow the newly built Ojo de Agua Trail, constructed by Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, a nonprofit trail-building organization. With this dedication, the park now boasts more than eight miles of Ridge Trail.
Here, trail users will experience varied terrain, including panoramic vistas, open grasslands, and regular wildlife sightings of coyotes and deer. In addition to hiking, biking and horseback riding, the park features camping for extended stays, picnic areas, fishing, and boating, making it the perfect destination for a day trip or weekend adventure. The short, but significant, new Ridge Trail segment advances progress toward future regional connections north to Anderson Lake County Park and east to Henry Coe State Park. Strong collaboration with Santa Clara County Parks has made these developments possible, as the County has incorporated these connections—and other planned Ridge Trail sections—into its Countywide Trails Master Plan.
Funding Secured to Open Easy Grade Trail to Cyclists!
Thanks to the generous support of donors and partners like California State Parks and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, the Easy Grade Trail project is now fully funded. Construction will soon begin to close a long-standing Ridge Trail gap for cyclists on Mt. Tamalpais.
The Ridge Trail has been working with State Parks and local bike advocates since 2007 to open this 0.6-mile section to bicycles. Once complete, the Easy Grade Trail will offer a safer, more direct alternative to the narrow and winding, 1.5-mile stretch of Pantoll Road.
Currently, cyclists riding the Ridge Trail from Muir Woods via Deer Park Fire Road must turn onto Pantoll Road to continue north. Once the Easy Grade Trail improvements are complete, cyclists will be able to stay on the trail, traveling north toward Mountain Theater, then connecting to Ridgecrest Boulevard and beyond.
This funding comes at a “Goldilocks” moment to make the trail change-of-use possible. With the Mountain Play on hiatus for the 2025 season, construction on Easy Grade Trail can proceed without conflicts with the theater. Construction is expected to continue through summer 2025, with the Easy Grade Trail opening for hikers and cyclists in fall 2025.
Ridge Trail Council Executive Director Janet McBride shared, “It hasn’t been easy – or quick – closing the Easy Grade gap for cyclists! The Council has been working since 2007 with State Parks, MCBC, and local trail enthusiasts to change the use on this trail to allow bicycles. This is a long-standing cycle gap in the 550+-mile Ridge Trail and we were thrilled to work with a generous donor to help deliver the last piece in the funding puzzle for this project. This is a step toward connecting the Ridge Trail for hikers, cyclists and equestrians, and we look forward to celebrating with partners and friends when Easy Grade opens later this year. Special thanks to donors Janice and Matt Barger for making this possible.”
