LONG RIDGE OPEN SPACE PRESERVE
Long Ridge Loop | La Honda, CA
★★★★☆
Oh my gosh we did not expect this unassuming little trail to steal our breaths (and the space on our camera memory cards) away!
Last hiked 3/21/21
Length: 5.3 mi.
Gain: 1140 ft.
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Low
Crowds: Low
Dogs: No
THE RUNDOWN
This open space preserve is an underrated, unassuming little spot, primarily utilized by mountain bikers, but an equally wonderful place for hikers to enjoy the nature that the South Bay has to offer, with relatively low crowds.
Park on the shoulder of Skyline near the Hickory Oaks Trailhead. We'd estimate there is space for around 8-10 cars here. You may find more spots further along Skyline if these are filled.
Park Hours: Half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset.
Fees: None
Trailhead: Hickory Oaks Trailhead
Restroom: No
Take a clockwise loop from the Hickory Oaks Trailhead.
Park on the shoulder of Skyline near the Hickory Oaks Trailhead. You may find more spots further along Skyline if these are filled.
STEP BY STEP
↑ Proceed to Hickory Oaks Trail.
→ Turn right to stay on Hickory Oaks Trail.
→ Stay right to proceed long the unnamed trail which traces the ridgeline to Long Ridge Road.
→ Make a right at the fork for Long Ridge Trail.
→ Make a sharp hairpin right turn and continue onto Peters Creek Trail.
← After the Peters Creek Trail switchbacks, make a left onto the unnamed trail connecting Long Ridge and Hickory Oaks Trails.
← Make a left onto Hickory Oaks Trail.
← Make a final left to stay on Hickory Oaks Trail to return to the trailhead.
A jaw-dropping wall of trees greets us less than a mile in.
Sunrise hikes can be beautiful, but sunsets here are otherworldly and not to be missed.
Half of this trail is shaded, making it a perfect warm-weather hike.
MUSINGS
Quite frankly, we had pre-judged this hike to be a casual walk in an average park, with some nice, average nature views. We're so glad we were wrong.
A mere quarter of a mile into our hike, we were hit with stunning views of a vast expanse of redwood trees in the distance, blanketing the surrounding hills and creating a surreal wall of gradient green that seemed to go on endlessly.
As we continued towards Long Ridge Road, we came across one of the best views in the South Bay. We honestly don't think that's an exaggeration. Layers of rolling hills, fog gently curling over the tops of them, and the golden sunlight kissing everything it touched... we were reminded of how lucky we are to live in such a gorgeous place.
Up til Peters Creek Trail, a large portion of the trail follows the contour of the ridgeline, so you'll be rewarded with a practically unbroken continuum of views, views, views!
Peters Creek Trail dips into the denser forested area. The air feels cooler and the atmosphere more secluded here. As you near the end of Peters Creek Trail, you'll come across a peaceful little pond, which is filled with (mating) newts and photogenic algae in springtime.
We highly recommend that you time your hike such that you can wrap up near sunset, as we did; as you return to the trailhead, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy the ridgeline views one more time. We took full advantage and milked our time on this portion of the hike. We also gobbled back at some turkeys and tiptoed past some deer before promising each other that we would come back soon!
MORE INFO
Some Reminders
Share the trail with mountain bikers who pick up a lot of speed on some of the steeper hills.
Keep a healthy distance away from the wildlife!
Helpful Resources
Official park page here
Good Eats
There are lots of dining options along Big Basin Way in Saratoga, though we haven't tried many of them ourselves. We have, however, frequented Sue's Gallery Cafe in the past. The cafe never fails to deliver on quality tea, coffee, and ambiance.