Beautiful shaded hike through forests.

Location: Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve — Long Ridge Open Space Preserve

» Official Trail Map: Good quality map showing various trails.

» South Skyline Regional Map by MROSD: Awesome map showing many parks managed by MROSD (Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space Destrict). Long, interesting routes going through multiple parks can be chalked out using this map.

» Redwood Hikes Map: Bay Area Trail Map: Saratoga to Big Basin, First edition, 2010. This is an excellent map sold by Dave Baselt ($6.95 in Dec 2011). This map is useful for exploring many parks in this area. Highly recommended for avid hikers.

» Redwoodhikes Trail Map: Great map showing many parks like Purisima Creek, Huddart, Wunderlich, El Corte De Madera, Foothills, Hidden Villa and Rancho San Antonio. Trail maps for individual parks are available online for free. However, the RedwoodHikes map shows the big picture and is helpful for planning hikes that go through multiple parks.

Route in brief: From the parking lot, walk south along Hwy 9. Within 0.1 miles, there is a sign for Skyline to the Sea Trail on the left. Follow Skyline to the Sea Trail (0.5 miles). Cross Hwy 9 and continue along Skyline to the Sea Trail (0.2 miles) → Nutmeg Trail (0.3 miles) → Red Mountain Trail (0.5 miles) → Skyline to the Sea Trail (0.9 miles) to Sempervirens Vista Point. Cross over Highway 9 to reach a parking lot with restrooms. Continue along Summit Meadows Trail (1.0 miles) to reach a parking lot on Highway 9. Cross over to the other side and continue along Skyline to the Sea Trail (0.7 miles). Cross Highway 9 once again and continue along Skyline to the Sea Trail (0.6 miles).

Notes:

1. At Sempervirens Point, there is an unnamed trail right in front of the parking lot. Do not take this trail. The correct trail is Summit Meadows, which is next to the restroom.
2. Castle Rock Trail Map is helpful for details of Skyline to the Sea Trail and Summit Meadows Trail.

Location: Intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd) . Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Directions: From Highway 85, take Exit 14 for Saratoga Ave going south. After 1.8 miles, continue along Big Basin Way (Highway 9) for 7.3 miles to reach the junction with Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd)

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: None (last visited: October 2010)

Capacity: About 20 cars.

Latitude: 37.258513     Longitude: -122.121955