Category Archives: San Mateo County

Año Nuevo State Park: Franklin Point area winter visit

Posted on January 1, 2020 by trailhiker

Sometimes it’s interesting to visit a local park and specifically go to an area that is less heavily visited than the main park area.  This can be especially relevant at peak visiting times, such as holidays or other peak periods.  … Continue reading →

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Coal Creek Open Space Preserve

Posted on May 30, 2018 by trailhiker

This hike was my first visit to Coal Creek Open Space Preserve, a 500-acre preserve along Skyline Blvd (CA-35) just northwest of Page Mill Rd in the southeast corner of San Mateo County.  The preserve is just across Skyline Blvd … Continue reading →

Posted in Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, San Mateo County, wildflower hikes | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP – in search of trilliums

Posted on February 20, 2018 by trailhiker

A recent social media post prompted this visit to Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, one of my favorite preserves on the spine of the peninsula along Skyline Blvd (CA-35).  The 4700-acre preserve is part of the Midpeninsula Regional Open … Continue reading →

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Early spring wildflowers at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve

Posted on February 3, 2018 by trailhiker

I “discovered” Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve four years ago, and I have now visited each year during the spring or early spring.  Of course, the timing and abundance of wildflowers depend on several factors, including the timing and abundance … Continue reading →

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San Francisco Bay Trail: Dumbarton Bridge and Shoreline Trail

Posted on December 18, 2017 by trailhiker

On a day when I wanted to go for a hike but preferred something less strenuous than usual, I decided to walk across San Francisco Bay.  That may sound ambitious, but it actually wasn’t!  The Dumbarton Bridge crosses the bay … Continue reading →

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Bay Area Ridge Trail – Milagra Gate to Mussel Rock through Pacifica

Posted on December 6, 2017 by trailhiker

Recently a new 2.5-mile section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail was dedicated in Pacifica, about half in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) north of Milagra Gate and half along streets, almost to the Daly City border.  I … Continue reading →

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La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve: Harrington Creek Trail

Posted on December 4, 2017 by trailhiker

It’s always a special treat to hike a brand new trail shortly after it has been opened to the public – sometimes I’ve hiked the trail the same day, and sometimes within a week or two.  On this occasion, I … Continue reading →

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Thornewood Open Space Preserve – spring wildflowers

Posted on April 4, 2017 by trailhiker

Thornewood Open Space Preserve is a small preserve in the hills along CA-84 between I-280 and Skyline Blvd in San Mateo County.  There is basically just one trail, which leads from the parking area to the interior of the preserve.  … Continue reading →

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San Francisco Bay Trail: Bedwell Bayfront Park

Posted on January 31, 2016 by trailhiker

A recent hike took me to Menlo Park for a walk along the frontage of San Francisco Bay to the beginning of the Dumbarton Bridge on the San Francisco Bay Trail. I later returned to the starting point of that … Continue reading →

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San Francisco Bay Trail: Menlo Park

Posted on January 19, 2016 by trailhiker

The San Francisco Bay Trail is a work-in-progress network of trails encircling San Francisco and San Pablo Bays along the shoreline. I am sometimes surprised at how much of the trail is in parks and other recreation-type areas quite literally … Continue reading →

Posted in multi-use trails, Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Trail, San Mateo County | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments