Hiking Long Ridge Open Space Preserve from Grizzly Flat to Saratoga Gap

Yesterday my College of San Mateo class met at the parking lot at the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Highway 9 (Saratoga Gap).  From there we carpooled about 4 miles north on Skyline Boulevard to begin our 5.75-mile hike at the Grizzly Flat entrance to Long Ridge Open Space Preserve.

Just a few feet down the trail we came across a wonderful display of yellow mariposa lilies. This route continues downhill into a shady forest and follows Peters Creek upstream to the south along the Peters Creek Trail to a beautiful pond. Along the way we saw lots of two-eyed violets, Ithurial's spear, clarkias, crimson columbine, checker bloom, red larkspur, poppies, and wild ginger. The pond, at the headwaters of Peters Creek, was created by the construction of an earthen dam in the early 1960's. It is on Jikoji Zen Center property.

From the pond we charged uphill to the junction of Long Ridge Road and Ward Road. Ward Road goes downhill all the way to Portola State Park. We headed south of the Long Ridge Road to the connector trail that connects to the Hickory Oaks Trail. This section of our route offers lots of beautiful views into the Pescadero Creek watershed to the west. Yesterday there was too much fog right on the coast to see the ocean. We paused for lunch in a shady oak grove high on a ridge where we enjoyed spectacular views while keeping cool in the shade. We also enjoyed bay nut brownies topped by thimbleberry preserves that one of the students ordered from Michigan. Thimble berries are native to our area, but there doesn't seem to be anyone harvesting them commercially in California.

After lunch we took the short alternate route to Turtle Rock, where Ohlone Shamans are said to have gathered for sacred ceremonies on the winter solstice. This spot has a great view of Butano Ridge and Bonny Doon Mountain to the west and south. We then continue south on the Achistaca Trail, named for a local Ohlone band, which takes us

to the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail. This trail covers 28 miles between Saratoga Gap and Waddell Beach. We walked about half a mile of it back to Saratoga Gap. Where the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail crosses Highway 9 was the most dangerous part of our hike. Cars and motorcycles race past here unaware that this is a major trail crossing. There should be a crosswalk and warning signs on Highway 9 in both directions.

TO GET THERE... The Grizzly Flat entrance to Long Ridge Open Space Preserve is along Skyline Boulevard 5 miles south of Page Mill Road and 3 miles north of Saratoga Gap. There is a "Palo Alto City Limit" sign visible if you are approaching from the south.