Ridge Trail Ride

Overview

From the marked parking area, take the Grizzly Flat trail on the south side of Skyline Blvd to a junction. Turn right at the junction for Ridge Trail.<br><br>Stay on this trail until you reach a dirt parking lot with a shack - the continuation of this trail is behind the shack (there is a sign but it may be hard to spot). Ride the sweet singletrack until you hit a fire road and turn left to stay on Ridge Trail. Turning right would take you back to Skyline Blvd.<br><br>At this point there are many fire road branches that will take you to Skyline, so try to keep left on junctions. Eventually you'll see a lake and cross a small bridge. About 100 yards from that bridge, take a sharp left turn to go uphill. It's ok not to make that left turn but you'll end up at the parking loop for Skyline Ridge OSP, and you'll have to find the path that takes you back to Ridge Trail. This section is probably the steepest part of the ride (doesn't matter which direction), so push for it! The view will be rewarding.<br><br>Follow the trail until you cross a road to enter Russian Ridge OSP, at which point it's really straight forward. At the junction that marks for Hawk Trail to the left, take the faint trail to the RIGHT underneath some power lines. This nice singletrack wraps around the hill and will spit you out back onto some fire road. Don't go onto the fire road as it is private/off-limits. Instead, go across it and the trail continues on loose rocks. The trail winds around and crosses over the fire road again.<br><br>The end of the trail will put you at Rapley Ranch Road, at which point you can simply reverse your route or take Skyline Blvd back to your car.

Trail Stats

Photos

The viewpoint at Borel Hill

The viewpoint at Borel Hill

Russian Ridge, Ridge Trail

Russian Ridge, Ridge Trail

Russian Ridge

Russian Ridge

Worth taking the little detour to the top of the Borel Hill for a nice Bay view

Worth taking the little detour to the top of the Borel Hill for a nice Bay view

More waves of grain.

More waves of grain.

The winding Ridge Trail.

The winding Ridge Trail.

Tree covered portion of chestnut trail.

Tree covered portion of chestnut trail.

View of South Bay

View of South Bay

View of the valley

View of the valley

Goodbye Russian Ridge

Goodbye Russian Ridge

Awesome view on the ridge

Awesome view on the ridge

Looking south

Looking south

Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve Ancient Oaks Trail

Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve Ancient Oaks Trail

Borel Hill

Borel Hill

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