Windy Hill Open Space Reserve


Hike Date: 10/23/11

This week we decided to hike Windy Hill Open Space Reserve. We reached there by Highway 280 taking Alpine Road exit to Portola Road. There is a nice parking lot accommodating 30 cars at the trailhead. The day was clear and temperatures in high 60s. The trail starts behind the restrooms. The trailhead is around 600 feet elevation. In 0.1 miles from the entrance we came across a nice and small Sausal Pond. 

We took the Ridge Trail along the pond. In 0.6 miles you come across many forks on the trail. The trail does not gain much overall elevation change but goes up and down. We always kept the left and in 1.2 miles we merged into Eagle Trail, which ascends mildly. Eagle Trail goes along the Alpine Road for 0.7 miles along one side and a creek on the other side. At the end of Eagle Trail there is another entrance to the park.

At this entrance we crossed the bridge on the creek and got on to Razorback Ridge Trail. This trail ascends very steep in the dense tall Redwoods. As the name suggests, the trail goes through lot of switchbacks. After 2.3 miles uphill, it meets Bay Area Ridge Trail at 1800 feet elevation. After half mile or so the trail opens up with tall shrubs on the both sides of the trail. This is where my friend almost stepped on very swift small snake crossing the trail. You can hear the traffic noise on the trail as it goes along the skyline boulevard. After continuing on the Bay Area Ridge Trail for 2.1 miles, we took a right on Anniversary Trail. This trail continues to a beautiful Vista point on a peak. Here you get very nice view of the Bay Area.
 
We took a short break at the top. After having some snack we started downhill journey on Spring Ridge Trail, which descends very fast. On the way you get to see beautiful wild flowers. We were awed when we overtook a lady in her mid 80s going downhill. In 1.6 miles we came across a fork, where we took left on Betsy Crowder Trail. In another mile or so we reached back to the trailhead. According to my NewYu we walked for 9.7 miles in 4 hours with 1500 feet elevation change.

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