Every time I drive north on Interstate 280, I am amazed and
pleased by the striking contrast. On my right, 7,000,000 people are
living and working, scurrying through their crowded and hectic
lives. On my left, there is virtually nothing and nearly nobody,
just untouched open space
Every time I drive north on Interstate 280, I am amazed and pleased by the striking contrast. On my right, 7,000,000 people are living and working, scurrying through their crowded and hectic lives. On my left, there is virtually nothing and nearly nobody, just untouched open space.
It turns out this is no accident. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) was established in 1972 through a ballot measure with a mandate to preserve open space. Originally confined to northern Santa Clara County, the District’s region has been expanded to include southern San Mateo County and a small portion of Santa Cruz County. To date, MROSD has preserved 57,000 acres of mountain, foothill and bayland property in 26 open space preserves.
The first half of my life was spent north of the peninsula and the second half has been spent south of it. Traveling between the two, I have passed through many, many times, but I never stopped to poke around the peninsula’s trails. The question is which trail should I poke around in and in which preserve? There are so many.
Preferring open spaces and expansive views to wooded walks, the hike to Black Mountain at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve sounded like the ticket.
The slow, windy drive up Page Mill Road from Interstate 280 to the preserve parking area feels much longer than its seven miles. Right away, just from the parking lot, the view is fantastic. Straight ahead Monte Bello Ridge and Skyline Ridge, both densely cloaked with Redwoods and Douglas Firs, drop down to form a crease that is the headwaters of Stevens Creek. (It’s not just a boulevard!) On the left, an open grassy slope climbs toward Black Mountain 800 feet above and two miles away.
My walk was through a cool, chaotic bluster during a break in the recent succession of storms. The route to Black Mountain edges comfortably up the flank of Monte Bello Ridge along Canyon Trail then onto Bella Vista Trail. Above me, a couple of Red-Tailed Hawks were hot-dogging it on the tricky winds. To my right, I enjoyed the changing view down and across wooded Stevens Creek.
From the top of Black Mountain, the world dropped away. Over the entire Bay Area, I watched cloud clumps ride the full force of the wind variously opening and closing different vistas. Before me was an unobstructed view across every detail of the southern Bay Area to the snow-covered hills beyond. Up north, there were dark clouds – moments later, the San Francisco skyline. To the west, a couple low slots in the hills revealed the ocean. Special views were everywhere, though the clouds deprived me the full sweep from Mt. Tamalpais to Mt. Umunhum, visible on clearer days.
I enjoyed the view and watched a Northern Harrier skulk low over the open summit, prowling for prey, but the cold wind and hints of hail finally drove me down. I returned via the Indian Creek Trail – a fire road really – that descends steeply down well below the parking lot, requiring a climb back up that returning by the Bella Vista Trail would avoid.
It was too early in the season, but the brochure says wildflowers should be an added attraction later in the spring. Pick a day when clean, clear skies are likely and bring your binoculars. I can vouch for the view. Add the wildflowers, and this 5-miler is a winner.
Next time you’re headed up 280, look to the west. There’s a lot of nothing over there. Thanks to the Mid-peninsula Regional Open Space District, and a few others, it will stay that way.
