Several months ago, I visited the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District (MROSD) offices. I went to find out what they did
and how they did it. I knew they worked to preserve special
ecosystems and wildlife habitats, but I wanted to know more. As I
left, I asked my host,
”
If you were to recommend one particular preserve to visit from
among the 26 you manage, which would it be?
”
Several months ago, I visited the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) offices. I went to find out what they did and how they did it. I knew they worked to preserve special ecosystems and wildlife habitats, but I wanted to know more. As I left, I asked my host, “If you were to recommend one particular preserve to visit from among the 26 you manage, which would it be?”
From the look on his face, an answer wouldn’t be easy. It seemed as though I had asked a parent which of his children was his favorite. Finally, he said, “In spring, I like to go to Russian Ridge. The flowers are great there.”
That was back in February, too early for spring’s best color, so I made a note to return in April.
After a little homework, I noticed that Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve faces west toward the ocean. I decided to hike the preserve in the afternoon, hoping to watch the sun’s light sweeten toward sunset and cast a warming glow over whatever I would find.
Last Saturday, I drove up Highway 280 to Page Mill Road and followed it eight slow and twisty miles to Skyline Boulevard at the top of the Peninsula hills. The intersection of Page Mill Road and Skyline Boulevard is a hub where five MROSD preserves (Los Trancos, Monte Bello, Russian Ridge, Skyline Ridge and Coal Creek) converge, and a number of others are close by. Page Mill Road becomes Alpine Road when it crosses Skyline Boulevard. Parking for the Russian Ridge Preserve is on Alpine Road immediately across Skyline.
After a short walk from the parking lot, spectacular views open up over the descending folds of the Santa Cruz Mountains out to the ocean. The close-in mosaic of lush grasslands with oaks and Douglas firs nestled in the hill’s creases is replaced by a solid blanket of conifers as the hills descend toward the wetter hills nearer the coast. The trail system here is essentially two parallel trails – an upper and a lower – which contour across the slope following the line of Skyline Boulevard. The upper trail is a portion of the Bay Area Ridge Trail that traverses the preserve.
I found the lower track along Ancient Oaks and Hawks Trails to be far more interesting, weaving in and out of stands of wind-twisted oaks, while the higher route only travels through open grasslands and does not offer the same variety.
After the first couple turns on Ancient Oaks Trail, the show was on. The slope drops away quickly beneath your feet toward sweeping views of the coast. The feeling of exposure is a temptation to push off and take flight. Then, look down at the variety of flowers. No gaudy display here, but a nice variety: violets, red maids, lupine and quite a few checkerblooms, an elegant pink flower that I don’t see as often.
For flower nerds, I enjoyed a special find. The Ancient Oaks Trail turns back into an oak forest after a short swing out toward the southwest. I was fortunate to notice two Trillium just to the right of the trail, both proudly displaying an exotic blossom above broad three-leaved platforms.
My sunset plans were thwarted by coastal fog and transformed my spacious setting into a windy, cold, gray cocoon. Sunset would indeed be beautiful here, but I picked the wrong day. The good news: Russian Ridge’s moment to shine this spring is still to come. The walking is easy, the views are terrific.
You’ll have a great day, satisfaction guaranteed.
