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(Note: GPS didn't start until over a mile in.)
I hadn't done a Bay Area day hike since last year,
partly because I knew all the trails were seeing heavy traffic in the
age of Covid-19. So I'm not sure why I thought today, Veteran's Day,
would be any different.
Oblivious, I drove over to Wunderlich County Park only to find the
small parking lot full and cars circling, waiting for spots. It
was 10am. I didn't know if I'd have to wait 10 minutes or an hour,
so I decided I'd pivot to someplace reasonably close, Windy Hill.
I figured that even if the lot at Windy Hill was full, I could park
on the side of the road (something not allowed at Wunderlich),
or at the Portola Valley Town Center down the road. As it turned out,
I got one of the last open parking spots - and the best one, right next
to the trailhead.
It's a mild climb at the start before turning uphill to the right at an intersection.
I shortly passed the other end of the Betsy Crowder Trail (on the right)
and continued climbing. It's mostly unshaded, with brief sections under
trees. After one such section, I emerged to see my first view of Windy
Hill looming up next to Skyline Boulevard.
View of Windy Hill (top left)
Dogs and bicycles are allowed on the trail, so expect to see both. They
didn't seem too numerous, though. It's about 2.5 miles from the trailhead
up to the top, with the views getting better as you climb higher. The
Spring Ridge Trail tops out at the parking lot on Skyline. Just before
reaching the parking lot, I took the Anniversary Trail to the left. From there
I went past a bench (the top of Windy Hill is to the right from here) and
continued to another bench where I turned right to visit the Herb Grench
Overlook (there's another bench here). There are nice views of the bay from
here. There are also nice views across Skyline toward the ocean.
Looking down from the Anniversary Trail
Anniversary Trail
Another view from the Anniversary Trail
Looking across Skyline Boulevard from near the Herb Grench Overlook
After taking some pictures, I backtracked to the first bench and went up to
the top of Windy Hill, then started the return descent on the same trails I'd
taken up.
View of the Bay
Looking down across the preserve
Another view of the Bay
Skyline from near the top of Windy Hill
View from the top of Windy Hill
One of the few forested sections
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