| Hike | Miles | Vertical | Time | Rating |
|---|
| North Skyline |
 | Purisima Creek
[Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve] |
10.1 |
1750 |
5:44 |
8 |
 | Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve
[Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve] |
3.3 |
660 |
3:08 |
7 |
| Some fantastic views along the ridge, bookended by a couple of uninspiring ponds.
|
 | El Corte de Madera Creek
[El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve] |
10.5 |
2000 |
5:50 |
7 |
 | Stevens Creek Nature Trail
[Monte Bello Open Space Preserve] |
3.0 |
570 |
2:31 |
6 |
| A few nice views of the hills, but mostly a walk through the
forest near a little creek.
|
 | Los Trancos
[Los Trancos Open Space Preserve] |
3.0 |
580 |
2:00 |
6 |
| A forested hike on the San Andreas Fault,
including an interpretive trail about earthquakes.
|
 | Tafoni Trail
[El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve] |
2.1 |
415 |
1:37 |
6 |
| A short hike in the forest to some sandstone formations.
|
 | Pulgas Ridge
[Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve] |
3.2 |
535 |
1:55 |
6 |
 | Windy Hill Loop
[Windy Hill Open Space Preserve] |
8.2 |
1000 |
4:16 |
6 |
 | Borel Hill
[Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve] |
4.5 |
1105 |
3:57 |
5 |
 | Coal Creek Open Space Preserve
[Coal Creek Open Space Preserve] |
5.0 |
990 |
3:12 |
5 |
| Non-descript eastern Santa Cruz mountain forest (meaning no redwoods).
|
 | Windy Hill Climb
[Windy Hill Open Space Preserve] |
5.6 |
1400 |
2:03 |
5 |
 | Edgewood County Park
[Edgewood County Park] |
4.0 |
760 |
2:16 |
4 |
| A short hike near Interstate 280. Lots of wildflowers
in the spring. |
| San Mateo Coast |
 | Ano Nuevo Trail
[Ano Nuevo State Reserve] |
3.0 |
50 |
2:30 |
7 |
 | Franklin Point
[Ano Nuevo State Reserve] |
3.0 |
200 |
2:00 |
6 |
 | Old Landing Cove
[Wilder Ranch State Park] |
2.5 |
160 |
2:15 |
6 |
| A hike along coastal bluffs to a cove with a beach and a fern cave.
|
 | Bean Hollow
[Bean Hollow State Park] |
1.3 |
0 |
1:00 |
6 |
| A short walk along coastal bluffs, with views of harbor seals and
interesting sandstone formations.
|
 | Pescadero Marsh
[Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve] |
1.0 |
60 |
1:19 |
4 |
| Very short hike cut even shorter by overgrown trail.
|
| Other |
 | Butano State Park
[Butano State Park] |
6.2 |
1625 |
4:05 |
7 |
| A quiet day hike with a few views and some nice redwood forests.
|
 | Chalk Mountain
[Big Basin State Park] |
9.0 |
1990 |
6:05 |
6 |
 | Mt. Ellen and Pomponio Trail
[Memorial County Park] |
4.0 |
850 |
2:36 |
6 |
| A loop hike to some decent forested canyon views and some nice redwood
and fern-filled areas.
|
 | Pescadero Creek
[Pescadero Creek County Park] |
10.0 |
1640 |
6:14 |
6 |
 | Heritage Grove Trail
[Sam McDonald County Park] |
5.0 |
1115 |
3:37 |
5 |
| A short hike amongst the redwoods and banana slugs.
|
 | Costanoa Trip
[trip report] |
| A nice weekend trip to the coast just south of Big Sur. Includes a couple
of nice day hikes in Big Basin and Ano Nuevo.
|