Windy Hill - Razorback Ridge Trail

This hike starts from the Willowbrook/Alpine Road entrance to the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. I have often done a similar hike up to Windy Hill, but using the Spring Trail on the return. This hike starts on the same Hamms Gulch trail, but instead of turning north -- you continue south on the Lost Trail and then connecting to the Razorback Ridge Trail.

An alternate route is to do the simple out and back on the Razorback Ridge trail, but I had time and wanted to do a "loop"

Trail Route (loop) : Hamms Gulch Trail -> Lost Trail -> Razorback Ridge Trail -> Eagle Trail/Alpine Road
Alternate Route (Out and back) : Eagle Trail/Alpine Road -> Razorback Ridge Trail and back

Near the summit, you will reach the end of the Hamms Gulch trail. At this point you continue south (left) on the Lost Trail.

Since you are at the summit of the mountain, the Lost Trail mostly in the open with high brush on either side. There are some shady areas, but there is lots of open sunny path.

The Lost Trail is fairly narrow and is mostly a single track trail. It is very well maintained and provides a great experience on the top of the ridge.

At one point, you will pass a small water trough for horse. This water comes from a nearby spring in the mountain.

After passing the water trough, you will soon reach the intersection with the Razorback trail. Here you continue downhill to the left.

The razorback ridge trail is fairly enjoyable, and provides mostly shade all the way down to Alpine road. However, this trail is full of tight switchbacks. It should be called "switchback" ridge trail, but Razorback sounds better.

At some points the sides along the trail are fairly steep, but the trail is very well maintained. no bikes are allowed on this trail -- but it is popular with runners/joggers.

The Razorback Ridge Trail provides a couple view points along the way -- more than the Hamms Gulch trail provides.


Some guide books suggest this routing as one of the "Best Hikes in the Bay Area" -- but this seems odd, since you completely miss the fantastic views from Windy Hill back to Bay Area. I would highly recommend this hike, if you want to experience one of the REAL Best Hikes in the Bay Area.

The Razorback Ridge trail ends on a private drive near Alpine Road.


One the way back to the parking lot, you can either walk down Alpine Road (paved road) or take Eagle Trail side trails.

The Eagle Trails are ok and run along the Corte Madera Creek. They are single track trails.


The Eagle Trail will end at this road, you should turn right to get back to Alpine Road. If you turn left, you can connect back with the Hamms Gulch trail.

This was an enjoyable hike, but if you want to avoid switchbacks and have a really nice view you should take the Hamms Gulch - Windy Hill loop instead.

More photos of Windy Hill

Basics:
Area - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District - Windy Hill in Portola Valley
Trails - Hamms Gulch Trail/Lost Trail/Razorback Trail/Eagle Trail (Trail Map)
Length - 8.2 miles roundtrip - Easy Hike (uphill, but easy)
Trail - Loop, dirt trail, limited stops along the way. Well marked and maintained, dry starting in May.
Dogs - Some (not allowed on Razorback Ridge Trail)
Bikes - Not allowed on this hike, allowed on other trails
View - Just a few
Getting There - Google Map Take 280 to Alpine Road Exit, head West toward Portola Valley. The parking lot is before Willowbrook Road.
Fee- None, free parking
Weather - Lots of Shade, can be wet at the top if very foggy during the summer.
Other Trails - there are other trails nearby including the Windy Hill Loop and Portola Ranch Trails

Hamms Gulch-Windy Hill Loop

UPDATE- June 2, 2007
Good news for dog owners -- They have cut back some of the foxtails from trails in the lower and upper areas of the Windy Hill preserve. This includes the Meadow and Anniversary Trails.

Since the options of long hikes (6+ miles) that allow dogs legally are somewhat limited in the Mid-peninsula area, I decided to take Jake to Windy Hill (again). The weather for this trip was much different from the begining of April. It is now the end of May and there has been no rain for weeks. The Corte Madera Creek runs year round, so it was the only wet spot for the entire 6 mile loop.

One warning for dog owners - the foxtails are starting to dry out and will become an issue shortly. Also we found a couple ticks on Jake during and after the hike.


We have done the Hamms Gulch Trail before in April, and the trail is in the same shape -- but dry this time. With the summer weather this trail is MUCH cooler than walking up Windy Hill on the Spring Ridge Trail. If your dog can do a 6+ mile hike, I would highly recommend this route:

Summer Route -
> Park on Alpine Road/Willowbrook
> Take connecting trails to Hamms Gulch Trail
> Turn right near the Summit on the Lost Trail
> Continue on the Anniversary Trail around Windy Hill
> Head down the Spring Trail (say hi to all the out-of-breath/hot/sweaty people going uphill)
> Right on the Meadow Trail which connects back to Alpine Road

The views from the Hamms Gulch trail are short but sweet -- although they are better on clear Winter/Spring days.


Near the top of the Hamms Gulch Trail there is a short trail leading to what look like a look-out point. Its a good rest stop, but not much view.

At the end of the Hamms Gulch Trail, you meet with the Lost Trail. This goes between Windy Hill and the Razorback Ridge Trail (this is next on the list!). Since dogs are not allowed on the Razorback Trail we headed toward Windy Hill on the Lost Trail.

This brief but enjoyable trail runs close to Highway 35/Skyline Blvd. The trail is in very good shape and there are some views.

The Lost Trail ends at the southern most Vista Point/parking lot at Windy Hill. Here there is a bathroom and good sized open parking lot (no gate). I guess people park up here and walk around the Windy Hill summit -- but walking UP this hill is half the fun, and its more enjoyable to walk down after walking up.
The Anniversary Trail wraps around Windy Hill with two options -- one on the Highway side and one with views of the Bay Area.

As I mentioned before -- the foxtail season is about to start, this trail was COVERED with fresh foxtail brush. I would NOT do this trail during the summer months (June/July/August) -- its just too risky with dogs prone to foxtail injuries.

The way down the Spring Ridge Trail is fairly steep but manageable with a dog. At 8:45am it was starting to get a bit warm (t-shirts and shorts were fine -- no need for fleece).



On the way, we saw some deer on the hill. Jake didnt even notice them, but the deer definately saw us!

The total roundtrip took 2.5 hours -- with very limited stops for photos or for Jake to check things out. Its a good workout and very enjoyable with world class views on the way down.

Basics:
Area - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District - Windy Hill in Portola Valley
Trail - Hamms Gulch Trail/Lost Trail/Anniversary Trail/Spring Ridge Trail (Trail Map)
Length - 6 miles roundtrip - Easy Hike (uphill, but easy)
Trail - Loop, dirt trail, limited stops along the way. Well marked and maintained, very dry starting in May.
Dogs - Some
Bikes - Not allowed on Hamms Gulch, allowed on other trails
View - Just a few on first half -- the second half is ALL VIEW
Getting There - Google Map Take 280 to Alpine Road Exit, head West toward Portola Valley. The parking lot is before Willowbrook Road.
Fee- None, free parking
Weather - First Half - Lots of Shade, can be cool; Second Half - in the Sun
Other Trails - there are other trails nearby including the Razorback Ridge Trail and Portola Ranch Trails

Portola Valley - Toyon Trail

This trail starts across Alpine Road from the Hamms Gulch Trail. It shares the same parking lot -- however it is a very different trail from those in the Windy Hill Open Space

The trailhead has a sign which describes the trails, usage, etc. There were no maps, so I suggest having a good book (Peninsula Trails by Jean Rusmore - Wilderness Press) or printing out the Map of Portola Valley Trails before starting your hike. There are numerous trails within the area, many connecting (and reconnecting) with other trails along the way -- so it can be a bit confusing without a map for first timers

My hike started up the Toyon Trail (single track trail), which is almost all in shade all the way to the intersection of the Lake Trail. The trail is for hiking only, there are several boards and logs that act as water diversions and prevents bikes from using the trail. Note- this trail complex is very popular with joggers/runners since its only for hiking and is shaded.


The Trail crosses a couple seasonal creeks. One of the crossings involves a narrow cut log with a rope to assist you across.


There are a few places where you break out of the shade and can view the gulch with Corte Madera creek running at the bottom. Early in the morning on a Winter/Spring day, you hear lots of water running and birds.




At the end of the Toyon Trail is two very small lakes. This one was covered with Algee, with a lone duck enjoying the day.

On the return trip, I opted to go via the Old Spanish Trail, Arroyo and Bay Laurel trails. This trails are on the east side of the Coal Mine Ridge and are much closer to the annoying McMansions of the Blue Oaks development. Within the Coal Mine Ridge area there a couple different benches and even swings for the kids.

The Old Spanish Trail is nice, but often has views of the over-sized houses nearby.


One highlight of the Arroyo trail is it opens to a nice meadow that is full of wildflowers during the spring.


Overall, not the most exciting trail. But this would be a good trail for kids or not serious hikers.

More Photos

Basics:
Area - Portola Valley
Trail - Toyon Trail (Town Trail Map)
Length - Approx. 4 miles roundtrip - Very Easy Hike (limited uphill, but very easy)
Trail - Up and Back-style or Loop -- depending if you take other trails. Dirt Trail that is well marked and maintained, can get muddy after rain storms.
Dogs - Not allowed
Bikes - Not allowed
View - Not really any
Getting There - Google Map Take 280 to Alpine Road Exit, head West toward Portola Valley. The parking lot is before Willowbrook Road.
Fee- None, free parking
Weather - Can be cool -- lots of shade, great for a sunny hot day.
Other Trails - there are other trails nearby in the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve

Portola Valley - Hamms Gulch Trail

The Hamms Gulch trail is the less popular trail in the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. The Trailhead is near Alpine and Willowbrook road in Portola Valley. There is a good size parking lot -- which also serves the Coal Mine Ridge trailhead.

The trail starts up Alpine road past the Willowbrook intersection. The trail is open to hikers and horses -- no bikes. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the trails. On this day, Jake the dog came along for a nice long hike.


This trail is very well defined and well marked, typical for Open Space trails. The trail crosses Corte Madera Creek (no bridge), which was running fairly strong after a recent rain storm.


While the trail is wide enough for easy hiking, there was a ton of Poison Oak along the trail. From the creek crossing the trail goes uphill in a very gentle way. Its a very nice cool hike with lots of shade.

A couple switchbacks are along the trail, with very limited views. There were about four points where you have a view of Portola Valley and the Bay.

If you want views of the Bay Area, this is not the trail to take. For great views, take the Spring Ridge Trail from the Portola Road trailhead.




Basics:
Area - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District - Windy Hill in Portola Valley
Trail - Hamms Gulch Trail (Trail Map)
Length - 6 miles roundtrip - Easy Hike (uphill, but easy)
Trail - Up and Back-style, dirt trail, limited stops along the way. Well marked and maintained, can get muddy after rain storms.
Dogs - Some
Bikes - None - not allowed
View - Just a few
Getting There - Google Map Take 280 to Alpine Road Exit, head West toward Portola Valley. The parking lot is before Willowbrook Road.
Fee- None, free parking
Weather - Can be cool -- lots of shade, great for a sunny hot day.
Other Trails - there are other trails nearby Eagle Trail, Coal Mine Ridge Trail, Meadow Trail

Windy Hill - Spring Ridge Trail

Windy Hill - Spring Ridge Trail (part of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District)

This popular hike starts at the Parking Lot off Portola Road in Portola Valley. The lot was empty when I arrived at 8am, but was PACKED FULL when I returned at 10:30am. My suggestion is to do this hike early in the morning, during the Spring/Summer the area can get a bit warm, but the mornings are usually cool and clear. The area is open at Dawn and closes after Sunset.

This is the entrance to the Betsy Crowder Trail which is a nice shortcut to the main Spring Ridge Trail. This trail is only open to Hikers and Horses (seasonal only)...so its a bit more private than the main trail.


The trail is very well traveled and is currently in great condition. You will pass Sausal Pond on the left which is full of birds, ducks and frogs. The Trail is a ways from the Pond, but you can still hear all the activity.

The Betsy Crowder trail will meet up with the Spring Ridge Trail and you will continue up Windy Hill to the summit on this very WIDE trail. The Spring Ridge Trail is open to Bikes and Horses and can get very "busy" during peak times. The trail starts out with a easy incline but at about half way you will notice the trail gets steep. Even Dogs have a tough time making it up at this point when its too hot.

The Views from this trail are great, you can see San Francisco, Mt. Diablo, San Jose, as well as the area towns of Portola Valley and Woodside.


At mid-point you might thing about turning back, since the trail gets quite steep -- even though its very wide and easy to walk on. But keep going up! You will pass through a zig-zag part and before you know it you will be at one of the Skyline Entrances.

At this point, continue up the Anniversary Trail up to the true Summit (just 0.2 miles) . Here you get a 360 view of the Bay Area and can see the Pacific Ocean on a clear day.

The way back down is great with even more views and a very EASY walk down. There are a lot of dogs on this trail and unfortunately some dog owners are not cleaning up after their pets. But that was my only complaint. This is a great trail that is very well maintained and should be a "must do" hike if you live in the Bay Area.

My route: Start on Parking Lot off Portola Road (NOT off Hwy 35). Take the Betsy Crowder Trail to the Spring Ridge Trail then on to Anniversary Trail to the Summit.

More Photos


Basics:
Area - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District - Windy Hill in Portola Valley
Trail - Betsy Crowder Trail/Spring Ridge/Anniversary Trail (Trail Map)
Length - 5.2 miles roundtrip - Moderate Hike (some steep parts)
Trail - Up and Back-style, dirt trail/dirt road, some stops along the way. Very well marked and maintained. No roads to cross.
Dogs - Yes - Lots!
Bikes - Yes, on most main trails
View - Tons, bring a camera
Getting There - Google Map Take 280 to Alpine Road Exit, head West toward Portola Valley. Turn Right on Portola Road (first stop sign). The Parking Lot has a sign and will be on the Left after the Sequoias Retirement Community.
Fee- None, free parking
Weather - If you can see Fog, bring a jacket -- otherwise you might want to pack a sweater for cool mornings. I found it really only "windy" at the Summit.
Other Trails - there are other trails within this park. Trail maps and info available at the Parking Lot.