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Living on the San Francisco Peninsula means having some extraordinary outdoor escapes within reach—and there’s a brand-new one to add to your weekend list. The Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail officially opened on August 24, 2026, introducing nearly six miles of new trail through the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s carefully protected 23,000-acre Peninsula Watershed. The trail begins just south of the intersection of Highways 35 and 92 and travels along the ridgeline through grasslands, wetlands, coastal scrub, Douglas fir forest, and redwood groves. Along the way, hikers, runners, cyclists, and equestrians can take in expansive views toward Crystal Springs Reservoir, San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. It’s exactly the kind of close-to-home adventure that makes living at Bay Meadows—and on the Peninsula—so appealing.

This isn’t simply a pretty place to take a walk. The Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail is the newest segment of the larger Bay Area Ridge Trail, an ambitious regional vision for a continuous trail tracing the ridgelines surrounding San Francisco Bay. Ten interpretive panels along the new route turn an afternoon outside into an open-air classroom, sharing stories about local plants and wildlife, watershed stewardship, and the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. The six-foot-wide crushed-rock trail offers a combination of easier stretches and challenging hills and curves, with approximately 1,500 feet of elevation gain when traveling north to south. While the new trail is approximately six miles long, it’s currently out-and-back with no through connections, meaning adventurers who travel its entire length should prepare for a roughly 12-mile round trip. A future connection to Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve is also in the planning stages.

Consider this your opportunity to unplug for a few hours. Pack plenty of water, sunscreen, a snack, and perhaps binoculars, then leave the everyday routine behind for a landscape that, until now, has had highly restricted public access. A free annual permit is required, is available for immediate use, and covers a permit holder and up to six guests. Parking is also free and first-come, first-served at the Highway 35 trailhead, with gates open daily from 6 a.m.–6 p.m. One important note for Bay Meadows’ many dog lovers: leave your four-legged hiking partner at home for this adventure. Dogs, including leashed dogs, aren’t permitted in order to protect sensitive habitat, wildlife, and drinking-water quality. There is also no potable water, no trash service, and no picnic tables along the route, so arrive prepared and pack out everything you bring. Cyclists should note that e-bikes and other motorized devices aren’t permitted; given the crushed-rock surface and steeper sections, mountain-terrain-appropriate bikes are recommended.

Back at Bay Meadows, that same connection between movement, open space, and everyday life is woven right into the neighborhood. With 18 acres of parks and open space, pocket parks, playgrounds, walking and biking paths, and direct connections to the San Francisco Bay Trail, getting outside doesn’t have to wait for the weekend. A morning walk through the neighborhood, an afternoon bike ride, or a family outing can all be part of the routine—and now the Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail gives residents another remarkable Peninsula destination to explore when they’re ready to go farther. It’s one more reason we love our San Mateo home base: city conveniences when you want them, with some of Northern California’s most beautiful open spaces waiting when it’s time to unwind, unplug, and reconnect with nature.

Before you go: Get your free annual permit, download the trail map, check current conditions, and plan your turnaround point before setting out. Bring all the water you’ll need, prepare for changing weather and exposed stretches, and remember that the full trail means a 12-mile round trip.  Great resources for this adventure can be found here and here.