Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
About Windy Hill Open Space Preserve: Windy Hill was the first protected property of the Peninsula Open Space Trust and is now administered and maintained by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Located in Portola Valley and named for its breezy grass-covered hilltop, it features open grassland ridges and forests of redwood, fir, and oak. Park hours are from 8:00 a.m. to dusk.
Hike Description: Our hike started with a short walk along the Betsy Crowder Trail and then up through grasslands to Skyline Blvd along the Spring Ridge Trail. The highest point on the hike, where we got to admire simultaneous views of the coast and bay, is the top of a hill along the Anniversary Trail. It was a beautiful day and we could actually see boats out at sea from our highest point along the trail. We then descended on the forested Hamms Gulch Trail back to the parking lot. The hike was about eight miles long and took us a little under four hours to complete.
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The Hikers at Windy Hill |
Fog on the Horizon - Windy Hill |
Park Details and Maps |
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| Hours: 8 a.m. to dusk | |
Driving Directions: The lower parking lot for Windy Hill is located on Portola Rd. in the town of Portola Valley. From I-280, exit Alpine Road and go south about 2.9 miles to Portola Road (the first stop sign). Turn right on Portola Road and travel 0.8 miles to the Windy Hill parking lot on the left side of the road. Parking: FREE |
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