Spring
Ridge-Hamms Gulch Loop,
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve,
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District,
San Mateo County
In brief:
7.2 mile loop starts in Portola Valley and climbs to the crest of the Santa Cruz
Mountains, then drops sharply back through grassland. Very pretty and cool in
summer fog.
Getting there:
From Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, exit Alpine Road (exit 22). Drive west
about 3 miles, and turn right at the first stop sign, onto Portola. Drive about
0.8 mile, and turn left into the parking lot.
Trailhead details:
Large parking lot. No entrance or parking fees. Two designated handicapped parking
spots, and trails are wheelchair accessible (with assistance, and for a limited
distance). Wheelchair-accessible pit toilet at edge of lot. Maps available at
the information signboard. No drinking water.
Gas, food, and lodging:
Pay phone, deli, and gas station near the junction of Portola and Alpine Road.
More stores, gas stations, and restaurants back toward 280 on Alpine Road. SamTrans
bus #282 runs along Portola, right past the trailhead. There is no camping in
this preserve. Nearby parks with camping include Pescadero Creek County Park and
Portola Redwoods State Park.
Rules:
A few trails are multi-use. Most are open to equestrians and hikers only, but
seasonally closed to horses. Two trails are designated hiking only. Leashed dogs
are permitted on the hike described below; they are not allowed on every Windy
Hill trail.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 7.2 mile loop hike is moderate, with about 1400 feet in elevation
change. There are two main trailheads: the Portola Valley Trailhead elevation
is under 600 feet. The Skyline Boulevard Trailhead elevation is about 1800 feet.
From either trailhead, you can create easy or moderate hikes on mostly level trails,
but as soon as you start climbing or descending, the hiking is more challenging.
The Official Story:
MROSD's
Windy Hill page
MROSD field office: 650-691-1200
Map Choices:
• Use AAA's San Francisco Bay Region map to get there
• Map
from MROSD (download Windy Hill pdf).
• 
This hike is described
and mapped in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco, by Jane Huber (yup,
that's me, the creator of this website). Order
this book from Amazon.com.
• 
Peninsula Tales
and Trails, by David Weintraub (order
this book from Amazon.com) has an overview of the preserve, descriptions of
hikes, and simple maps.
• Afoot and Afield: San Francisco Bay Area, by David Weintraub (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a great map and descriptions of this hike.
• The Trail Center's Trail Map of the Southern Peninsula is good (but
doesn't show the newish Betsy Crowder Trail)
• Peninsula Trails, by Jean Rusmore, has a simple map and descriptions
of this hike (order
this book from Amazon.com).
• 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area, by Ann
Marie Brown (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a simple map and featured hike.
• Virtual
Parks has a nice panorama from the top of Windy Hill (requires Apple or Windows).
• Tom Taber's Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Book has a simple map and
preserve descriptions (order
this book from Amazon.com).
Spring
Ridge/Hamms Gulch in a nutshell -- a printable, text only guide to
the featured hike.
• View photos from this hike.
Trails at some bay area parks
and preserves are seasonally closed to cyclists and equestrians when winter rains
create muddy conditions. Trudging through mud is generally not fun, but by late
winter, unless it's been raining heavily, the trails are just a bit damp, and
although still closed to bikes and horses, perfectly passable. A seasonal closure
is a perfect opportunity to hike through a preserve normally heavily used by equestrians
and cyclists, such as Windy Hill.
The Spring Ridge/Hamms Gulch Loop at Windy Hill
is stunning during wildflower season. There are often so many hound's tongue and
trillium along Hamms Gulch Trail that I found myself bored with them after a few
miles. On Lost Trail, Anniversary Trail, and Spring Ridge Trail, mule ear sunflowers,
fiddlenecks, California poppy, checkerbloom, blue-eyed grass, redmaids, lupines,
and popcorn flowers are at their peak in spring. Spring and early summer, when
the temperatures are warm but not too hot, are good seasons to visit. In autumn
the maples and oaks at Windy Hill are lovely, and in the doldrums of winter the
berries on hawthorn, snowberry, and madrone are cheerful.
If you hike Windy Hill on a cool day, dress warmly. Winds can really whip down
Spring Ridge Trail, and you'll learn why Windy Hill got its name. I really prefer
hiking the Spring Ridge/Hamms Gulch Loop so that I ascend on Hamms Gulch, rather
than Spring Ridge Trail. Hamms Gulch is an easier climb, but then again when you
hike up Spring Ridge you'll have nice views of Windy Hill, rather than east into
the valley.
Start at the information signboard. Walk west
on a flat path through valley oaks and coyote brush. After about 250 feet,
you'll reach a junction. Turn left (toward Alpine Road). The broad level
path, open to hikers, cyclists, and equestrians, skirts the shore of Sausal Pond.
On the left a retirement complex is visible. Once past the pond, the trail begins
a slight climb. Valley and coast live oaks tower overhead, with willow, snowberry
and coyote brush in the understory. As the trail crests, at 0.50 mile, you'll
reach the signed junction with Spring Ridge Trail. Continue straight, toward
Alpine Road.
The
trail ducks beneath the shade of oaks. You may see buttercups and hound's tongue
in late winter. At 0.65 mile, beneath some huge old oaks, you'll arrive at a two-part
junction. A path to Alpine Road departs to the left. A private driveway is on
the right. A few steps later, to the right, Meadow Trail sets off uphill on the
right, and Hamms Gulch continues straight. So bear right, then walk straight
on Hamms Gulch Trail, a trail open to hikers and equestrians (seasonally closed
to horses during wet winter months).
In late winter, I saw some bluedicks, blue-eyed
grass, and one ripe woodland strawberry, peeking out of the grass, heralding spring.
Sporadic black oaks and coast live oaks give way to thick stands of California
bay, bigleaf maple, and buckeye as Hamms Gulch Trail heads into the woods, following
along Corte Madera Creek. Traffic noise from Alpine Road is audible. Poison oak
is common, along with snowberry. In spring, look for the dramatic giant trillium,
milkmaids, forget-me-not, and hound's tongue. You might catch fading currant and
gooseberry blossoms as well. Hamms Gulch Trail dips down to cross the creek, then
begins to climb. At 0.98 mile, Eagle Trail departs on the left, on the way to
Razorback Ridge Trail. Continue straight on Hamms Gulch Trail.
There are
only two steepish grades on Hamms Gulch Trail, which ascends mostly on broad switchbacks.
After a short moderate climb (still easier than almost any fire road), the narrow
trail eases up. A few redwoods and Douglas firs can be spotted, but mostly you'll
see creambush, California bay, coast live oak, maple, madrone, poison oak, and
hazelnut. Shooting stars, gooseberry, and currant blossom in the winter, while
hound's tongue, milkmaids, solomon's seal, and trillium put forth flowers in early
spring. You'll be climbing along the south bank of Hamms Gulch, and as you ascend,
where vegetation permits you'll have views north across the gulch, to grassy Spring
Ridge. The trail takes a turn to the left and briefly steps out into chaparral.
Coyote brush dominates, but if you're hiking in winter, look on the left side
of the trail for the yellow flowers of leatherwood, a rare shrub. Hamms Gulch
Trail returns to the woods, but soon steps out again to a clear spot with the
best views uphill to Windy Hill. A bench just before a sharp switchback is a good
location for a scenic rest break. The trail resumes a climb through woodland.
Unexpectedly, Hamms Gulch creeps 
through
the lower reaches of a sloping grassy meadow. You'll catch a glimpse of the forested
slopes of the preserve's southern portion to the left. But the bucolic sojourn
is short lived, and Hamms Gulch Trail darts back into the woods. You'll pass a
rustic wooden bench next to a seasonal creek, then climb through cool woods, where
tanoaks make an appearance. Two large maples, lovely in autumn, sprawl over the
trail at a switchback. Currant and thimbleberry are common trailside plants. The
trail passes a couple of huge Douglas firs, some of their branches as large as
full-size trees. At 3.36 miles, Hamms Gulch Trail ends at a signed junction with
Lost Trail. Turn right on Lost Trail, heading toward Spring Ridge Trail.
Douglas firs perch downhill on the right, but the
trail, open to hikers and equestrians only (seasonally closed to horses) levelly
sweeps through chaparral. You may see more flowering currant in late winter, and
creambush in bloom in early summer. Coyote brush begins to fade away, and you'll
enter grassland. Look for mule ear sunflowers, fiddlenecks, 
and
California poppies in early spring. Bob's bench offers views to the east. After
a brief foray through some California bay, tanoak, coast live oak, and Douglas
fir, Lost Trail cuts through chaparral, and then ends at a signed junction near
the Skyline Boulevard trailhead, at 3.92 miles. Picnic tables and a pit toilet
make this a logical lunch break location, particularly if you're hiking with kids.
When you're ready, resume hiking on Anniversary Trail, which begins where
Lost Trail leaves off.
Part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail's Windy Hill segment,
Anniversary Trail is narrow, but open to cyclists, equestrians, and hikers. Just
before the trail begins a slight climb, there's a junction at about 4 miles. Hikers
continue to the right, while equestrians and cyclists skirt the hill on a trail
to the left. Stay to the right.
California poppy and checkerbloom dot the grassland
in early spring. There are nice views back down Spring Ridge toward Portola Valley
and beyond, to Mount Hamilton, the Santa Clara Valley, Mount Diablo, and Mission
Peak. Anniversary Trail climbs gently 
across
the hill's eastern face. Two side trails head off to the left, while some benches
content those happy to soak in the view. If you walk uphill to the summit (there's
no sign, but it's obvious), you'll have grand vistas of western San Mateo County's
rolling hills, and the ocean. Anniversary Trail starts to descend, and ends at
a signed junction near a Skyline Boulevard pullout and the start of Spring Ridge
Trail, at 4.45 miles. Turn right on Spring Ridge Trail.
The broad multi-use trail almost immediately plummets
through grassland. Spring Ridge Trail can be muddy in winter, and rutted as it
dries out. There are sweeping views as you descend, past the forested hillsides
of Hamms Gulch and Jones Gulch, to Black Mountain. Coyote brush dots the grassland,
and a bunch of Monterey cypress sit off the trail to the left. Coast live oaks
provide shade on a brief stretch. A few feet of level trail is followed by another
straight steep section. In early spring, you might see California buttercups,
blue-eyed grass, scarlet pimpernel, redmaids, lupines, and popcorn flowers.
Just past some madrones, maples, and coast live oaks, Spring Ridge Trail reaches
a signed junction, at 6.13 miles. Meadow Trail, on the right, descends to meet
a junction you will have encountered earlier, at the start of Hamms Gulch Trail.
Stay to the left on Spring Ridge Trail.
There's some substantial shade at last, from coast
live oaks and madrones. You'll pass a large patch of blackberry on the left. Spring
Ridge Trail curves downhill, meeting Betsy Crowder Trail at the edge of a meadow
at 6.41 miles. Turn left on Betsy Crowder Trail.
The somewhat narrow trail is open to hikers only
during wet months, although equestrians are welcome in summer and autumn. Betsy
Crowder Trail descends slightly at the edge of the meadow, then turns and heads
toward Sausal Pond. Poison oak, toyon, and coyote brush accompany oaks, madrone,
and buckeye. Poison hemlock (a dangerous plant that is shockingly common in the
bay area) crowds the trail in spring, when you might see milkmaids, hound's tongue,
and trillium in the woods. Sausal Pond is audible but barely visible through the
trees. The trail drops down, turns away from a creek and the preserve boundary,
and follows along a private road before ending at a previously encountered junction
at 7.12 miles. Turn left and retrace your steps to the trailhead.
Total distance: about 7.17 miles
Last hiked: Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page
and preserves are seasonally closed to cyclists and equestrians when winter rains
create muddy conditions. Trudging through mud is generally not fun, but by late
winter, unless it's been raining heavily, the trails are just a bit damp, and
although still closed to bikes and horses, perfectly passable. A seasonal closure
is a perfect opportunity to hike through a preserve normally heavily used by equestrians
and cyclists, such as Windy Hill. 
If you hike Windy Hill on a cool day, dress warmly. Winds can really whip down
Spring Ridge Trail, and you'll learn why Windy Hill got its name. I really prefer
hiking the Spring Ridge/Hamms Gulch Loop so that I ascend on Hamms Gulch, rather
than Spring Ridge Trail. Hamms Gulch is an easier climb, but then again when you
hike up Spring Ridge you'll have nice views of Windy Hill, rather than east into
the valley. 
trail ducks beneath the shade of oaks. You may see buttercups and hound's tongue
in late winter. At 0.65 mile, beneath some huge old oaks, you'll arrive at a two-part
junction. A path to Alpine Road departs to the left. A private driveway is on
the right. A few steps later, to the right, Meadow Trail sets off uphill on the
right, and Hamms Gulch continues straight. So bear right, then walk straight
on Hamms Gulch Trail, a trail open to hikers and equestrians (seasonally closed
to horses during wet winter months).
only two steepish grades on Hamms Gulch Trail, which ascends mostly on broad switchbacks.
After a short moderate climb (still easier than almost any fire road), the narrow
trail eases up. A few redwoods and Douglas firs can be spotted, but mostly you'll
see creambush, California bay, coast live oak, maple, madrone, poison oak, and
hazelnut. Shooting stars, gooseberry, and currant blossom in the winter, while
hound's tongue, milkmaids, solomon's seal, and trillium put forth flowers in early
spring. You'll be climbing along the south bank of Hamms Gulch, and as you ascend,
where vegetation permits you'll have views north across the gulch, to grassy Spring
Ridge. The trail takes a turn to the left and briefly steps out into chaparral.
Coyote brush dominates, but if you're hiking in winter, look on the left side
of the trail for the yellow flowers of leatherwood, a rare shrub. Hamms Gulch
Trail returns to the woods, but soon steps out again to a clear spot with the
best views uphill to Windy Hill. A bench just before a sharp switchback is a good
location for a scenic rest break. The trail resumes a climb through woodland.
Unexpectedly, Hamms Gulch creeps 
through
the lower reaches of a sloping grassy meadow. You'll catch a glimpse of the forested
slopes of the preserve's southern portion to the left. But the bucolic sojourn
is short lived, and Hamms Gulch Trail darts back into the woods. You'll pass a
rustic wooden bench next to a seasonal creek, then climb through cool woods, where
tanoaks make an appearance. Two large maples, lovely in autumn, sprawl over the
trail at a switchback. Currant and thimbleberry are common trailside plants. The
trail passes a couple of huge Douglas firs, some of their branches as large as
full-size trees. At 3.36 miles, Hamms Gulch Trail ends at a signed junction with
Lost Trail. Turn right on Lost Trail, heading toward Spring Ridge Trail.
and
California poppies in early spring. Bob's bench offers views to the east. After
a brief foray through some California bay, tanoak, coast live oak, and Douglas
fir, Lost Trail cuts through chaparral, and then ends at a signed junction near
the Skyline Boulevard trailhead, at 3.92 miles. Picnic tables and a pit toilet
make this a logical lunch break location, particularly if you're hiking with kids.
When you're ready, resume hiking on Anniversary Trail, which begins where
Lost Trail leaves off.
across
the hill's eastern face. Two side trails head off to the left, while some benches
content those happy to soak in the view. If you walk uphill to the summit (there's
no sign, but it's obvious), you'll have grand vistas of western San Mateo County's
rolling hills, and the ocean. Anniversary Trail starts to descend, and ends at
a signed junction near a Skyline Boulevard pullout and the start of Spring Ridge
Trail, at 4.45 miles. Turn right on Spring Ridge Trail.
Just past some madrones, maples, and coast live oaks, Spring Ridge Trail reaches
a signed junction, at 6.13 miles. Meadow Trail, on the right, descends to meet
a junction you will have encountered earlier, at the start of Hamms Gulch Trail.
Stay to the left on Spring Ridge Trail. 