Pulgas Party

Go Hiking at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve in the Bay Area

If your idea of a good summer party is hitting the trails, then Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve makes a very festive venue. Bursting with colorful wildflowers and exuberant wildlife, this locals’ favorite (tucked away in a San Carlos suburb) seems to be celebrating right now.

Lizards strike disco poses in the sunshine, robins and bluebirds sing, and Anna’s hummingbirds and painted lady butterflies flutter about. You might even see a red-tailed hawk peering from a tree branch—like a bouncer surveying the scene. For a good mix of scenery, do a 2.2-mile loop hike that begins with the Blue Oak Trail. This narrow sun-dappled path winds through a thick grove of oak trees and around switchback turns as it ascends to the hilltop. The trail is currently decorated by acacia blossoms, fluffy dandelions, bright yellow lilies, and garlands of Spanish moss draped over tree branches. From the Blue Oak Trail, take the Hassler Trail, a short section of paved road with great vistas of the bay. Continue until reaching the Polly Geraci Trail, a scenic traverse along a chaparral-covered hillside.

After coming around the bend, you’ll descend into a shaded ravine of bay trees, oaks, and leafy ferns. Also making an appearance: “soap plants” dressed up for the occasion with dazzling white blossoms that only open in the late afternoon and early evening. The Polly Geraci Trail meets up with the Cordilleras Trail, where charming swallows swoop through an expansive grassy meadow in a whirl of merriment. Who’s ready to party?

Pulgas Ridge Preserve is open every day from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. The parking lot on Edmonds Rd. is quite small and may become crowded during peak times. Abovementioned trail route begins on the left-hand side of the parking lot (facing away from the street) just past the restroom facility. The end of the route at the Cordilleras Trail is a short walk (turn right) back to the parking lot. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Hike top Angel Island Mount Livermore San Francisco Bay

    Good Heavens

    The 4-mile hike to the top of Angel Island offers Bay-mazing scenery. Some people claim you get a five-bridge view: Richmond-San Rafael, Bay, Golden Gate, San Mateo-Hayward, and Dumbarton bridges.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Woman hiking down the stairs to Coast Royale Beach in Orange County

    Secluded Royale

    Panoramic coastal views and a killer leg workout combine on this 2.7-mile (round-trip) out-and-back hike to secluded Coast Royale Beach in Orange County

    View