Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
| Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve | |
|---|---|
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 A flowering meadow dotted with poppies and lupine in spring, Russian Ridge, Silicon Valley, CA, USA | |
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| Location | San Mateo County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Redwood City, California |
| Coordinates | 37°18′47″N 122°12′53″W / 37.31306°N 122.21472°WCoordinates: 37°18′47″N 122°12′53″W / 37.31306°N 122.21472°W |
| Area | 3,137 acres (12.69 km2) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Governing body | Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District |
Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve is a regional park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains in San Mateo County, California along the San Francisco Peninsula. Its 3,137 acres (1,269 ha) and 10.4 miles (16.7 km) of trails are managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.[1]
Description
The preserve consists of both dense forest and open meadows, and common activities in the preserve consist of hiking, Mountain biking and horseback riding. Its high point is Borel Hill (2,572 feet or 784 metres), from the summit of which one can see east toward the San Francisco Bay with views from San Jose towards San Francisco, as well as the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Flora
Poppies and lupines are the primary flowers that dominate the green, lush rolling meadows in the spring to early summer, but in the late summer the hills turn gold and are covered with flowers such as the cluster-lily, gumweed, Mules ear, and farewell to spring. In shaded areas, one can expect to see thimbleberry and a variety of ferns growing.
Fauna
Several animals can be found on the preserve, such as the coyote, bobcat, and birds such as the american kestrel and northern harrier.
Access
Parking for the preserve can be found in two parking lots — one lot as roadside parking on the northbound direction of Skyline Boulevard, the other, the Audrey C. Rust Commemorative Site, is located just off Alpine Road near the Alpine Road and Skyline Boulevard intersection.
It can also be accessed through neighboring preserves, such as the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve through the south-east end of the Ridge Trail (part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system), as well as the Coal Creek Open Space Preserve, by crossing Skyline Boulevard from Coal Creek's Clouds Rest Trail to Russian Ridge's Ridge Trail.