Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
Encyclopedia
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 1978 acres (800.5 ha) and 10.4 miles (16.7 km) of trails are managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
.
, Mountain biking
and horseback riding. Its high point is Borel Hill (2572 feet (783.9 m)), 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.
Several species of wildlife
can be found on the preserve, and visitors have the chance to see wildlife such as the coyote
, bobcat
, and birds such as the american kestrel
and northern harrier.
Parking for the preserve can be found in two parking lots — one lot located on Skyline Boulevard, the other just off Alpine Road near the Alpine Road and Skyline Boulevard intersection.
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
in San Mateo County, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
along the San Francisco Peninsula
San Francisco Peninsula
The San Francisco Peninsula is a peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area that separates the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. On its northern tip is the City and County of San Francisco. Its southern base is in Santa Clara County, including the cities of Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Mountain...
. Its 1978 acres (800.5 ha) and 10.4 miles (16.7 km) of trails are managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is a special-purpose district that manages over of open space in 25 preserves in the San Francisco Bay Area. It includes parts of Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties. The District was created by voter initiative in 1972...
.
Description
The preserve consists of both dense forest and open meadows, and common activities in the preserve consist of hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, Mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
and horseback riding. Its high point is Borel Hill (2572 feet (783.9 m)), from the summit of which one can see east toward the San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
with views from San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
towards San Francisco, as well as the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to the west.
Several species of wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
can be found on the preserve, and visitors have the chance to see wildlife such as the coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
, and birds such as the american kestrel
American Kestrel
The American Kestrel , sometimes colloquially known as the Sparrow Hawk, is a small falcon, and the only kestrel found in the Americas. It is the most common falcon in North America, and is found in a wide variety of habitats. At long, it is also the smallest falcon in North America...
and northern harrier.
- Acces
Parking for the preserve can be found in two parking lots — one lot located on Skyline Boulevard, the other just off Alpine Road near the Alpine Road and Skyline Boulevard intersection.