@sfchronicle: San Francisco will open a new recreational trail through its watershed lands in San Mateo County on Monday, offering the public a rare opportunity to visit the highly restricted wilderness where millions get their water. The six-mile Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail, in the coastal hills off Skyline Boulevard, traverses a variety of terrains, from grasslands to Douglas fir forest to redwood groves, each home to creeks and drainages that contribute to the city’s water supply. Hikers, cyclists and equestrians are welcome. For most of San Francisco’s history, the 23,000-acre Peninsula Watershed has been off-limits to the public. City officials didn’t want to risk sullying the heavily wooded lands and waterways that send cold, clean runoff to the area’s three reservoirs, Crystal Springs, San Andreas and Pilarcitos. These supplies supplement the city’s water exports from in and around Yosemite National Park. In 2003, however, the city debuted the 10-mile Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail. Unlike other trails built on the periphery of the Peninsula Watershed, this trail runs through the heart of the property. The move was largely a response to public demand for greater access. To this day, however, the Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail is open only for guided outings. The Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail, which continues the city’s efforts to expand public access, will be different from its predecessor. Visitors will be allowed to come and go as they please, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., starting Monday. Registration is required, though it’s free and can be done online, including at the trailhead where there’s cell service. Read more via the link in our bio.

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2026-08-20 02:08:03

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