a fast-pace short hike around Ridge Park on Westwood Plateau

This will be a fast walk around Ridge Park on Westwood Plateau from the lowest of the trailheads, the one on Panorama Drive near Johnson. This will be a quick paced hike (fast walking but not trail running) along a fairly well used trail with only a few steep bits, roots or loose rocks. If you are unfamiliar with the trail, this route will be approximately five km of trail and is usually about a 2 hour walk for most people at a casual chit chat pace we will be walking it in around an hour. We will start from the low point and go over the high point so the trail is almost all either up or down. Hazards are few but dogs are allowed in this park so you encounter piles of dog crap. This time of year the trail can be wet and slippery (there are no real mud holes) and there are a couple small streams to cross without bridges. This trail is a mountainside hiking trail in a city and not an urban gravel walking path. There is little view along the trail but we will briefly visit the only viewpoint near the summit.

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WHERE TO MEET: To get to the trailhead go north up Johnson St towards Westwood Plateau and turn left on Panorama (next left after Parkway Blvd). Watch for the trail map (photo below) at the trailhead and hiking trail sign on a lamp post about a block up the hill on your right. There is lots of street parking.

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