BART #72 - Skyline and Russian Ridges via Monte Bello - 11.7 mi / 1,850 ft

Getting back to the namesake of this group, the Bay Area Ridge Trail (the other B.A.R.T.), join us for this 5.1 mile section and more. The hike will be a reverse-lollipop route, including a section through Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, where we will begin and end, approximately 11.7 miles total.

Meeting time: 9:30 AM or as early as needed to secure parking. We'll begin hiking at 9:45 AM. Parking can be a challenge – consider a carpool and please be on time so as to not keep the group waiting.

Meeting location: Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Parking Lot, 4301 Page Mill Rd, Los Altos, CA 94028; this is on the south side of Page Mill Rd., directly across from the Los Trancos parking lot.

There is a bathroom at the southeast end of the parking lot, according to the map. Additional parking may be available at the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve parking area, located directly across Page Mill Road.

Google Maps –
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1n5MfZe7UbjEB3Vp6

GPS: 37.32557773101208, -122.1787507015259

AllTrails route:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-march-19-2025-1109f87?u=i&sh=5gvw8g

Our route will begin on a gradual descent down Stevens Creek Nature Trail. Overall there are 4 descents and as many climbs, each with grades averaging about 10%. There will be nice ridgeline views for much of the hike, and we should start seeing plenty of poppies and other wildflowers.

Come prepared, as usual – with appropriate footwear, poles if you use them, and the usual 2L of water, sunscreen, hat, layers, lunch and snacks, as needed, etc. Forecast temperatures are for upper 40’s to low 50’s at start time, with a daytime high around the mid-60’s, and partly cloudy. Check the weather again before heading out. We’ll stop for a lunch break at roughly our midpoint.

Weather: https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ca/los-altos/KCALOSAL22

We’ll wait briefly at trail junctions, to be sure everyone is on the right track, but hikers are expected to be able to keep up. Hikers who may be out front of the group a bit are expected to wait at junctions so as not to get separated and end up ultimately slowing the group. Our average pace will be about 2 1/2 miles/hr, or roughly 24 minutes per mile, while moving. With our lunch and brief water breaks, we should finish around 3:00, give or take. Time is approximate.

Additional Park(s) Info:
https://www.openspace.org/preserves/monte-bello#know-before-you-go
https://www.openspace.org/preserves/skyline-ridge
https://www.openspace.org/preserves/russian-ridge

Post-hike adult beverage and food: Location TBD