Windy Hill | Santa Cruz Mountains

I received a text from my hubby the other day when he was away on a business trip.  It said, “Can we go for a hike?”  Um, yes!  I love hiking. I love hiking with my favorite guy.  and I LOVE day dates!  Seriously the best.  All happy and in love without the dressing up and really wanting to sleep instead pressure.  Kids were at school, no sitter needed and a beautiful clear morning in front of us.  We packed up our pup and headed for the hills.

Probably the best reason to live on the SF Peninsula is the access to incredible amounts of natural beauty.  We are fortunate to live near hiking trails that traverse rolling hills and summit peaks with unbeatable views, all within reach of our world-class city, San Francisco.  This year, the hills are even green thanks to finally receiving a rainy winter we’ve been anticipating for 4 years.

Windy Hill Open Space Preserve is my favorite hike in the area.  The trail begins as you walk over a creek on an old wooden bridge, takes you through oak-lined paths, sunny open space and into redwood forest laden with mossy trees.  As you approach the summit, you can catch view of the entire Bay Area to the east and ultimately the Pacific Ocean to the west. The fortuitous hikers are gifted with a fog free panorama of grassy hills and the big blue Pacific beyond.

This hike is best accessed via Willowbrook Road in Portola Valley.  Dogs are permitted leased on the Hamms Gulch trail and this part of the Lost trail that take you to the summit. It’s about 7 miles round trip. Primitive Bathrooms at the top. No water.

Hiking as a family is one of our most favorite things to do together.  Check out our posts on hiking with kids in Lake Tahoe, Wunderlich County Park on the SF Peninsula, a family trip up Windy Hill, and beautiful Muir Woods.  What are your favorites? Please share in the comments.  I’m especially curious about hikes in the East Bay!