Six-mile Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail opens Aug. 24

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is opening a new six-mile Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail on Aug. 24, expanding public access to the Peninsula Watershed while adding miles to the Bay Area Ridge Trail network. The project pairs recreation with water-supply protection in a 23,000-acre landscape south of San Francisco.

Why it matters: - The new trail expands public access in the Peninsula Watershed while keeping the area protected for water supply and conservation. - The trail adds another link in the Bay Area Ridge Trail, a regional network built to connect ridgelines around San Francisco Bay. - The project creates a new recreation option for hikers, runners, cyclists and equestrians.

What happened: - The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission built the six-mile Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail. - The trail opens to the public on Monday, Aug. 24, after a local celebration marking its completion. - The route runs on SFPUC property parallel to Skyline Boulevard and extends six miles south from Highway 92. - The trail is an out-and-back segment on the Peninsula Watershed. - Free permits are required for entry and are available through an online application. - Annual permits are available at sfpuc.gov/trails.

The details: - The Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail adds 5.5 miles to the Bay Area Ridge Trail network and brings the regional trail total to 413 miles. - The trail was built in coordination with the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. - The Bay Area Ridge Trail is envisioned as a 550-mile regional trail along the ridgelines surrounding San Francisco Bay. - The trail offers views of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay and Crystal Springs Reservoir. - The route passes through grasslands, wetlands, coastal scrub, Douglas fir forests and redwood groves. - Ten interpretive panels explain the watershed’s plants, wildlife, history and role in the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. - Mile markers help visitors track progress along the six-mile route. - The trail surface is six feet wide and designed for all weather. - The route includes level stretches and gentle grades, along with steeper slopes, hills and curves. - The trail is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Aug. 24. - The northern trailhead has free parking for 22 standard vehicles, five trailers and two accessible vehicles. - Pit toilets are located near mile markers 2 and 5. - The Peninsula Watershed spans 23,000 acres and protects four drinking water reservoirs. - The watershed is 13 miles south of San Francisco in San Mateo County. - The watershed is home to more than 165 bird species, 800 plant and tree species, 50 mammal species and 30 reptile and amphibian species. - The watershed is a designated State Fish and Game Refuge and part of the UNESCO Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve.

Between the lines: - The trail is designed to allow public recreation without undermining watershed protections. - The project reflects a balance between access, environmental stewardship and water-supply reliability for 2.7 million Bay Area residents and thousands of businesses. - The new section closes another gap in the Peninsula portion of the Ridge Trail network. - The Watershed Discovery Trail adds an accessible option for visitors with disabilities near the Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail north of Highway 92. - The half-mile Discovery Trail includes an accessible surface and tactile three-dimensional models for visitors who are blind or have low vision. - Guided outings led by trained docents are available on the Discovery Trail. - Local leaders framed the opening as both a conservation milestone and a public amenity.

What's next: - The Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail will operate daily under the permit system starting Aug. 24. - Visitors can expect continued use of the trail as a self-guided route on SFPUC land. - The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and SFPUC have positioned the new segment as part of the broader effort to complete and sustain the regional trail network.

The bottom line: - The new trail opens a protected watershed to more visitors, while keeping the focus on conservation, water security and managed access.