A fresh stretch of hiking path just south of San Francisco is now open, and it hands walkers, cyclists and horse riders access to a protected landscape that has been off-limits for years. The Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail opened on August 24 in San Mateo County's Peninsula Watershed, a 23,000-acre preserve managed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission that safeguards four drinking-water reservoirs along with forested ridges, coastal scrub and native grasslands.

The trail runs six miles out and back through all of that, with the payoff being the views: on clear stretches you can see San Francisco Bay, the Pacific Ocean, downtown San Francisco and even Mount Diablo. Tim Ramirez of the SFPUC described it to KQED as "fairly spectacular" — a fair assessment given how rarely the public has been allowed into this watershed.

The route is thoughtfully set up, too. Mile markers track your progress, and interpretive panels along the way explain the local flora and fauna as well as the area's history and its ongoing role in the region's water supply. It's a rare chance to learn how a big city's taps stay full while standing in the middle of the answer.

There's a bigger picture here as well. The new trail is the latest segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, an ambitious 550-mile loop around San Francisco Bay that is now roughly 75% complete. Each new link like this one brings the full circuit closer to reality.

**The practical bits**

The trailhead sits on Highway 35, better known as Skyline Boulevard, about 25 miles south of San Francisco. Access is free, but there's a catch: you need to apply online for a hiking permit before you go. The permit costs nothing and stays valid for the rest of the year, so it's worth sorting out even if you're not sure when you'll visit.

Parking is free as well, but the lot is small and Bay Area hikers are legion — officials suggest arriving early. The lot opens daily at 6am and closes at 6pm. Details and permit applications are on the SFPUC website.

**Why it matters for travellers**

Anyone visiting San Francisco who wants a proper outdoors day without fighting for space at better-known spots like Muir Woods should put this on the list. It's an easy drive from the city, the price is right, and the combination of ridge-top views over both bay and ocean is unusual anywhere. Given the permit system and limited parking, it also filters out casual crowds — which, depending on your mood, is either the drawback or the whole point. Hikers keen on longer-term goals might even start mentally plotting the finished Ridge Trail, which will eventually ring the entire bay.