A Docent Lead Hike
Distance: 12.8 Miles Elevation Gain/Loss 1,725 feet/1,490 feet
Much of the ridge trail in the southern end of the peninsula passes through a dense forest of coast redwoods. Conversely, in the north, the Sweeney Hill section leading into Pacifica is dominated by coastal sagebrush and similar dense, low vegetation. The Fifield-Cahill trail sits between the two landscape and provides the opportunity to witness this transition. The southern end of the trail begins at the Skylawn Memorial Park cemetery where, as with the trails further south, you begin in a beautiful quiet and serene woodland. As the trail makes its way northward, climbing over the hilltops that make up the ridgeline, the forest eventually thins and the transition becomes evident. If you wish to experience the diversity that encompasses the ridge trail, this segment should not be missed. Unfortunately, it is also less accessible. The land is managed by the Peninsula Watershed and is only open to the public through docent led hikes.
Fortunately, signing up for a docent hike is relatively easy. And, for me, it provided an opportunity to meet other ridge trail hikers, most of whom were also in the process of circumnavigating the Bay Area Ridge Trail. A couple of hikers I met were actually on their second time around, this time going in the opposite direction. I love the concept that they were “going the other way around”, as it had not occurred to me that, by section hiking, I was traveling in any particular direction.
This lightly used trail is well equipped with restrooms every 2 miles. I would suppose that you can count on the water district to be skilled at installing plumbing across long distances, and so these frequently placed and infrequently used restrooms are well maintained. There are also several spots along the trail marked as habitats for the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly, which requires very specific lupine varieties for nectar and larval hosts. To experience this hike, check the dates of the next docent hike here: https://sfpuc.org/learning/come-visit/fifield-cahill-ridge-trail. All hikes are round trip, and if you want to only go one way you must arrange in advance with the docent to allow you to leave through the locked Portola Gate.
A map of this trail can be found here: San Francisco Peninsula Watershed: Fifield-Cahill Trail
Next segments:
Clockwise: Sweeney Ridge
Counterclockwise: Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
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