Long Ridge Open Space Preserve is a 2,035 acre

open space preserve An open space reserve (also called open space preserve, open space reservation, and green space) is an area of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside. The purpose of an open space reserve may include ...

along Long Ridge in the

Santa Cruz Mountains The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central and Northern California, United States. They form a ridge down the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco. They separate the Pacific Ocean from ...

Recreation

Long Ridge has 13.5 miles of trails for

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

mountain biking Mountain biking is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and pe ...

, and

horseback riding Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...

, including the

Bay Area Ridge Trail The Bay Area Ridge Trail (Ridge Trail) is a planned multi-use trail along the hill and mountain ridgelines ringing the San Francisco Bay Area, in Northern California. Currently, have been established. When complete, the trail will connect ov ...

which runs through the preserve. Trails connect the preserve with other nearby open space, including Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve, Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve, and Upper Stevens Canyon County Park.

Habitat and Wildlife

Much of Long Ridge is

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...

, with wildflowers in the spring. The preserve has turkeys, feral pigs, and coyotes.

References

{{Coord, 37.2736, -122.1526, type:landmark_region:US-CA_dim:5km, display=title Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Protected areas of San Mateo County, California Nature reserves in California Santa Cruz Mountains Bay Area Ridge Trail