SUNDAY DRIVE

What you see: A hike that leads to a ridge with gorgeous views over the coastal hills, a pond and deep-wooded ravine with a creek crowns Long Ridge Open Space Preserve. You get each of these rewards on a 4.6-mile loop.

Location: Long Ridge is located along Skyline/Highway 35 on the south Peninsula.

The reserve: Long Ridge is a pretty regional preserve with one of the best easy loop hikes of any park, open space or preserve in the Bay Area. If you want to extend your visit, the reserve is surrounded by parkland. It is linked by trail to Portola Redwoods State Park to the west, Upper Stevens Creek County Park to the east (directly across the road), Saratoga Gap Open Space to the south, and Skyline Ridge Open Space to the north.

Great loop hike: From parking on the shoulder of Skyline, you’ll see the trailhead that leads down into a small valley. Take this a half-mile to the junction with the Long Ridge Trail. Turn right. You then ascend 400 feet in oak woodlands over 1.5 miles to Long Ridge Road. Turn left and look for the Wallace Stegner Bench on the right for a great view of the Butano Rim and coastal hills. You then hike 0.5 of a mile along the ridge to Four Corners. Turn left. You sail down into a canyon, pass a pond, and return on the Peters Creek Trail. 4.6-mile loop. Cost: Parking, access free.

Map/brochure: Available in box at trailhead, PDF at website.

Mountain biking: In winter and spring, the canyon trails are vulnerable to erosion. After rain, the Peters Creek Trail, Long Ridge Trail, Chestnut Trail and Achistaca Trail are often closed to mountain bikes and horses. For updates, go to www.openspace.org. Click on “Visit a Preserve” and “trail conditions.”

Guided hike: “View from the ridge,” guided 5-mile hike with 600-foot elevation gain to Long Ridge. Meet at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, at the trailhead on Skyline. Bring lunch for the trail and water.

Contacts: Midpeninsula Open Space District, (650) 691-1200, www.openspace.org.