Skyline's the Limit

Hike the New Saratoga to Skyline Trail in the South Bay

01.06.2021
Hiker on the Saratoga to Skyline Trail in the South Bay looking out at rolling hill scenery

The brand-new Saratoga to the Skyline Trail connects Saratoga to the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. An adventurous and approachable way to experience it is to thru-hike the first 5.1 miles, enjoying freshly sculpted paths, shady creeksides, wooden bridges, and Santa Clara Valley vistas. There are picnic tables at both ends of this route for savoring the views. You can make this a 10.2-mile round-trip hike or arrange a thru-hike ride at one of the designated parking areas (see italics below).

Begin at Quarry Park, climbing a hillside towards a picnic area with intricate stonework. Then, turn right at a pond to continue on the Saratoga to the Skyline Trail. The newly built singletrack climbs under shady California bay and Douglas fir to the sound of Congress Springs Creek. Vistas of forest-covered canyons, the Santa Clara Valley, and the Diablo Range peek out now and then. Four wooden bridges are fun to cross and admire the creekside scenery from.

Hiker on a bridge on the Saratoga to the Skyline Trail

After 3.6 miles, the route transitions to an unpaved service road and descends a sunny ridgeline. Follow signs for Sanborn County Park to Sanborn Creek, flowing under big-leaf maples, redwoods, and one more gorgeous bridge. Picnic tables are scattered along the creek, and trails connect to Sanborn Road. Pick up your thru-hike ride at one of the designated parking areas, or turn around for a 10.2-mile round-trip hike.

BONUS FOOD: Big Basin Cafe is located 1 mile east of Quarry Park in Saratoga Village and is open for to-go orders.

Take the Saratoga Ave. exit from Hwy. 85, heading southwest. Drive through Saratoga Village and then continue another 0.7 mile on Hwy. 9. Turn left into Quarry Park and the gravel parking lot. There is space for roughly 25 cars. Parking can fill by mid-morning and there is no entrance fee. To do a thru-hike, park a car at one of the roadside parking areas off Sanborn Rd. (see Sanborn County Park Guide Map for locations), and then drive back to Quarry Park to begin. There are picnic tables at both ends of this route. Dog-friendly!

{Covid-19 Update, January 2021: Trails are open for day use at Quarry Park and Sanborn County Park. Please maintain six feet of physical distance while hiking. Please wear a mask when you are not able to social distance, such as passing another person on a trail. If you visit Saratoga Village, please maintain social distance and wear face coverings.}

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View