FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
August 20, 2026

SFPUC Contact: 
communications@sfwater.org

New Six-Mile Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail Opens August 24

Local and regional leaders celebrate completion of latest segment of Bay Area Ridge Trail

SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. — Local and regional leaders gathered today to celebrate the completion of the Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail, offering public access to a segment of one of the Bay Area’s most scenic and carefully protected landscapes: the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Peninsula Watershed.

The new six-mile trail, built by the SFPUC, will officially open to the public on Monday, August 24. It also gives visitors an opportunity to learn about the 23,000-acre Peninsula Watershed and its role in the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System.

The Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail runs on SFPUC property parallel to Skyline Boulevard, extending six miles south from Highway 92. This new out-and-back segment provides a second opportunity for responsible recreation, along with the 10-mile Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail on SFPUC property north of Highway 92. Free permits for the new, self-guided trail, which are required for entry, can be obtained through a simple online application.

The Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail is the newest addition to the Bay Area Ridge Trail, a 550-mile regional trail envisioned along the ridgelines surrounding San Francisco Bay. Built in coordination with the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, the new trail adds nearly six miles to the regional network, bringing the total Bay Area Ridge Trail to 413 miles. It also creates new opportunities for hikers, runners, cyclists, and equestrians.

“The Peninsula Watershed is an ecological jewel, and it’s an honor to create a way for the public to experience this remarkable landscape while continuing to protect it for the future,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “The SFPUC works hard to be a good neighbor. This is just the latest example of that. It’s about striking the right balance between public access, environmental stewardship, and protecting the water supply that 2.7 million Bay Area residents and thousands of businesses rely on every day.”

“The new Ridge Trail section is a delight – showcasing how carefully-designed and managed public access can be harmonious with protecting drinking water and conservation,” said Bay Area Ridge Trail Executive Director Janet McBride. “This exceptional trail represents a major milestone in connecting the Ridge Trail on the Peninsula, and we applaud the SFPUC for their leadership, commitment and success in transforming a vision into a sustainable trail for all to enjoy.”

“We are thrilled to see the Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail open and give residents a new way to experience this special part of San Mateo County,” said San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller. “The Peninsula Watershed provides drinking water to communities in northern San Mateo County, as well as San Francisco, and protects important natural habitat. I thank the SFPUC for its stewardship and for making this new recreational opportunity possible.”

Open-air Classroom

As the trail passes through grasslands, wetlands, coastal scrub, Douglas fir forests, and redwood groves, visitors can enjoy expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay, and Crystal Springs Reservoir. Ten interpretive panels along the Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail help visitors learn about the watershed’s plants, wildlife, and history, as well as its role in the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. Mile markers help visitors track their progress along the six-mile route.
The trail’s six-foot-wide, all-weather surface includes level stretches and gentle grades for easier walking and cycling, along with steeper slopes, hills and curves for those seeking more of a challenge.

Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail Hours, Parking and Permits

The Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Monday, August 24. Annual permits are available at sfpuc.gov/trails.

The northern trailhead offers free parking for 22 standard vehicles, five trailers, and two accessible vehicles. Pit toilets are located near mile markers 2 and 5.

Watershed Discovery Trail (Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail)

As part of the project, the SFPUC also created the Watershed Discovery Trail, a half-mile trail accessible to people with disabilities. It is adjacent to the Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail north of Highway 92. Designed for visitors of all abilities, the discovery trail includes an accessible trail surface and interpretive panels with tactile three-dimensional models of watershed wildlife for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Visitors can explore the trail through guided outings led by trained docents. 

Media: Download B-Roll, photos, and map of the trail. Courtesy San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and meets 75% of the electricity demand in San Francisco with clean energy. The SFPUC’s mission is to provide customers with high-quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests, and sustains the resources entrusted to the agency's care. Learn more at sfpuc.gov.

About the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council is a nonprofit dedicated to completing, connecting, and sustaining a multi-use trail along the ridgelines encircling San Francisco Bay. Founded in 1987, the Ridge Trail links people, parks, and open spaces across nine Bay Area counties. Learn more at ridgetrail.org.

About the Peninsula Watershed

Located in San Mateo County 13 miles south of San Francisco, the 23,000-acre Peninsula Watershed protects four drinking water reservoirs and is home to some of the Bay Area’s most sensitive and rare native species.  The watershed is part of the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush, the original people of the San Francisco Peninsula.

The Peninsula Watershed spans forested ridges, coastal scrub, and native grasslands that harbor over 165 species of birds, 800 species of plants and trees, 50 species of mammals, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. Managed by the SFPUC, the watershed is a designated State Fish and Game Refuge and a protected area within the UNESCO Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve.