The best walks and hikes in Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

From up here on the ridge you get great sweeping views across the foothills. On a clear day you can see out west to the Pacific Ocean.

Borel Hill is my favorite place to watch spring flowers. The western slope near ancient oaks (5-10min west of Borel Hill) are covered with orange California Poppies and purple flowers starting in April. Borel Hill itself peaks around mid May and has a wide variety of flowers. The show lasts only a few weeks until end of May. The peak time and flower intensity varies from year to year, so come several times between April and May. There is small summit NW of Borel Hill and a narrow dirt trail leads you to a rock within 2 min. The rock is big enough for 2-3 to sit on. On a sunny day, the rock is nice warm even if the air is cold. Good views on the ocean and the Bay.

The top of Borel Hill has an elevation of 2,572 feet and offers panoramic views of the city below as well as views of the ocean in the distance.

The shores of this lovely pond are full of moisture-loving plants such as willow, dock, and cattails. If you spend time here, you can expect to see lots of wildlife that inhabit the area, including blue herons, egrets, ring-necked ducks, mallards, and western pond turtles. A nature center overlooks the pond with exhibits, touchable wildlife, picnic tables, restrooms and drinking water open year-round.

This spot has a lovely wooden platform with a bench where you can take a break and enjoy the panoramic views of the Silicon Valley side of Mindego Hill, which is below you. The classic windmill is up the hill to your left.

This trail offers a fantastic combination of sweeping vista views, grassy hillsides, and gorgeous oak trees covered in moss. The path connects to the Mindego Trail and Charquin Trail for a nice 3.5-mile loop if you wish. There are regular deer sightings along this route and many different bird species to look for. The wildflowers are in full bloom in the spring, adding to an already pleasurable hike through the preserve.

This beautiful trail takes you along the rolling green hills of the preserve, with views of Mount Diablo, Black Mountain, East Bay peaks, Mindego Hill, and the San Gregorio Watershed. The path connects to several trails, offering various options for a long or shorter hike. In the spring, wildflowers add color to the scenery with lupine, bright orange poppies and purple owl clover, making it a gorgeous escape from the city.

Borel Hill is the highest point in the preserve at 2,575 feet (784 meters), with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean to the west and across the San Francisco Bay to the east. In the spring, beautiful wildflowers are abundant. On a clear day, you can see all the way from San Jose to San Francisco. The vast scenery makes you feel on top of the world and is an excellent place to capture memorable photos.