Regional Trail Connections

Overview | Presentation | Featured Projects | Email List | Partners

Overview

A network of regional trails can provide an opportunity to connect people to more preserves and a variety of other open spaces, improve access for bicyclists and equestrians, and enable visitors to explore farther without having to leave the trail system.

These trail interconnections can improve safety by reducing the need for trail users to walk or ride on roads between open spaces. Regional trails also help people understand the big picture of land conservation efforts in the region ⁠— that protecting the natural environment and preserving open space is a collaborative effort between land-management agencies, regulatory agencies, private landowners and the public.

When the regional trails in our Vision Plan are complete, 99% of Midpen residents will live within 5 miles of a regional trail.

Regional trail projects include both east-west corridors like the Bay to Sea Trail (with Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail component), and Saratoga to the Skyline Trail (connecting to Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail) and north-south corridors like the California Coastal Trail, the San Francisco Bay Trail and the Bay Area Ridge Trail. These projects focus on closing gaps between existing trails, preserves and parks to create a seamless network.

Midpen works with numerous partners and stakeholders to complete regional trail connections in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Of the 25 priority project portfolios selected by Midpen's board of directors in 2014, 19 include a regional trail component, and the majority of these are funded by voter-approved Measure AA.

Presentation

An overview of current and emerging regional trail planning efforts and partnership opportunities within District boundaries was presented to the Midpen board at their August 14, 2019 meeting. View the presentation slides here:

Featured Projects

Alpine Road Trail – More information coming soon.
Bay to Sea Trail
Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossings
Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail
Ravenswood Bay Trail Project
Saratoga to the Skyline Trail – Formerly, called Saratoga-to-the-Sea Trail project. More information coming soon.

Fill out my online form.

Regional Trails Key Partners and Stakeholders

Partnership between agencies and organizations is vital to expanding opportunities for connecting people and communities to public open space. Our partners include: