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.
Overview 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
- Bay to Sea Trail
- Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossings
- Ravenswood Bay Trail Project
- Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail
- Saratoga to the Skyline Trail – Formerly, called Saratoga-to-the-Sea Trail project. More information coming soon.
- Alpine Road Trail – More information coming soon.
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:
- Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
- California State Coastal Conservancy
- California State Parks, Santa Cruz District
- City of East Palo Alto
- City of Half Moon Bay
- City of Menlo Park
- City of Palo Alto
- City of Redwood City
- City of Saratoga
- Coastside Land Trust
- County of San Mateo
- County of Santa Clara
- Cross Bay Transit Partners
- Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail
- Peninsula Open Space Trust
- San Francisco Bay Trail
- San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
- San Mateo County Parks
- Santa Clara County Parks