The Bay Area Ridge Trail grew nearly four miles this summer with the grand opening of the Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve. The five-mile loop that encompasses the Ridge Trail begins with a steep ascent – nearly 900 feet in the first mile – through grasslands to Máyyan ‘Ooyákma, which means “Coyote Ridge” in the native Chochenyo language. The trail runs along the ridge for about a mile before looping back to the trailhead. The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority requires a “Butterfly Pass” for the Ridge Trail segment. Hikers also must clean their boots before entering the sensitive preserve.
We are hiking the 424-mile Bay Area Ridge Trail. Sign up to follow our progress here.
TRAIL MAP (date hiked)
- Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve (Sept. 30, 2023)
Our Journal
The hike at Máyyan ‘Ooyákma was our return to the Ridge Trail after a five-month hiatus. Summer heat, travel and guests had kept us off the trail since May 8. We closed out spring with just five Ridge Trail segments left to conquer. But during our break we actually lost ground, as four new Ridge Trails segments opened over the summer. So when the first cool day of fall arrived, we thought we’d better get back to work.
Neither of us awoke excited about our morning hike. With 70 segments under our belts, we complained to each other about how sometimes our adventure felt more like drudgery at this point. But we sucked it up, made the drive south from our home on the Coastside, laced up our boots and began the steep ascent to the ridge. And we had a great time!
The open space preserve and its trails had opened to the public just a month earlier. The trails are freshly blazed and well-graded. Shaded benches for sitting and enjoying the view are strategically placed. Even the pit toilet at the trailhead sparkled. And we saw our first Ridge Trail tarantula! But the real joy was being back on the trail together, marching toward a goal set in the depths of the pandemic. Onward!
Miles we hiked
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