Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve is a 366-acre site near the City of San Carlos and provides trails for hiking and walking one’s dog, including a dedicated off-leash area. The preserve’s six miles of trails offers access to cool canyons and a ridge top with views toward the bay and surrounding hillsides. Managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, this preserve is one of the few in the district that allows dogs, making it an especially treasured destination for dog owners on the San Francisco Peninsula.
Elevation gain on the trails is only about 300 feet, and the inclines are gentle. The Polly Geraci Trail winds along the Cordilleras stream bed and meets the paved Hassler Trail on the 650-foot hilltop. The Blue Oak Trail begins just past the private Redwood Center and climbs through oaks to meet the paved trail at around 450 feet in elevation. The paved road continues across the grassy hill to the edge of a roadside viewpoint on Interstate 280. Constructing a loop of the Cordilleras, Polly Geraci, Hassler and Blue Oak Trails constitutes about three miles. Newer trails include the Dusky-Footed Woodrat Trail and Dick Bishop Trail, adding even more variety to your outing.
The highlight for dog owners is the 17.5-acre off-leash area located in the center of the preserve, accessible from the Cordilleras Trail, Polly Geraci/Hassler Trails, and the Blue Oak Trail. Within this designated zone, your dog can run free and explore the grasslands and oak woodlands, though you must keep a leash in your possession and your dog must remain under voice control at all times. On all other trails throughout the preserve, dogs must be controlled on a six-foot or shorter leash, with self-retracting leashes allowed at a maximum extended length of 25 feet. Visitors may bring up to three dogs per person.
The preserve is open daily from dawn to half an hour after dusk, giving you plenty of time for a morning or late afternoon hike with your dog. The trails wind through a lovely mix of coastal scrub, grasslands, and oak woodlands, and you may spot local wildlife including deer, raptors, and the dusky-footed woodrats that gave one of the trails its name. Spring brings vibrant wildflower displays along the hillsides, adding color to your hike. Pulgas Ridge offers a peaceful and dog-friendly escape from the bustle of the Peninsula, from a quick loop to a longer trek.
• Length: 1.5 mile loop
• Difficulty: Easy
• Open to: Hikers, ADA, dogs on leash (off-leash in designated area)
• Please remember to Leave Only Paw Prints™
For directions, click on Visit Website on the top of the page or use the DogTrekker mobile app.
