Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail

I’ve done both Fifield-​Cahill Ridge Trail guided hikes: one an 8 mile, another a 13 mile hike with a volunteer docent. Both you need to register online and get up early to hike with them.
First time was Sun 6÷28÷15 meeting at 9:30am, and out & back hike 8 miles. We meet near the Cemetery Gate and was lead into the gate with the docent. There wasn’t a bathroom right away, had to hike about 2 miles in and then vault toilets along the trail. Trail was pretty flat, but there was a few hills to climb. Lots of trees, and lunch was a bit further from the Five Points junction, there was a picnic table and vault toilet. The view was of Pilarcitos Reservoir which was nice to see.
2^nd time hiking was Sat 7÷25÷15 met the leader at 8:35am for 9am start and we parked and waited to see if others that signed up were going to show up. We were the only ones so we got a private tour. There was vault toilet at the Skyline Quarry parking lot. We had one car at the Skyline Quarry and drove another car to Portola Gate the start of the hike. That’s in San Bruno. There is no bathroom at Portola Gate. Lots of uphill at Sweeney Ridge, then on an un-​marked trail that leads to the Fifield-​Cahill Ridge Trail gate. Leader had keys. Once in we had the whole place to ourselves besides Rangers that were there. Saw a few snakes, a lizard, some birds, end of hike saw a family of deer. Pretty foggy in the morning, but cleared up at the lunch spot Five Points. After lunch saw much of the same views from previous hike, until we past the 2 mile marker, then we saw a huge tree forest that was cool, and views of Crystal Springs Reservoir was awesome.
If you’re a hiker it might be worth doing either the 8 or 13 mile hike. Glad I went to both. Maybe one day the SFPUC will let us hike it without docents.
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