Gone With the Windy

Watch a sunset at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve in Portola Valley

02.10.2021
Man standing at Windy Hill and watching a fiery sunset at Windy Hill Preserve

You don’t have to trek far to enjoy a hiker’s high on the Peninsula’s Windy Hill Preserve. Its panoramic attraction—Windy Hill—is easily accessed via the 0.7-mile Anniversary Trail. And it’s magnificent at sunset.

When you reach the summit, spin to the 360-degree views. Windy Hill’s location, smack between the Pacific and Silicon Valley, makes it an ideal spot on a clear evening. You can watch the sun ignite everything from the ocean to Mount Diablo. The western views of the Santa Cruz Mountains look dusted in gold, followed by the sky shifting colors from burnt orange to hot pink. Sunsational!

Woman watching a sunset atop Windy Hill at Windy Hill Preserve on the Peninsula

TIP: For those who want a longer hike, followed by sunset viewing at Windy Hill, this 6.2 mile loop hike hits some high notes with views, with forest enjoyment too.

On Skyline Blvd. (Hwy. 35), drive about 2 miles south of Hwy. 84 (La Honda Rd.). The parking area and Anniversary Trail are on the east side of the road. Note: Prepare for potentially gusty conditions by bringing extra layers. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View

  2. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  3. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View

  2. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  3. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View
  4. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View