Portola Valley, California

WindyHill

Yeah, it's actually that windy. It's also 1,400 acres of golden ridge, cool redwood canyon, and a summit that hands you the whole Bay Area on a clear day. Bring a windbreaker. Maybe a kite. 🪂

By the numbers

Big hill. Bigger bragging rights.

~0 ft

Summit elevation

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Acres of open space

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Degrees of view up top

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Trails to choose from

The wind-o-meter

Drag it. Pretend you checked the forecast.

18mph

Full-send gusts. Hold onto your snacks. 🌬️

Choose your own adventure

How much hill do you want today?

Tap your vibe. We'll match you to a real trail with real numbers. No judgment if you pick the 30-minute one.

One hike, two planets

Sun-baked up top. Forest-cool below.

Windy Hill pulls off a magic trick: blazing golden grassland on the ridge, then a plunge into shaded redwood, fir and oak canyon. Same trail, totally different weather. Pack layers.

The open grassy ridgetop of Windy Hill with sweeping views across the hills

Up on the ridge

Golden grassland

Open, breezy, blasted with light, with that 360° view stretching to the Bay one way and the coastal ridges the other. Sunset here is the whole point.

  • ☀️ Big sun
  • 🌬️ Big wind
  • 🌅 Sunset MVP
A cool shaded trail through tall coast redwood forest

Down in the canyon

Redwood shade

Drop off the grass and the temperature drops with you, into cool, quiet, ferny forest of redwood, fir and oak. The shady reward after the sweaty climb.

  • 🌲 Shade city
  • 🍃 Cool air
  • 🐦 Birdsong

Tap to flip

Five facts, freshly windswept

Go on, flip a card. Impress someone at the trailhead.

Trail bingo

Spot it, tap it, win nothing

(The prize is being outside. The prize was always being outside.)

0/9Tap what you spot out there.

Know before you go

The boring-but-important bit

Hours & price

Open dawn to dusk, every day. Entry is free, the wind is also free.

Getting there

Parking lots line Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35) up near the top, plus a lower trailhead from the Portola Valley side near Spring Ridge / Alpine Rd.

Dogs welcome (mostly)

Leashed good dogs are allowed on most trails, except Lost Trail and Razorback Ridge. Keep it a 6-foot, non-retractable leash.

Pack smart

Bring water, sun cover, and a windbreaker, the ridge earns its name. Bikes and horses are welcome on their designated trails.

Always check openspace.org for the official map, current conditions, and rules before heading out.

The hill isn't getting any closer.

Lace up, grab a windbreaker, and go let a ridge in Portola Valley mess up your hair. You'll thank it at the top.