The Bay Area Ridge Trail is what it sounds like: a long-distance hiking trail that encircles the San Francisco Bay, traveling through the Marin Headlands, Wine Country, the Delta, the Ohlone Wilderness in the East Bay, the South Bay, and through old-growth redwoods along the Peninsula. Currently, there are 400 miles of trail that are officially completed. When the trail is done, there will be 550 miles of the Ridge Trail. Most of my hikes will be day hikes, with some overnight trips sprinkled in when possible, and in total, I will complete more miles than official trail miles due to having to do out-and-back hikes, loop hikes, etc. to hit all of the real trail.

I’ve been donating to the Ridge Trail Council for a little while now, hoping to help with funding for new trail miles to be built, current trail to be connected, and hopefully new backcountry camps to be erected. The Ridge Trail is relatively new, and they could really use donations to keep their resources top-notch and to fund trail building and maintenance!