104 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM • Horseshoe Loop Trail, Skyline Ridge Preserve, La Honda. “I hiked it for the first time in the fall and honestly, it was breathtaking,” says Ranger Marianne, noting the colorful big-leaf maples and red-barked madrones. The trail is an accessible 1.2-mile loop around the aptly named Horseshoe Lake, and a good spot for birding. • Zinfandel Trail, Picchetti Ranch Preserve, Cupertino. On this easy, 1.9-mile out-andback trail, poison oak is easy to spot in the fall, when it turns bright red. “One of my favorite things is, after the first rain, there’s a seasonal pond that starts to fill up,” says Ranger Robin. After hiking, you can relax with a glass of zinfandel at the historic Picchetti Winery. MAPS AND MORE Before you head out, go online for maps, trail closure advisories and parking info. A typical hiker can expect to travel a mile in 20-25 minutes, depending on the terrain. Want more options? San Mateo County Parks chose seven routes to spotlight the county’s biodiversity for its 2025 Take a Hike Challenge. Find them at smcgov.org/parks. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has a Trail Explorer app that lets you find your ideal route by filtering for sun exposure, trail surface, slope and more. Find it at openspace.org/where-to-go. NATURE CALLS MROSD PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: ALEX SONG / CURT BIANCHI / DOUGLAS SHEAFFER S SHEAFFER
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