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The newly opened Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail in San Mateo County is booming in popularity — it’s almost too popular, as far as local residents are concerned. They say overflow from the parking lot is resulting in lines of cars parked on the side of Highways 35 and 92, raising concerns about obstructing traffic, sparking grass fires and pedestrian safety.
The 6-mile trail, owned by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), was 20 years in the making, offering access to a sensitive habitat in watershed lands surrounding reservoirs that supply the Peninsula with drinking water. While the only other trail through SFPUC watershed land is restricted to docent-led hikes, the new trail requires only a free annual permit. Permit holders can bring up to six people with them.
Since opening on Aug. 24, the trail has gotten “overwhelming interest,” drawing large crowds on weekends, according to Bay City News.
The designated parking lot at the start of the trailhead has about two dozen spaces, but the number of vehicles traveling up to the area often exceeds that. On the side of Highway 35, known locally as Skyline Boulevard, a slew of cars were parked on the right shoulder of the road on Saturday, Sept. 12. Visitors, including children, could be spotted crossing the highway and navigating around traffic to get to the trailhead.
There are no marked pedestrian crossings on the roads.
Hikers traversing the Skyline Watershed Ridge trail in San Mateo County on Sept. 12, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan. 
People gather at the Skyline Watershed Ridge trail head in San Mateo County on Sept. 12, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan. 
A parking lot at Skyline Watershed Ridge trail head in San Mateo County on Sept. 12, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan. 
Hikers look at signs posted at the Skyline Watershed Ridge trail head in San Mateo County on Sept. 12, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan.
While parking on the side of highways is not illegal, some areas of Skyline are too narrow to accommodate it. California Highway Patrol Lt. Daniel Hill said SFPUC has requested that CHP and Caltrans conduct a survey to determine where it would be best to install no-parking signs. The final decision will be up to Caltrans, but CHP will be be responsible for enforcement if no-parking zones are established, Hill said.
“Our interest here is to make sure that the roadway is kept open and free of obstruction, and that if people decide to park on the highway, that they park in a place that’s safe,” Hill said. “We all have to understand that there is an inherent danger with walking on the roadway, especially with the limited sightlines.”
San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller recently sent a letter to SFPUC pointing out issues with “troubling behavior” from trail users including vehicles parked over the right shoulder line, people walking dangerously along the road and running across it, parking in vegetation and littering.
Mueller questioned whether the Public Utilities Commission’s permit system is drawing more people to the area than they can reasonably accommodate by allowing permit holders to bring additional visitors. He wanted to know how many permits are issued and how often staff are confirming visitors have permits.
Mueller recommended the SFPUC include warnings about parking, walking along the road and crossing highways on its website.
“I think one of the things that has to be done is that all the entities that have trails, (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District), now SFPUC, county parks and state parks, have to work together when they’re opening trails to have a managed parking approach,” said Kathleen Lê Moazed, Mueller’s legislative aide and La Honda native.
She said she believes the current permit system is “too permissive” and if staff are not actively checking, “word gets out really quickly that you don’t need a permit.”
Moazed said that dozens of local residents have been sending her photos and videos of the parked cars and children running across Highway 92, where the speed limit is marked at 55 mph, according to CHP.
SFPUC advises permit holders to visit on a weekday and to be prepared to go to another trail if the parking lot is full, according to Bay City News.
“What we’re trying to do is figure out where we can balance out guaranteeing access to the roadway to park legally, while at the same time balancing out where it would be safe to park and walk on the road,” said Hill.
Caltrans officials said that they are aware of the concerns regarding parking in the area and are currently investigating the situation. So far, no specific changes or signage have been finalized.
“Our traffic safety staff are conducting an assessment of the area and are coordinating with the partner agencies to better understand the parking conditions and identify potential safety considerations and solutions,” said Caltrans Public Information Office Nawel Tahraoui.
