SAN JOSE, Calif. – For nearly 40 years, environmental groups, parks planners and other outdoor lovers have worked to piece together a breathtaking vision: Building a continuous 550-mile trail around the Bay Area’s ridgelines for hikers, bicyclists and horse riders to get out of traffic, step away from computer screens and enjoy the outdoors.
Marked with blue signs, the Bay Area Ridge Trail takes in stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands; San Mateo County forests above Crystal Springs Reservoir; bucolic former ranch lands on the slopes of Mount Hamilton; and the necklace of East Bay parks from Mission Peak to the Carquinez Strait.
Now the project is receiving a significant boost this month as a new 14.1-mile section is added on San Jose’s southern edges, which will bring the total to 427 miles – about three-quarters done…