The sun sets behind Pacific Ocean fog, as the last light recedes from California’s Santa Cruz Mountains.

Borel Hill is a small peak in Russian Ridge Open Space, and the highest (named) point in San Mateo County. It’s not much itself, but it offers great views in every direction. To the east is the San Francisco Bay and the Diablo Range beyond. But to the west, that’s the view that steals my heart. The Santa Cruz Mountains fade into the ocean, in a way that seems overly painterly. Some hills are topped with lovely chaparral that lights up gold in the sunset, while others are covered with remote redwood forests that provide shadowy silhouettes. And the sunset itself was quite a sight for my eyes, too. They are often inverted compared to what I’m used to. Instead of lighting up the clouds from below, the sun lights them up from above!

Purchase “Evening View from Borel Hill – California Mountain Sunset” Fine Art Print: