Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve is a 366-acre public recreation area situated in the Santa Cruz Mountains, near San Carlos and Redwood City. This open space preserve features a varied landscape, including cool canyons, ridge tops offering views of the San Francisco Bay, and diverse woodlands composed of mixed evergreen forests, oak woodlands, and chaparral. Cordilleras Creek also originates within the preserve, flowing through wooded areas. The terrain supports outdoor activities such as hiking and jogging.
Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve offers a selection of routes for outdoor enthusiasts. While bicycles and horses are not permitted within the preserve, it is a popular destination for hiking and jogging, including a dedicated off-leash area for dogs. Hikers can explore trails ranging from gentle paths to more challenging routes with notable elevation changes. For those looking to explore the area, guides like Hiking in Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve and Easy hikes in Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve provide detailed information. More than 34,000 visitors have shared their experiences, resulting in an average rating of 4.69 out of 5 stars for the routes in Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve.
91
Routes
4.7
(151)
Average rating
3696
People visited

2
hikers
5.95km
01:44
160m
160m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
3.22km
00:54
90m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
5.20km
01:19
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
52
hikers
5.32km
01:35
170m
170m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(3)
172
riders
37.5km
02:05
730m
730m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

72
riders
104km
06:37
1,920m
1,920m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.3
(3)
119
riders
59.3km
03:36
1,500m
1,500m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(2)
104
riders
80.5km
04:10
1,410m
1,410m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.9
(18)
116
riders
12.6km
01:18
300m
300m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(17)
107
riders
10.8km
01:09
290m
290m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(11)
86
riders
20.5km
01:50
510m
510m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
58
riders
21.4km
02:03
560m
560m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(3)
124
riders
26.4km
01:38
260m
260m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
58
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

63
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
112
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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46
runners
9.32km
01:13
260m
260m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

25
runners
16.3km
01:54
180m
180m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
runners
5.17km
00:41
150m
150m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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7
riders
119km
07:58
1,760m
1,760m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
11.9km
01:20
420m
420m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
46.7km
03:38
1,210m
1,210m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve is primarily for hiking and dog walking. Bicycles and horses are not permitted within the preserve. The preserve offers approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) of trails for these activities.
Yes, dogs are permitted in Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve. The preserve features a dedicated 17.5-acre off-leash area for dogs. All other areas require dogs to be on a leash.
The preserve offers a range of hiking trails, from easy, gentle paths suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, such as sections of the Cordilleras Trail, to more strenuous routes with significant elevation changes. Popular trails include the Dream trail loop, the Edgewood Trail Loop, and the Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail. For more details, refer to the Hiking in Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve guide.
Yes, Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve includes easy hiking options. Sections of the Cordilleras Trail are suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. The preserve also offers routes categorized as family-friendly. Find more information in the Easy hikes in Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve guide.
The preserve features cool canyons, ridge tops with expansive views of the San Francisco Bay, and diverse woodlands including mixed evergreen forests, oak woodlands, and chaparral. Cordilleras Creek originates within the preserve, flowing through wooded areas. The Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail is known for wildflowers in spring.
Ridge tops within Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve offer expansive views of the San Francisco Bay and surrounding hillsides. The Polly Geraci Trail ascends an oak-covered hillside, providing scenic views of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 34,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The routes in the preserve have an average rating of 4.69 out of 5 stars based on over 1,500 ratings.
Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve spans 366 acres (148 hectares). It is managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
The land was formerly the Hassler Health Farm, a tuberculosis sanitarium. Remnants such as old retaining walls and steps can still be found off the Hassler Trail, offering a glimpse into its past.
Additional information about Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve, including maps and regulations, can be found on the official website of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. The official website is https://www.openspace.org.
Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve is managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Their phone number for inquiries is +1-650-691-1200.

