Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area)
Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area)
Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) is a 167-acre open space preserve nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Woodside, California. This preserve features forested hillsides, diverse woodlands with second-growth redwood and Douglas fir groves, oak and madrone trees, and the tranquil Schilling Lake. The preserve's trails wind through shaded paths and rolling hills, offering a setting primarily suited for outdoor activities. Visitors engage in sports like hiking and horseback riding within Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area).
Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) offers numerous routes for outdoor activities, primarily focusing on hiking and horseback riding. The preserve features approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of trails, including the Schilling Lake Trail and the Bridle Trail, which traverse through diverse woodlands and past natural features like Schilling Lake. These trails are generally considered easy to moderate, providing accessible options for various skill levels. For those looking to explore specific types of routes, guides such as Hiking in Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) and Dog-friendly hikes in Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) provide detailed information. It is important to note that bicycles, including road cycling, mountain biking, and touring cycling, are not permitted within Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area). More than 30,000 visitors have shared their experiences, resulting in an average rating of 4.65 out of 5 stars for the activities available here.
111
Routes
4.7
(148)
Average rating
2985
People visited

5.0
(2)
34
hikers
4.99km
01:32
190m
190m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
27
hikers
11.0km
03:27
450m
440m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
hikers
7.52km
02:13
220m
220m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
hikers
21.3km
06:31
730m
730m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(6)
142
riders
36.3km
04:04
1,150m
1,150m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(6)
109
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(5)
64
riders
10.0km
01:10
350m
350m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(4)
42
riders
38.9km
04:33
1,080m
1,080m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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1
runners
5.29km
00:36
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

75
runners
19.5km
02:33
510m
510m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
66
runners
16.9km
02:15
490m
490m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

35
runners
10.2km
01:15
200m
200m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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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.

78
riders
60.2km
03:20
1,210m
1,210m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

19
riders
19.8km
01:13
490m
490m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
131
riders
25.0km
01:30
640m
640m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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46
riders
32.2km
02:16
630m
630m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

42
riders
58.8km
04:30
1,500m
1,500m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

39
riders
18.3km
01:26
500m
500m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

26
riders
24.8km
01:56
650m
650m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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9
riders
48.1km
03:34
1,170m
1,170m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
48.2km
03:59
1,300m
1,300m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
13.9km
01:13
440m
440m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
6.49km
00:32
140m
140m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) primarily permits hiking and horseback riding. The preserve features approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of trails suitable for these activities. Bicycles, including road cycling, mountain biking, and touring cycling, are not permitted within the preserve.
The preserve offers trails such as the Schilling Lake Trail and the Bridle Trail. These trails are considered easy to moderate, winding through diverse woodlands and past natural features. For more details, refer to the Hiking in Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
Yes, dogs are permitted on all trails within Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area), provided they are kept on a leash. Specific routes and tips for dog owners can be found in the Dog-friendly hikes in Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) offers easy to moderate trails suitable for families. These paths provide a tranquil setting for a leisurely stroll. Information on suitable routes is available in the Family-friendly hikes in Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
Key natural features include Schilling Lake, which is a protected wildlife habitat. Trails also traverse groves of second-growth redwood and Douglas fir, as well as oak and madrone trees. The preserve's diverse plant life ensures something is in bloom or fruiting throughout the year.
The preserve features approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of trails. These include the Schilling Lake Trail and the Bridle Trail, each about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) long. The trails connect and offer varied scenery.
The trails within Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) are generally considered easy to moderate. They offer accessible options for various skill levels, with paths winding through shaded areas and rolling hills. For easier options, consult the Easy hikes in Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
Activities in Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) have an average rating of 4.65 out of 5 stars on komoot, based on more than 1,700 ratings. More than 30,000 visitors have shared their experiences in the preserve.
Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) is managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. The official website is openspace.org/maps. For general inquiries, the district can be reached at +1-650-691-1200.
The preserve's location in the Santa Cruz Mountains provides brief views of the southern San Francisco Bay, Palo Alto (including Stanford University's Hoover Tower), surrounding cities, and the distant Diablo Range. These views are typically encountered along the trails.
Thornewood Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) includes the site of the historic Thornewood estate, which was developed by Julian Thorne in the early 20th century. This historical context adds to the preserve's unique character.

