Things to Do in Thornewood Open Space Preserve
Thornewood Open Space Preserve is a 167-acre open space preserve located in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Woodside, California. This preserve features forested hills, diverse woodlands of redwood, Douglas fir, oak, and madrone, and includes Schilling Lake. The terrain offers a tranquil setting for outdoor activities, with trails winding through shaded paths and rolling hills. It is well-suited for several sports like hiking, jogging, and more.
Things to Do in Thornewood Open Space Preserve
Thornewood Open Space Preserve offers a…
105
Routes
4.6
(74)
Average rating
2063
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)
4
hikers
5.52km
01:24
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
2
hikers
19.7km
05:56
790m
430m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
2
hikers
1.67km
00:27
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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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
02:32
510m
510m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
21
runners
8.73km
01:06
390m
390m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
17
runners
12.9km
01:35
220m
220m
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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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
(7)
37
riders
28.0km
03:23
650m
650m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
4.8
(4)
34
riders
10.5km
01:09
310m
310m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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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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Frequently asked questions
What activities are available in Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
Thornewood Open Space Preserve is suitable for hiking, jogging, and equestrian activities. The preserve features trails through forested hills and redwood groves. Bicycling is not permitted within the preserve.
What are the best hiking trails in Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
The preserve offers trails through redwood groves and forested hills. The Schilling Lake Trail is a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) path featuring lake views. A 3.2-mile (5.1 km) loop is also available. More information can be found in the Hiking in Thornewood Open Space Preserve guide.
Are there good running trails in Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
The preserve is well-suited for jogging with paths through shaded forests and rolling hills. Routes like the 3.2-mile (5.1 km) loop provide options for runners. Consult the Running Trails in Thornewood Open Space Preserve guide for more details.
Are there easy trails for beginners in Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
The preserve offers trails suitable for various skill levels, including easy paths. The Schilling Lake Trail is a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) path that is generally considered accessible. For more options, refer to the Easy hikes in Thornewood Open Space Preserve guide.
Are there family-friendly trails in Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
Thornewood Open Space Preserve has trails suitable for families. The diverse forest ecosystems and lake views provide an engaging environment for all ages. Information on suitable routes is available in the Family-friendly hikes in Thornewood Open Space Preserve guide.
What natural features can be seen in Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
Schilling Lake is a central feature, surrounded by redwoods and serving as wildlife habitat. The preserve also features diverse forests of redwood, Douglas fir, oak, and madrone. Portions of the preserve offer views of the southern San Francisco Bay and the Diablo Range.
Is Thornewood Open Space Preserve dog-friendly?
Dogs are permitted on leash on all trails within Thornewood Open Space Preserve. This makes it a suitable destination for dog walks. Specific dog-friendly routes can be found in the Dog-friendly hikes in Thornewood Open Space Preserve guide.
How popular is Thornewood Open Space Preserve on komoot?
Thornewood Open Space Preserve has more than 38,000 visitors who have shared their experiences on komoot. The routes in the preserve have an average rating of 4.64 out of 5 stars. There are 4 routes available for various activities.
What komoot guides are available for Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
Komoot offers several guides for the preserve, including Hiking in Thornewood Open Space Preserve, Family-friendly hikes, and Running Trails. There are also guides for Easy hikes and Dog-friendly hikes.
How can I contact Thornewood Open Space Preserve or find more information?
Thornewood Open Space Preserve is managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. The official website is openspace.org. The phone number for the district is +1-650-691-1200.
What types of forests are found in Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
The preserve features diverse forests including second-growth redwood, Douglas fir, oak, and madrone woodlands. Visitors can also find sunlit canopies of bigleaf maples and areas with California bay and buckeye trees.
Are there any viewpoints in Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
Portions of the preserve offer brief views of the southern San Francisco Bay, Palo Alto, and the Diablo Range. A vista near the trailhead can provide views, particularly at sunrise.
What is the history of Thornewood Open Space Preserve?
Thornewood Open Space Preserve was once part of the Thornewood estate, developed in the 1920s. The land was eventually bequeathed to the Sierra Club Foundation and then to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for preservation.
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