Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area)
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area)
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) is a 2,143-acre open space preserve situated in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This region features diverse landscapes, including sweeping ridge vistas, expansive meadows, oak woodlands, and areas with redwoods. Two prominent water features, Alpine Pond and Horseshoe Lake, add to the varied scenery. The preserve's terrain, ranging from flat sections to more challenging routes, makes it suitable for several sports like hiking, jogging, road cycling, mountain biking, and more.
98
Routes
4.8
(91)
Average rating
1957
People visited

5.0
(4)
34
hikers
6.06km
01:46
160m
160m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
hikers
4.40km
01:20
220m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
9.35km
02:43
250m
250m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
9.24km
02:40
220m
250m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(2)
171
riders
92.0km
05:05
1,830m
1,830m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
140
riders
35.2km
02:04
820m
820m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.3
(6)
263
riders
23.5km
01:05
260m
260m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(3)
62
riders
58.2km
02:45
740m
740m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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31
runners
11.9km
01:39
440m
440m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8.19km
00:58
240m
240m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
runners
5.56km
00:41
140m
140m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11.6km
01:27
520m
520m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(3)
57
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(1)
16
riders
9.89km
01:10
360m
360m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

23
riders
23.6km
02:35
700m
700m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

11
riders
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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5.0
(2)
92
riders
63.6km
04:38
1,440m
1,440m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

28
riders
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(1)
22
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
5
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
48.0km
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.
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Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Jogging, Road cycling, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, and Gravel biking. The preserve features diverse landscapes suitable for various skill levels. Visitors can explore over 10 miles of multi-use trails.
The preserve offers a range of hiking trails, including accessible loops around Alpine Pond and Horseshoe Lake. The Ipiwa Trail provides views of the Lambert Creek watershed, Butano Ridge, and Portola State Park. More information on routes can be found in the Hiking in Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
Yes, mountain biking is permitted on designated trails within the preserve. Popular options include the Peters Creek Trail – Turtle Rock Viewpoint loop and the Skyline Boulevard Viewpoint loop. The preserve features over 10 miles of multi-use trails with varied terrain. Consult the MTB Trails in Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide for specific routes.
Yes, the preserve features wheelchair-accessible loops around Alpine Pond and Horseshoe Lake, suitable for all ages and abilities. These trails offer an enjoyable experience for families. Additional options are detailed in the Family-friendly hikes in Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
Information regarding dog allowances on specific trails should be verified with the preserve's official guidelines. For dog-friendly hiking options, refer to the Dog-friendly hikes in Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
The preserve features sweeping ridge vistas, expansive meadows, oak woodlands, and redwood areas. Prominent water features include Alpine Pond, which has a nature center, and Horseshoe Lake, known for migrating birds. Ridge-top locations offer views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) is generally open from a half-hour before sunrise until a half-hour after sunset. Visitors should plan their activities within these hours.
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 14,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The preserve's routes have an average rating of 4.65 out of 5 stars based on over 1,000 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for the preserve, including Hiking, Family-friendly hikes, Easy hikes, Running Trails, Road Cycling Routes, and MTB Trails. There are also guides for Traffic-free bike rides and Dog-friendly hikes.
For non-emergency inquiries, Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) can be reached by phone at +1-650-691-1200. Additional information is available on their official website, openspace.org/preserves/skyline-ridge.
Bicycling, including mountain biking, is permitted on designated trails. A speed limit of 15 mph is enforced, and helmets are required for all cyclists. E-bikes are generally not allowed on most trails within the preserve.
The preserve features diverse terrain, ranging from grasslands and oak woodlands to areas with redwoods. Trails include both flat sections and more challenging routes with varied surfaces. This variety contributes to the preserve's appeal for different outdoor activities.

