Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Closed Area)
Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Closed Area)
Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) is a open space preserve situated in the Santa Cruz Mountains, south of Los Gatos. This preserve encompasses nearly 1,500 acres, characterized by extensive second-growth redwood forests, Douglas fir forests, and oak woodlands, often alongside cool perennial creeks. The varied terrain, which includes elevations reaching Madrone Knoll, provides diverse landscapes suitable for several sports like hiking, jogging, and more. Some old-growth redwoods, estimated to be 600 to 800 years old, also stand…
97
Routes
4.8
(146)
Average rating
2339
People visited

3
hikers
2.40km
00:40
40m
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
hikers
4.45km
01:08
10m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
6.77km
02:23
590m
30m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1.90km
00:29
0m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(3)
133
riders
101km
05:21
1,590m
1,590m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
118
riders
51.5km
03:20
1,350m
1,350m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

35
riders
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

30
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(19)
39
riders
34.8km
03:24
800m
800m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(41)
76
riders
25.8km
02:30
600m
600m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
33
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

28
riders
24.3km
02:23
720m
720m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
66
runners
6.52km
00:49
160m
160m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

22
runners
15.2km
01:54
420m
420m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
runners
8.55km
01:11
310m
310m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
runners
5.16km
00:39
180m
180m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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52
riders
55.3km
04:10
1,270m
1,270m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
25
riders
83.6km
05:40
1,410m
1,410m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

19
riders
71.4km
04:45
1,110m
1,110m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
18
riders
17.8km
01:13
310m
310m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
8
riders
22.3km
02:11
730m
720m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
51.5km
03:41
900m
900m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
riders
25.9km
02:01
740m
740m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
53.1km
04:30
1,280m
1,280m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) offers opportunities for hiking and jogging. The preserve features over 10 miles of trails through redwood forests and oak woodlands. Bicycles are not permitted in this area.
The preserve offers various hiking trails, including moderate climbs like the 7.5-mile (12.1 km) Bear Creek Summit trail and the 7.4-mile (11.9 km) Madrone Knoll Loop. An easy-access interpretive trail circles Upper Lake. Explore more options in the Hiking in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
Yes, the preserve offers trails suitable for various skill levels, including easy loops. An interpretive trail around Upper Lake provides an accessible option. For more details, consult the Family-friendly hikes in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
Trails traverse extensive second-growth redwood forests, Douglas fir forests, and oak woodlands. The terrain includes cool perennial creeks and varied elevations, reaching up to Madrone Knoll, the highest point in the preserve.
Information regarding dog allowances is available through the official preserve management. For specific dog-friendly routes, refer to the Dog-friendly hikes in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
The preserve features extensive second-growth redwood and Douglas fir forests, oak woodlands, and perennial creeks. Some old-growth redwood trees, estimated to be 600 to 800 years old, are also present. Madrone Knoll is the highest elevation point.
Trails vary in elevation gain. For example, the Madrone Knoll Loop ascends to the highest point of 2,400 feet (732 meters). Other trails offer less strenuous climbs.
The preserve has been visited by more than 16,000 komoot users. Routes in the area have an average rating of 4.55 out of 5 stars, based on over 850 ratings.
Yes, komoot offers a dedicated guide for running. Users can find suitable routes in the Running Trails in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Closed Area) guide.
The official website for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, which manages the preserve, is openspace.org/maps. This site provides additional information and resources.
For inquiries regarding the preserve, the phone number is 650-691-1200. This contact can provide information on permits, access, and other operational details.
Yes, while most of the redwoods are second-growth, some old-growth trees still stand. These trees are estimated to be 600 to 800 years old and over 200 feet (61 meters) tall.
The preserve is a rich ecosystem supporting diverse wildlife. Species include mountain lions, bobcats, western pond turtles, various bat species, salamanders, and numerous birds, including bald eagles.

