Thirty-six miles of multi-use trail are available for exploration at this 2,817-acre Preserve. While this Preserve is extremely popular with bicyclists, it also has lots of hearty hiking and horseback riding opportunities. Visitors to the Preserve will find mixed evergreen and redwood forests, creekside trails, coastal and forest views, and special features, such as rare sandstone formations.

As San Francisco flourished following the discovery of gold in California, logging of the coastal redwood forests was needed in order to supply the building materials for the growth. The remote nature of this Preserve, coupled with its steep terrains, kept loggers away until the 1860s. Resourceful entrepreneurs spent the next 50 years building and operating eight different mills along the creek banks of the Preserve. Around the turn of the century, the mills were closed or nearing the end of their economic viability. Modern logging continued off and on until 1988, shortly after the Open Space Preserve was created.

To reduce erosion and sedimentation at the Preserve, the District created the Watershed Protection Program to protect and restore the watershed. Visitors are required to stay on designated trails. Please note that off trail use is a misdemeanor.

El Corte de Madera Creek Trail and Giant Salamander Trail now OPEN!

Bridge on the Giant Salamander Trail (Photo by Meredith Manning, MROSD)

Restoration work (initiated in 2006) on the El Corte de Madera Creek Trail and the Giant Salamander Trail completed in late spring 2009. Both trails are now open. Thank you for your flexibility in using alternate trails during construction.

For updates, please review the Preserve sign boards or visit the Watershed Protection Program page.

Other Preserve Trails

The Resolution Trail, a multi-use, single track trail that winds through Corte Madera Canyon, was named for and dedicated to those who lost their lives on the ill-fated DC-6 airplane that crashed here in October 1953. The trail starts below the Vista Point, a knoll off of the Fir Trail that served as the base of rescuer operations following the crash. Please respect this historical site by leaving any artifacts where you find them.

A rare sandstone formation is located on the Tafoni Trail, a short distance from the Fir Trail. The large sandstone boulders have naturally eroded over thousands of years to create small, shallow caves in the rock, as well as lacy "fretwork" resembling a stone honeycomb. The short trail from the Tafoni Trail to the sandstone features is open to hiking only. The District has built a new access trail and an observation deck at this site. The deck was built not only to preserve the tafoni formations, but the surrounding vegetation as well. The deck allows visitors to view the tafoni and its unique features up close and comfortably, while ensuring this valuable natural resource will remain for years to come.

Note: This Preserve is bordered by private property. Please respect the boundaries and stay on designated Preserve trails. Be sure to review Trail Regulations before visiting this Preserve. Also, take a look at the temporary trail closure map posted in the signboard at the trailhead.

HOW TO GET THERE

Visitors may park at the Caltrans Skeggs Point parking area on the east side of Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard), about 4 miles north of Highway 84 (La Honda Road) and 1.5 miles south of Kings Mountain Road. (Please note that Caltrans prohibits a left turn into the lot when approaching from the north along Skyline Blvd.) From there, the El Corte de Madera Creek Trail / Tafoni Trail entrance is slightly to the north and across Skyline Blvd. Very limited roadside parking on Skyline Blvd. and access to the Methuselah Trail entrance is located approximately 2.2 miles south of Kings Mountain Road; limited parking on Skyline Blvd. and access to the Gordon Mill Trail is approximately 2.7 miles south of Kings Mountain Road.

Download a map of El Corte Madera Creek Open Space Preserve

For an easy interactive location map, click Google local directions.