EquestrianTrails in Peninsula

This preserve has about 500 acres of land and about five miles of dirt trails used by hikers, bicycles and horses.  On a clear day, one can see views of the Bay Area from the trailhead area at an elevation of 2300 feet.  The trails cover hilly grassland and lots of woods which provide a mixture of shade and sun.  There is limited paved parking at turnouts off of Skyline Blvd.  There is no drinking water, toilets or pay phone but there is an emergency call box.

This area is owned by Portola Ranch Homeowners association and they allow the public to use the land.  The dirt trails are a combination of narrow and wide, with a mix of sun and shade.  The largest elevation change is 500 feet.  Please note that the Toyon trail is for pedestrian only and some of the trails do not allow dogs.  There is no drinking water, restrooms or food nearby.

The popular park has multi-use paved and dirt trails for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.  It hosts two reservoirs: Crystal Springs Reservoir and the San Andreas Reservoir. Restrooms and drinking water are available on the Sawyer Camp trail.

This park is famous for its fields of wildflowers in the springtime. The protected wilderness area is 467 acres with elevation ranging from 240 to 873 feet above sea level. There is a variety of ecological diversity with grasslands, chaparral, coastal scrub regions, foothill woodlands that support over 500 distinct plant species, the threatened Bay Checkerspot Butterfly, frogs, lizards, foxes, coyote, bobcat, raccoon, deer, and over 70 resident and migratory birds. Activities include hiking, wildlife watching, horseback riding and picnicking. There are 5 trails throughout Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve: Edgewood Trail (1.93 Miles), Serpentine Loop (1.94 miles), Ridgeview Loop (1.38 miles), Clarkia Trail (.74 Mile), and the Sylvan Loop (2.5 Miles). The Sylvan Trail is the only trail that horses are not allowed. There are restrooms on site.

The preserve has over 2800 acres and over 35 miles of dirt trails with small loops that are interconnected and elevation ranges from 2300 to 800 feet. The trails cover mixed evergreen and redwood forests, creekside trails, coastal and forest views and rare sandstone formations. The trails are shared with hikers, bicycles and horses. There is parking for about six cars. There are no toilet facilities or drinking water.

The center provides access to 1000 acres of private trails surrounding a small lake.

Huddart Park covers 900 acres of hiking and equestrian trails with views of the valley.  Trails cover gulches, creeks, hillsides, coastal redwood forest, mixed evergreen forest and chaparral. Wildlife inhabitants include black-tailed deer, raccoons, black squirrels, jackrabbits, brush bunnies, chipmunks, lizards, a few bobcats, coyotes and grey foxes.  Birds that make their home here are acorn woodpeckers, chickadees, towhees, Steller's Jays, quail, scrub jays, and wrentits. Shrubs include manzanita, chamise, chaparral pea, yerba santa, sticky monkey flower, wild lilac, toyon, wood rose, and poison oak.  Wildflowers, such as western hound's tongue, indian warrior, and fremont's star lily (zygadene lily) also live here.

Long Ridge Open Space Preserve is a 2035 acre park with about 13 miles of dirt trails for hikers, bicycles, and equestrians. There are scenic views of the Santa Cruz mountains and Pacific Ocean on clear days. Keep an eye out for rock formations and native plants along the way. There are no restrooms or drinking water in the preserve.

This is a 293-acre preserve with a mix of woodland, oaks and laurel trees with the hilltop hosting a mix of grasses and non-native plants such as oleander, eucalyptus and cactus. On clear days there is a wide view of San Francisco Bay, the southern peninsula and south bay cities, and the peaks of Mount Diablo and Mount Hamilton. The elevation gain on the trails only amounts to about 300 feet, and the rate of incline is very gentle. Dogs must be on a maximum 6 foot leash. Bicycles and equestrians are permitted on the Cordilleras and Hassler Trails only. Polly Geraci Trail is hiking only. There is no drinking water on site.

This is a 3,360 acre preserve with 21 miles of trails shared by pedestrians, bicycles and equestrians.  Trails start at high elevation on Skyline Blvd and can go down by 1600 feet.  Most of the trails are shaded by redwoods so the canyon area is moist and a good habitat for banana slugs especially in the winter.  There are ferns, berries, wildflowers, coastal scrub and hardwood forests of tanoak, madrone, and Douglas fir.   On a clear day, there are beautiful views of the ocean and the hills that lead down to the coast.  It is recommended to bring water.  The parking lot is large enough for about ten cars.  There is a pit toilet less than one tenth of a mile from the start of the trail.

The preserve encompasses about 2000 acres of grasslands, ridges and hillsides. The narrow dirt trails cover mainly exposed areas so bring a hat. The area hosts a diversity of plants and birds and, in the spring, there are a variety of orange, purple and yellow wildflowers.  There are about 10 miles of flat and rolling hill multi-use trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use with views of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay on clear days. There are two main entrances and both have restrooms.

San Bruno Mountain Park is 2,326 acres at the northern end of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range. It's ridge line has elevations ranging from 250 feet to 1,314 feet at the summit and has 12 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding with panoramic views of San Francisco and Central Bay Area on clear days. The park is home to 14 species of rare or endangered plant life, as well as host and nectar plants of endangered butterflies.  In the Spring season expect to see wildflower displays on the mountain.  Restrooms, parking and drinking water are available. The weather changes without warning so wear layered clothing.

The park has 1,540-acres with trails for horses, hikers and mountain bikers.  The Saratoga Gap Trail parallels Skyline Boulevard with views of the ocean, passing under oaks and a wooded Douglas fir forest. View lichen-covered boulders and sandstone.

This preserve has about 2100 acres with 10 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. There are some hiking only trails. Trails offer views of Horseshoe Lake, Alpine Pond, Lambert Creek Watershed, Butano Ridge and Portola State Park. Horseshoe Lake and Alpine Pond are good for wildlife and bird watching. There are restrooms in the main parking lots but no drinking water is available.

Windy Hill has about 1300 acres of land with about 12 miles of multiuse dirt trails for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.  Habitats include forested ridges, valley floors (Hamms Gulch, Eagle, Razorback Ridge, and Lost Trails), grassy ridges (Spring Ridge Trail) and spectacular views of the bay and surrounding valley (Anniversary Trail). The Betsy Crowder, Razorback, Lost, and Hamms Gulch Trails are open to horses and closed to bicycles all year round.

This park covers over 900 acres of coastal mountain environment with a mix of redwood forest and meadows and canyons, a stream, and springs.  The dirt trails are open to both equestrians and hikers and reach an upper elevation of  2,000 feet. For equestrians, it has a lower area containing boarding stables, riding facilities, and a horse ring.  Wildlife viewing includes black-tailed deer, raccoons, black squirrels and sometimes bobcats, coyotes and grey foxes. Also,acorn woodpeckers, chickadees, towhees, and Stellar jays can be seen.  There are water and restroom facilities in the medium sized parking area.