El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve

El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve sits in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Redwood City, offering one of the most scenic outdoor destinations on the San Francisco Peninsula. With a 4.5-star rating across 77 reviews, riders and hikers consistently praise the well-maintained trails and stunning redwood scenery. The preserve covers thousands of acres of open space managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, making it a rare public land where equestrians, hikers, and mountain bikers share the terrain. It's a genuine escape from Silicon Valley's density, just minutes from 280.

Horseback riding here means accessing a network of fire roads and single-track trails through old-growth redwoods and open ridgelines. Riders bring their own horses, as this is a public preserve rather than a lesson facility, so you'll need to be a capable handler before hitting the trails. Hikers can explore the same trail system on foot, while mountain bikers have designated routes that separate faster traffic from equestrians. The varied terrain suits experienced trail riders looking for elevation gain, tight canopy sections, and panoramic Bay Area views all in one outing.

El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve is accessible from Redwood City and the surrounding Peninsula communities, including Woodside, Portola Valley, and San Mateo. It draws riders from across the greater Bay Area who are willing to make the drive for quality trail access. The preserve is roughly 30 minutes from San Jose and about 45 minutes from San Francisco.