Plan with
Confidence
Like all Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserves, the preserve is open from a half hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. During the winter, the trail may be closed due to high water causing hazardous creek crossings or the trails being too muddy. Check the Thornewood Preserve website to confirm that the preserve is open before heading out in the winter.
Path Type
Point to Point
The Bridle Trail climbs from Old La Honda Road through a second growth forest of Douglas fir and redwood trees to the Schilling Lake Trail. The trail departs the parking area, which is a small pullout on the road, and begins climbing on a singletrack dirt trail through a shaded forest. Redwoods tower over you as you make your way up into the preserve. The trail rolls through a creek bed that might be difficult to cross in the winter due to high waters before climbing more steeply through the preserve.
The nice thing about this trail is the it is completely shaded throughout the day. After roughly 0.6 miles, the trail begins to level out as it approaches the Schilling Lake Trail. The trail joins the Schilling Lake Trail and you have several options. You can follow the trail to the left to where Schilling Lake is. If you go to the right, the Schilling Lake Trail makes its way past the old Thorne house to the to the parking lot on Highway 84. You can also retrace your steps back to the parking lot on Old La Honda Road.
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