Gorgeous shaded hike through redwoods and sandstone formations.

Location: El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve

» Official Trail Map: Good map showing various trails.

» Redwoodhikes Trail Map: Great map showing many parks like Purisima Creek, Huddart, Wunderlich, El Corte De Madera, Foothills, Hidden Villa and Rancho San Antonio. Trail maps for individual parks are available online for free. However, the RedwoodHikes map shows the big picture and is helpful for planning hikes that go through multiple parks.

Route in brief: El Corte de Madera Creek Trail (2.1 mile) → Tafoni Trail (0.8 miles). Make a side trip to 'Sandstone Formation' (0.2 miles). Continue along Tafoni Trail (0.1 miles) → Fir Trail (0.3 miles) along with a side trip to 'Vista Point' (0.1 miles). Continue along Fir Trail (0.6 miles — steep sections) → Methusaleh Trail (0.3 miles) → Giant Salamander Trail (1.0 miles — one of the best trails along this route) → Timberview Trail (0.8 miles) with a side-trip to 'Old Growth Redwood'). Continue along Manzanita Trail (1.0 miles) → Methusaleh Trail (0.3 miles) → Sierra Morena Trail (0.4 miles) → Fir Trail (0.2 miles).

Notes: All trails are shaded. There is a picnic table at “Vista Point” off Fir Trail (see Trail Map). There is a ‘Sandstone Formation’ off Tafoni Trail (see Trail Map) and an ‘Old Growth Redwood’ off Timberview Trail (see Trail Map).

Location: along CA-35 (Skyline Blvd) . No street address. Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Directions: From 280 North, take 84 West. Right on Kings Mountain Rd. Turn left on Skyline Blvd (Highway 35). Gates labeled CM01 thru CM06 are on Skyline Blvd. The first gate CM01 is Skeggs Point (Yelp Review).

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: None (last visited: Jan 2012)

Capacity:

Latitude: 37.410937     Longitude: -122.306070