Twenty-one open space preserves are open to horseback riders. The District’s trails provide the long distance opportunities for riding that are valued by equestrians, especially when trails allow connections between adjacent preserves or other public lands, such as the Bay Area Ridge Trail. These preserves are just a few favored by equestrians:

• Long Ridge, Monte Bello, Russian Ridge, Saratoga Gap, and Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserves. These South Skyline Area preserves are adjacent to one another and provide corridors for equestrians with access to miles and miles of multi-use trails. Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve has an equestrian parking lot to accommodate rigs of all sizes. From these preserves, equestrians can ride through a variety of ecosystems, including mixed evergreen forests, oak woodlands, chaparral, and grasslands. Great views to the coast are prevalent along the ridges.


• Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. Towering redwoods, ferns, and creeks will provide a cool respite for afternoon riders that choose to explore this preserve on horseback. This area provides a look at the unique history of logging on the midpeninsula – along Purisima Creek Trail riders may catch a glimpse of areas that were once the site of sawmills. Twenty-one miles of trails await you.


• Windy Hill Open Space Preserve features 13 miles of trails, including forested terrain, creek crossings, open grasslands, and beautiful views of San Francisco Bay and the midpeninsula.