Coho Vista Point

New Trails Open at La Honda Creek Preserve

Frances Freyberg

Midpen opened the Coho Vista, Western Meadowlark, Lone Madrone and Lonely Forest trails in La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve on November 8, 2025. Parts of these 6 miles of new multiuse-trails have been expertly designed and built by Midpen staff to provide an enjoyable visitor experience, protect the natural environment and stand the test of time; while parts of the trails incorporate existing ranch roads.  

The newly opened trails provide a remote and challenging experience requiring visitors to hike, bike or horseback ride up to 7-14 miles with approximately 1,200 feet of elevation change. From these parking areas, visitors need to travel approximately one mile along existing trails to reach the newly opened trails:

Highlighted map

New Trails Provide Connection & Access

Highlighted in purple at right, the newly opened Coho Vista, Western Meadowlark, Lone Madrone and Lonely Forest trails total 6 miles, and connect all existing trails in this vast preserve into one system totaling more than 17 miles while providing access to the preserve’s central area, and to mountain bikers, for the first time.

Download a Map and Plan Your Visit

New Trails Highlights

Coho Vista Point
From a vista point near Coho Vista Trail, visitors take in sweeping views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, coastal grasslands and Pacific Ocean
Coho Vista Trail
The newly built, single-track Coho Vista Trail switchbacks through forests of redwood, Douglas fir, tan oak and oak.  (Frances Freyberg)
Coho Vista Trail
Along the Coho Vista Trail a large tafoni rock formation hugs a switchback. Here, the mossy understory includes sword ferns, hazelnut, blackberry and fragrant hedge nettle. (Frances Freyberg)
Western Meadowlark Trail
Near the intersection of Coho Vista, Wester Meadowlarkand Lone Madrone trails, visitors transition between newly built single-track under the trees and grasslands with road-width trails and expansive views. (Frances Freyberg)
California fuschia
In the grassland areas, look for a flash of color from western bluebirds and late-blooming California fuschias and poppies; and listen for the unique song of one new trail’s namesake western meadowlark, while soaking in the views.  (Frances Freyberg)
Red Barn
From these newly opened trails, visitors can experience a unique view of the Red Barn located in the La Honda Creek Preserve, showcasing this protected landscape’s agriculture history that continues today. (Frances Freyberg)
Lonely Forest Trail
The Lonely Forest Trail includes single-track sections winding through pockets of shady oak and fragrant bay trees where dusky-footed woodrats build their stick nests in the understory.  (Frances Freyberg)
Lonely Forest Trail
Parts of the Lonely Forest Trail travel beneath tall, second-growth redwoods. Look for the stumps of the old-growth trees that were logged long ago and listen for the calls of red-tailed hawks circling above.  (Frances Freyberg)

bike photo

New Bike Access

The new trails welcome mountain biking at La Honda Creek Preserve for the first time, offering an out-and-back trail experience from the Sears Ranch Road parking area utilizing all of the Lonely Forest and Western Meadowlark trails, and designated sections of the Coho Vista and Harrington Creek trails. (5.6 miles of trail. A full out-and-back ride would total 11.2 miles)  
share the trails graphic

Sharing the Trails

Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians all share these newly opened trails. Many areas of the new trails also traverse working ranchlands actively grazed with cattle as part of Midpen’s Conservation Grazing Program, aimed at managing and enhancing coastal grasslands and the native plants and wildlife they support. Thank you for practicing good trail etiquette.
Photo of bridge

Building the Trails

Creating high-quality trails is one of the things Midpen does best. Much planning, care and hard work by Midpen staff went into building the new sections of trail. This work includes avoiding sensitive habitats or species, hand work and use of machines including mini-excavators or mini-bulldozers. In some cases, the new trail was built through areas with dense vegetation and steep slopes.
white barn photo

Midpen on the Coast

La Honda Creek Preserve embodies Midpen's unique mission on the San Mateo County coast to preserve open space and agricultural land, protect and restore the natural environment, preserve rural character, encourage viable agriculture and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.

Vision Plans and Funding

The following plans and resources made these new trails possible. 

Measure AA Bond Funding

Midpen Vision Plan

La Honda Creek Preserve Master Plan

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