New Trails Open at La Honda Creek Preserve

What kind of experience can I expect on the new trails?

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. The new trails are accessed by traveling approximately one mile along existing trails from the preserve’s parking areas.

Lonely Forest Trail travels 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. Part of this trail also 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.

Western Meadowlark and Lone Madrone trails form a loop. These road-width trails traverse rolling, coastal grassland with grazing cattle and expansive views, including a unique vantage point of the historic Red Barn, located within the preserve near Highway 84.

Coho Vista Trail switchbacks through steep forested terrain of redwood, Douglas fir, tan oak and oak trees.  A large tafoni rock formation hugs one of these switchbacks. A vista point near the northern end of the trail provides sweeping views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and coast.

Find the Midpen trail that is right for you using the Trail Explorer tool.

Where can I park?

Currently, the parking options that are available are the Sears Ranch Road Parking Area or the Allen Road Permit Parking Area*. The Allen Road parking area is accessible via vehicle only and requires a parking permit. There is no parking available outside of the preserve gate on Allen Road. Permits are free and should be requested at least two business days in advance of your visit.

How do I get a free permit to access the trails from the Allen Road permit parking area?

Here is a link to the page where you can fill out a permit application form: https://www.openspace.org/where-to-go/permits/general-access-permit

Select "Hiking" as your permit activity and for the location from the dropdown menu in the form, select "La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve - Allen Road Permit Parking Area". Then, fill out the rest of the form. More information about the Allen Road Parking Area permit access:

• No-fee permits are issued for single-day use for hiking only.
• Permit access to this section of the preserve is via the Allen Road locked gate only.
• Drive-in access via car is the only allowed means of access. Walking or biking in is not permitted.
• No parking is allowed outside the gate (private property).

Can I access the new trails via Allen Road by biking, walking or getting dropped off?

No. The new trails can only be accessed via Allen Road via vehicle and with a free permit.

Allen Road is a private road, and biking or walking along it to access the trails is not allowed. To drive a vehicle to the trailhead, whether you park or not, a permit is required. Midpen has an agreement with the private road neighbors that we will limit the number of cars traveling the private road daily, for which the permit system is in place.

If someone you know is able drop you off at the Allen Road entrance, you would be able to apply for a permit with their vehicle's information in advance.

Where can I park my horse trailer? 

Currently, the only horse trailer parking at La Honda Creek Preserve is located at the Event Center Permit Parking Area*: Equestrian and vehicle parking is available by permit only at this location.

There is NO horse trailer parking at either Sears Ranch Road or Allen Road permit parking areas at this time. 

Are bicycles allowed to use the new trails?

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 total miles of trail. A full out-and-back ride would total 11.2 miles). The attached map shows the trails that allow bikes highlighted in blue.

Image

Are eBikes allowed?

Due to Midpen’s policy restricting e-bikes, they are not allowed at this preserve unless they are being use by a person with a mobility disability, only on trails where bicycles are already permitted.

Can I access the trails on my bike via Allen Road?

Unfortunately, at this time bikes are not allowed between the Vista Point near the end of the Coho Vista Trail and Allen Road permit parking area. Access to the trails via the private Allen Road is by vehicle only, with a free permit from Midpen (see parking and access FAQs above for details). Walking or biking to or from the trails via Allen Road is not permitted. 

Will bicycles be able to access other trails in the preserve in the future?

The long-term plan is to hopefully be able to connect La Honda Creek Preserve’s trails with the trails in El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve via a new Bay Area Ridge Trail segment once this trail is established and at least one safe through-connection is secured. Two connections, one to the east and one to the west, are ideal to fulfill the larger goal of a continuous Ridge Trail alignment that encircles the Bay Area. 

Why are bikes allowed?

The new bike access at La Honda Creek Preserve was implemented as part of the 30-year use and management Master Plan whose goals are to balance the preservation of viable agriculture, cultural history and the natural environment with public education and low-intensity recreation. This plan was completed in 2012 after an extensive public participation process that engaged with and sought feedback from the La Honda community, neighbors, trail users including hikers, bicyclists, dog walkers and equestrians, agricultural community, environmental groups and the general public over five years throughout the project. A summary of the public feedback and stakeholder input can be found in Appendix B, Public Participation Process, in the La Honda Creek Master Plan. You can learn more about the Master Plan here: https://www.openspace.org/what-we-do/projects/la-honda-creek-preserve-master-plan

Are dogs allowed on the new trails? 

No, the newly opened trails do not allow dog access. However, dogs on-leash are permitted on other trails in La Honda Creek Preserve, specifically the Grasshopper Loop Trail seasonally from the end of calving season in December to July 31. This time restriction corresponds to the calving season to reduce stress on cows and their calves. Dogs are also allowed on the Cielo Trail accessed from the Allen Road permit parking area, which requires a free permit from Midpen to access.