Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve

Featured Trail: Horseshoe Lake Loop

Foothills of Palo Alto, near Skyline Blvd

Distance Difficulty Level Elevation
( Min / Max )		 Bicycles Dogs Equestrian Backpacking Remarks
4.5 Level: 5
This five-mile trail includes a short but steep section. This is considered a level 5 hike.		 2000 -- 2500 Yes No Yes No Bicycling and Equestrian: Allowed on a significant portion of this Featured Trail: allowed on fire road.See the trail map (menu above) for detail. Follow the signs for equestrian parking. Ridge Trail is for pedestrian use.

Trail Map

Featured Trail Introduction: This is a nice short loop around Horseshoe Lake. The trail initially skirts the lake at a distance but then stays close to the lake for the remainder of the hike. There are a few picnic tables along the trail that over look the lake. Fishing and swimming are not allowed.
Featured Trail: Follow trail marked in "Red" starting at Note 1.

Important Trail Notes

  • Note 1: Find your way to Skyline Blvd (highway 35 and Page Mill Road) using the Google Map provided above. Use the + and - controls to change the map coverage or drag the map to a new region. There are two parking lots at Skyline Ridge: the park to the right (facing the santa cruz mountains) includes an equestrian staging area. For this Featured Trail the trailhead is found in the parking lot to the right. The trailhead is labeled Horseshoe Lake.
    Dogs: Not Allowed.
    Bicycles: Not allowed
    Equestrian: not allowed on this trail
  • Note 2: Shortly after leaving the parking area there the trail crosses a gravel road. Don\'t follow the road. Follow the sign pointing the way to the lake. The trail passes close to the south parking area; stay on the trail and it will shortly pass close by the lake. There is a picnic table (in the shade) overlooking the lake
  • Note 3: The trail connects with Ridge Trail. Don\'t follow Ridge Trail; continue around the lake. At this point, you will see two trails, both follow the lake but one follows the shoreline; the other heads back to the parking area. Follow the trail closest to the lake.

Getting There

  • Find your way to Skyline Blvd and Page Mill Road.
  • Skyline Ridge parking area is about one-mile south of Page Mill Road on the west side. (Page Mill Road changes names and becomes Alping Road at Highway 35.
  • At the parking area, follow the signs to either the main parking or equestrian parking area
  • There are trails between all the parking lots
  • There are portable toilets in the parking area.



Google Map