El Corte De Madera Creek Open Space Preserve (Woodside)

This map comes from Dave Luke’s page, which also has a higher-resolution version that’s good for printing. You can also click on a point in this map to see a high resolution topographical map for that area. (Topographical maps created with TOPO!^TM ©Wildflower Productions)

OTE Ratings: O9/T9/E7
Distance: variable
Time: variable
USGS 7.5’ topo: Woodside, CA

Description

El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve - usually abbreviated as "El Corte de Madera", "ECdM", or, for historical reasons, "Skeggs" - is a large, rugged, heavily-forested preserve, containing some of the best singletrack in the entire Bay Area. Previously used by offroad motorcycles, the land was purchased by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District ("MROSD") in the mid-1980s.

Prior to 1996, the MROSD took a laissez-faire approach to this preserve, allowing the numerous singletrack trails (most of which result from the earlier motorcycle use) to remain "as is". However, in June 1996, the MROSD adopted and began implementing a new trail plan, in which ECdM will be treated more like its other preserves. Many existing singletrack trails are being closed; others are being widened and/or rerouted to make them less steep. Some new trails are also being cut.

This new trail plan remains highly controversial, with most local bikers feeling that the trail system will become too "dumbed down", diminishing the wild and rugged character of this preserve. In any case, many trails here remain steep and technically challenging. This is not a good place for inexperienced riders.

Directions

(N 37° 24’ 39", W 122° 18’ 17")
Most people park at the "Skeggs Point" vista point on Skyline Boulevard (highway 35). (An alternative is to park further south on Skyline, near gates CM02 or CM03.)

From the North and East Bay, San Francisco, and northern Peninsula

Use your preferred route to get to the junction of I-280 and highway 92. (Hwy 92 is the highway that runs from Hayward over the San Mateo Bridge to Half Moon Bay.) From the 280/92 junction, continue west on highway 92 (it’s no longer a freeway at this point) for 2.6 miles, to Skyline Blvd (hwy 35). Turn left on Skyline Blvd, and take it south for 8.1 miles. The "Skegg’s Point" parking lot is on the left. (Note that you can’t legally turn left directly into the parking lot; instead, continue along Skyline and make a U-turn.)

From the central Peninsula and South Bay

Take highway 84 (Woodside Road) west to the "Skylonda" intersection with Skyline Blvd (hwy 35). Turn right onto Skyline Blvd, and take it north for 3.9 miles. The "Skegg’s Point" parking lot is on the right.

Selected rides

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Here we’ll eventually have detailed descriptions (with topographical maps and elevation profiles) of many of our favorite rides in ECdM. For now, here’s a sample of rides:

The Perimeter Loop (from Chain Reaction Bicycles)
The ’Resolution-Leaf-Methuselah’ loop (from "Lee Likes Bikes")
The Pipeline/914/Star Hill loop.

For more information

Dave Luke’s page has more information about this park, including his excellent trail map. Also, check out Dave’s photos of the (now closed) "Pipeline" trail.
The MROSD’s official page for this preserve
Erik Goetze’s park map, with several VR panoramas
Several photos of this area (from "The Ogre’s Guide")
Scott Kendall’s ride report
Jason Van Horn’s ride report

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