El Corte de Madera Creek From Skeggs Inner loop 11.6 miles
Views: Forest
Crowd: None
Average Speed: 3.9 mph
Stopped Time: 0 min
Difficulty 1-5 for relative distance: 3
Bike: Yes, on most the loops. seasonal closures on parts
Dogs: N0 Dogs
Cautions: Watch for bikes! Poison Oak - off trails
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Hike Direction: East side to West, Counterclockwise.
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Garmin Fenix HR3 Total Elevation 2,625'
Download GPX route: Click Here
Parking: Free off Skyline at Skeggs Point
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Driving Directions:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//37.41105,-122.30591/@37.4110579,-122.3083153,17z/data=!3m1!4b1
More info: http://www.openspace.org/preserves/el-corte-de-madera-creek
AKA Skeggs Point, this covers most of the nice single track and is my favorite loop. Trails are well marked and in good shape. The trail is quite during the week, but busy with bikes on the weekend.
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More than 36 miles of multi-use trail are available for exploration at this 2,817-acre Preserve. While extremely popular with bicyclists, it also has lots of hearty hiking and horseback riding opportunities. Visitors will find mixed evergreen and redwood forests, creekside trails, coastal and forest views, and special features, such as rare sandstone formations.
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Red = Out & Back (O/B) or Connection hikes
Green = Loops
Blue = Backpacking including Backpacking thru hikes
Light Blue = Thru hikes
Yellow = To-do Backpack
Pink = Smaller loop option
Orange = To-do
Purple = Bay Ridge Trail thru hikes
GENERAL NOTES:
• Total Elevation Gain reported by GAIA on IOS devices looks to be a bit under reported when compared to Garmin devices that feature Baro elevation correction. It has been left for consistency.
• I carried a full overnight weekend backpack and hiked solo, unless otherwise noted. This certainly slows the time and pace a bit. I did so initially for the workout, but now so that the pacing is consistent and thus more predictable for comparing hike to hike times.
• Often midweek you might not see another person on your loop. Some of the Best Hikes on the Peninsula are surprisingly remote.
• Some of the trails have sharp drops just off the edge of the single track. A fall off in the wrong spot could be very bad.
• Cell signal is spotty to non-existent in many of the areas.
• Carry a headlamp in case you get lost, delayed, over estimated your progress, when you have an afternoon start, etc.
• When Hiking Solo, consider carrying extra food, first aid, and shelter or bivy, in case you find yourself lost, injured or in the parks after dark. It could be better to shelter in place, than continue without working light, tripping and falling off a cliff or wandering lost thru the night.
• Wildlife consists not only of lizards, rabbits, birds (including turkeys and hogs in some of the areas) and deer, but I have seen or seen signs of coyote, bob cat, rattle snakes and even mountain lions in several of the preserves over the years.
Seems like the lizards make the most noise as the run thru the leaves, but note that on several occasions the rattle snakes did NOT rattle. It never hurts to be aware of where you are stepping.
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ABOUT DOGS AND BIKES:
Most of the hiking routes cover a large area and numerous hiking trails. While some of the hiking trails used to create the route might allow dogs or bikes, a "NO" for either is listed if at any point on the hike, a hiking trail used for the hike, has a "NO" sign is posted.
However, regardless of the signs posted, please note that you'll often still see both.