Thornewood Open Space Preserve, Silicon Valley Travel Guide

Thornewood Open Space Preserve, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains of San Mateo County, offers a peaceful escape into nature. This 167-acre preserve, managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, boasts a rich history, once forming part of the Thornewood estate, the summer home of Julian and Edna Thorne.In the 1920s, the Thornes developed the land, building a house designed by Gardner Dailey and creating extensive gardens, including Schilling Lake, named after August Schilling. The Thorne and Schilling estates were part of Rancho Cañada de Raymundo in old California. Edna Bloss Thorne bequeathed the land to the Sierra Club Foundation in 1970, stipulating its preservation as a nature preserve. The foundation then donated the acreage to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District in 1978.Today, Thornewood offers approximately 1.5 miles of easy-to-moderate hiking and equestrian trails. The Schilling Lake Trail meanders through sun-dappled canopies of bigleaf maples and moss-covered oaks, leading to the tranquil Schilling Lake, a protected wildlife habitat. The Bridle Trail winds through second-growth Douglas fir and redwood forests, connecting with the Schilling Lake Trail. Note that bikes are not allowed in the preserve.While the Thornewood House and surrounding 10-acre leasehold are currently under restoration and closed to the public, the remaining 77 acres are open year-round. Visitors can enjoy the easy walk along wooded trails, explore the shores of Schilling Lake, and appreciate the preserve's natural beauty.