Thornewood Open Space Preserve

Conveniently located in the hills above the Town of Woodside and ideally situated for a quick morning or afternoon getaway, Thornewood is a 167-acre Preserve offering nice, easy hikes or horseback rides through beautiful surroundings.

Schilling Lake is an excellent site to view waterfowl during their migration, so please be sure your dog is on leash and at your side when visiting this sensitive wildlife habitat area.

As the site of the historic Thornewood estate, Thornewood Open Space Preserve is a place rich in history. San Franciscan Julian Thorne bought the Woodside property in 1908, and in the 1920s architect Gardner Dailey designed and built the Thornewood house. (Gardner Dailey designed the farm buildings at the nearby Filoli, the DeYoung Museum addition, and the American Embassy in Manila, among other projects.) Thorne retained his estate and sold the remaining acreage, which reached from Thornewood to Skyline Boulevard, to August Shilling of the Schilling Spice Company. 

Hours: Open half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
Dogs: Dogs are allowed only on designated trails in this Preserve. Must be controlled on a maximum 6-foot leash at all times. Dogs are allowed only in designated preserves or areas as posted. Dog walkers are required to bag and remove all dog waste from the Preserve by packing it out. Moving dog waste off trail is not permitted. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Midpen accommodates service dogs in Preserves wherever we allow public access. For more information visit the Dog Access page.
Bicyclists: Bikes are NOT allowed in this Preserve. For information on preserves open to bikes visit the Bicycle Access page.
Equestrians: Horses are allowed on designated trails in this Preserve. Helmets are recommended for all equestrians. For more information visit the Equestrian Access page.
Groups: For safety reasons, permits are required for all groups of 20 or more people.
Permits: A use permit is required for any activity or event which: may be attended by twenty (20) or more people; OR is advertised or noticed in any publication, poster, electronic posting or flyer; OR requests/requires a fee be paid for participation. Visit the Permit page for more information.
Fires: Fires are prohibited on preserves.
Smoking: Smoking is prohibited on preserves.
Weapons: Weapons of any kind are prohibited on preserves.
Plants and Animals: Please leave plants and animals undisturbed. This not only preserves the natural environment, but is also a safety precaution.
Water Areas: Swimming wading, or engaging in any water-contact activity in any water areas of the District is prohibited.

Thornewood Open Space Preserve

Post

Report

Additional Information

Good For

Activities

Rules & Regulations

Regulations

Overview

Get Directions

Lat/Lng

Size

Contact Information

Address

Website

Stewardships

Documents

Regulations for Use of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Lands