Woodside: Redwood Forests, Gardens, and Special Trails

Woodside combines impressive redwood landscapes with gardens, historic estates, museums, and special destinations. Those who want to combine nature experiences and culture on a trip will find various opportunities here for active days, peaceful discoveries, and shared activities. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether you primarily want to include hiking trails, historic sites, art events, or wine experiences in your plans.

Gardens, History, and a Glimpse of the Past

A defining destination is Filoli, a 654-acre estate in Woodside, California. The House was built in 1917 as a Georgian Revival estate and is now a historic landmark. The formal garden covers 16 acres and is designed in the English Renaissance style. Filoli also includes Natural Lands spanning more than 650 acres. General admission includes access to the House, garden, redwoods, and hiking trails. This makes it possible to combine architecture, garden art, and nature in one visit, without requiring all interests to be experienced in the same way.

Local history can also be seen in several places. The Carriage Room in Folger Stable was converted into a museum that presents the history of logging, agriculture, and the era of the great estates. Folger Stable itself is an example of this bygone era. The Woodside Store is a house museum with artifacts presented in a period setting. The building was restored to its 1880s condition and furnished with period objects. Old Woodside Store Day takes place on the first Sunday in May and includes demonstrations as well as hands-on family activities.

Hiking Trails Among Redwoods and Scenic Views

Filoli currently offers two hiking trails for hiking enthusiasts. At Huddart Park, hiking and equestrian trails pass through a redwood forest environment. The park covers more than 900 acres of coastal mountain landscape with forested slopes and steep, cool ravines. Redwood, madrone, and oak trees grow along the Canyon Trail. The Skyline Trail connects Huddart Park with Wunderlich Park and runs through stands of redwood and madrone.

Hiking and horseback riding are possible at Wunderlich Park. The Meadow Trail passes through the park’s only substantial grassland area and offers a viewpoint overlooking the southern half of San Francisco Bay. El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve provides more than 34 miles of multi-use trails. It is also home to the Tafoni formations, unique sandstone formations with cave-like hollows and fine honeycomb structures. The Fir Trail leads to a viewpoint with panoramic views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the coastal hills, and the Pacific Ocean. The Oljon Trail is a section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and opened in 2019.

Further Discoveries and Regional Options

The 167-acre Thornewood Preserve is located near Woodside. It offers easy hiking trails and opportunities for horseback riding. The 0.75-mile Bridle Trail passes through Douglas fir, redwood, oak, and madrone forests and connects with the Schilling Lake Trail. Thornewood Preserve also preserves remnants of August Schilling’s estate. Thornewood House and the 10-acre private leasehold are closed to the public; the remaining 77 acres include a year-round accessible trail to Schilling Lake.

For those interested in equestrian sports, The Horse Park at Woodside offers an eventing cross-country course for levels from Introductory through Advanced, as well as three water-complex obstacles. The grounds encompass more than 270 gently rolling, oak-covered acres on the border between Menlo Park and Woodside. Wine experiences add to the range of activities: Thomas Fogarty Winery offers an Estate Tour & Tasting with a vineyard walk, an inside look at the production area, and a seated wine tasting. There is also an Off-Road Tour & Tasting in a guided UTV on the 300-acre alpine estate, as well as tastings on the outdoor terrace featuring five wines.

If you would also like to include art alongside nature and history, the Kings Mountain Art Fair takes place every year over Labor Day weekend as a three-day event. For further orientation, you can also consider Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Montara, Brisbane, Atherton, San Bruno, Redwood City, and Daly City. This allows you to align your choice of accommodation with the experiences you want to define your trip.

For the broader travel overview: San Mateo.