Palo Alto
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Description: Coal Creek is a small preserve with 6 miles of diverse and challenging trails. It borders Russian Ridge, Montebello, and Skyline ridge Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserves and so is part of a broader network of trails. Like Russian Ridge, Coal Creek contains both forest covered single tracks and climbs through open grassy hills. But unlike Russian Ridge, the Coal Creek trails are more challenging, with more technical single tracks and steeper climbs, making Coal Creek a destination for intermediate to advanced riders. Within the park is the upper reaches of Alpine Road, long closed to motor vehicle traffic and washed out in multiple places, the road is mostly now a single track trail. For a longer ride, see the Russian Ridge Big Ride, which combines Coal Creek with all the trails in Russian Ridge for a wonderful route full of variety and single tracks. There are no restroom facilities in Coal Creek
During the wet season: Trails are open
Directions: The easiest access is to park at the Russian Ridge parking lot near the intersections of Page Mill Rd. and Skyline Blvd., then ride into one of the Skyline Blvd entrances from there. Parking is also available along Skyline Blvd. Google Maps link to parking location is here.
There are four entrances. From the intersection of Page Mill Rd. and Skyline Blvd. (State Route 35),
- Crazy Pete’s Rd., a road 1.8 miles north on Skyline Blvd. that is open as a park entrance and private access for residents.
- Clouds Rest Rd, a road 1.3 miles north on Skyline Blvd. that is open as a park entrance and private access for residents. There is limited roadside parking along Skyline Blvd at this entrance
- Alpine Rd., a trailhead 0.7 miles east on Page Mill Rd.
- The fourth entrance is at the top of vehicle accessible portion of Alpine Rd., and is the only entrance not accessible from Russian Ridge.