Thornewood Open Space Preserve Description & Information

Thornewood Open Space Preserve

Spring Summer Fall Winter

View facing east, Thornewood Open Space Preserve, April 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Description

Area Habitats
Mixed Woodland, Fresh Water Lake

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This is the smallest Open Space Preserve in the county, and because it is easy to overlook (see directions below), it often falls under the radar screen for birders. But it features a plethora of habitats in a compact setting; furthermore, with only one trail currently running through it, you don't have to make any difficult decisions.

Once you find the brick entry way (895-897), you drive one-tenth of a mile, to a parking area on the right. Once you are parked, locate the trailhead across the road (do not use the road as a trail, as it goes through private property). This trail has some slight elevation loss and gain, but, while it is not suitable for people with mobility issues, it is not challenging. The trail takes you through mixed woodlands, a wonderful view out over grasslands and across the bay, then into a redwood forest, where you reach Schilling Lake. This high altitude lake sometimes hosts Wood Duck and Green Heron. This is a one-way trail; turn around once you have enjoyed the lake, as nearly all the surrounding areas are private property. The length of the trail is about three-quarters of a mile each way.

Look For These Birds

Canada Goose (uncommon here), Mallard, Wood Duck (uncommon), California Quail, Great Blue Heron (uncommon here), Green Heron (uncommon), Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, White-throated Swift, Barn Owl (uncommon here), Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Belted Kingfisher (uncommon here), Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker (uncommon), Northern Flicker, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Cassin's Vireo (mostly in April), Warbling Vireo, Stellar's Jay, California Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Violet-green Swallow, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch (irruptive, uncommon here), White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren (migration), Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Wrentit, Hermit Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Varied Thrush, California Thrasher (uncommon), Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler (uncommon here), Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow Warbler (in migration), Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow (uncommon here), Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird (mercifully rare here), Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting (uncommon here), Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill (uncommon, irruptive), Lesser Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch

Rarities Seen Here

In this guide, "rarities" are defined as those species given an County Abundance Code of 4, 5, or 6.
Rufous Hummingbird, Hammond's Flycatcher (2013, 2019), White-throated Sparrow (2011)

Directions

Thornewood OSP is located off of SR84, west of Woodside, west of the main entry to Wunderlich County Park, and east of SR35. It is quite easy to drive past the entry, as the Open Space Preserve is located inside the brick entry façade, and is not visible from the road (a picture is supplied below). As you drive west on SR84, you are looking for a brick entryway, with the numbers 895 and 897 on it. Driving east on SR84, this façade will appear just after a strong curve; it is the first major driveway entry on your right (if driving east) for quite awhile.

Interactive Map

Red Markers: Parking Area or Trail Head
Hover mouse pointer over marker, or click marker, for pin identification.
Use + or - buttons to change map zoom. Click & Drag to pan.

Fees

Use of Thornewood Open Space Preserve is free.

Hours

8:00 AM until half-hour after sunset.

Hazards

Poison oak and ticks are present. While Mountain Lions exist in this area, you are very unlikely to encounter one in this park.
An insidious weed, Slender False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) has been found in Thornewood and surrounding areas, but nowhere else in California. This plant has caused a great deal of destruction in Oregon. The MROSD is eager to prevent its spread to other areas. They ask that hikers clean their shoes after hiking here, and before walking anywhere else. For additional information, please contact Cindy Roessler at 650-691-1200

Facilities

There are no facilities at this park. You can find food in Woodside, or at the junction of SR35 and SR84.

Accessibility

Accessibility information is currently not available for this location.

Contact

To check for trail conditions and closures, you can call 650-691-1200.

Avian Research Status

Thornewood OSP is a hotspot in eBird with data in 33 of 48 time quadrants. Take part in the most extensive ornithological citizen-science project of our time by entering your sightings in eBird.

The iNaturalist place marker for Thornewood is here. While it has a fair sampling, it could use a higher rate of visitation from interested citizen-scientists.