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Manzanita + Giant Salamander

Intermediate/Difficult
 4.7 (13)

The best way to the creek, and the steepest, albeit straightest way out.


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Map Key

8.5

Miles

13.7

KM

70%

Singletrack

2,358' 719 m

High

1,375' 419 m

Low

1,387' 423 m

Up

1,387' 423 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (4°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Views

Overview

Manzanita and Giant Salamander are incredible, flowy downhill sections, and they're linked up back-to-back in this route.

Description

Start from the El Corte de Madera Creek Trail parking lot CM04, and follow Sierra Morena Trail until you reach the Fir Trail (Upper), which is a little disappointing because it's wide fire road. You'll quickly turn off the fire road, however, onto Manzanita Trail, which is one of the best downhill sections.

Turn right at the end onto some wide doubletrack/fire road (Timberview Trail), then right at the fork. This is where you begin Giant Salamander, which is an absolute beauty of a flowy downhill. You'll end at a bridge, and immediately start climbing. Get ready, because climbing Methuselah Trail, while not technical, is steep and unrelenting.

After about a mile up, you'll join Sierra Morena Trail again, which will take you back to the parking lot. If you have some more climbing in you, take a detour onto Oljon Trail to Steam Donkey Trail, then take Gordon Mill Trail, back up to where you detoured onto Oljon Trail.

Contacts

Shared By:

Nathan Miller

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 13 votes

#860

Overall
  4.7 from 13 votes
5 Star
85%
4 Star
8%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
8%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#135

in California

#860

Overall
49 Views Last Month
4,561 Since Jan 21, 2020
Intermediate/Difficult

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62%
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Photos

Methuselah Trail, Skeggs Point
Feb 4, 2015 near Woodside, CA
Fun and flowy sections everywhere at El Corte Madera Open Space Loop!
Dec 20, 2020 near Woodside, CA
Forest in El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve.
Jul 2, 2018 near Portola…, CA
So peaceful.
Nov 10, 2019 near Portola…, CA
Manzita Trail - great climbing and descending.
Dec 20, 2020 near Woodside, CA
singletrack
Feb 2, 2022 near Portola…, CA

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 3 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Sep 3, 2023
Taylor Zann
3h 00m
Nov 19, 2022
Sam L
Fun trail, pretty tech down Manzanita, but Timberview and Giant Salamander is flowy all way down. The climb back up Methuselah is a real challenge 8.5mi — 1h 45m
Sep 2, 2022
Devon Mahaffey
dry but riding well 11.5mi
Aug 15, 2022
Karen Chaltikian
85F in the sun. 5.8mi — 1h 09m
Aug 2, 2022
Karen Chaltikian
5.8mi — 1h 05m
Jul 26, 2022
Karen Chaltikian
Fallen tree on ride out on Gordon Mill 5.8mi — 1h 05m
Jul 21, 2022
Karen Chaltikian
5.8mi — 1h 06m
Jul 19, 2022
Karen Chaltikian
6mi — 1h 03m