Tafoni Trail, Woodside CA
• 4-star hike
• 5.1 mile loop
• Easy difficulty | Gain 950 feet
• Woodside, CA | San Francisco Bay Area
• Driving Directions: Trailhead
Explore the rare and unusual geological curiosity that is tafoni, found on this heavily wooded trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains, parallel with the cities of Woodside and Palo Alto.
Named for an Italian geologist, the tafoni at El Corte Madera Creek is comprised of eroded standstone and illustrates some of the most spectacular patterns of its type. Deep, rounded, cavernous voids in the rock have been created by exposure to the elements.
The preserve offers many trails to explore. Folk curious to visit the tafoni alone may choose an out-and-back three mile route along Tafoni Trail. Our recommendation for a longer trail, and the one included in our trail route, continues to the end of the Tafoni Trail and returns along Fir Trail to make a complete loop.
Tafoni Trail Tafoni Trail 4★5.1 mi, Loop, Easy, Gain 950 ft
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
We've also marked on the map the location of a 1953 DC-6 airplane crash which sadly resulted in the death of all 19 people on board. Twisted medal and other pieces of wreckage can still be found in this area.
The Skeggs Point parking lot for this trail is located on CA Rte 35 (Skyline Boulevard) around 8½ miles South of the junction with CA Rte 92 to Half Moon Bay. If approaching from the north, there is no left turn into the parking lot and you'll have to continue on and make a U-turn and double back. The trailhead is just north of the parking lot.
Tangents:
• Trail Links: Official, Public Map at AllTrails
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article
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