Horseshoe Lake Circuit

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1.4 miles / 2.3 km
Duration: 1-3 hours

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Overview: One of the top easy hikes in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and perfect for just about anyone, no matter their size or ability. And it's got a lake, which always adds to the pleasure of a hike. The trail tread up to the dam is easily wheelchair accessible, and beyond that is a little more difficult, including a hillside traverse - not recommended for strollers or wheelchairs - but there are escape hatches before then.

This can be made more adventurous by connecting to the open space preserves to the north (Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve) and south (Long Ridge Open Space Preserve); there's even an old Christmas tree farm to the south!

Tips: The lake generally has lots of waterfowl which are fun to watch.

Points of Interest

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Trailhead

This is the trailhead at the regular (not disabled or equestrian) parking lot. Time to start hiking! There is also a restroom here.

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Horseshoe Lake

First view of small but pretty Horseshoe Lake.

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Horseshoe Lake Dam

A small bridge crosses the dam that forms Horseshoe Lake.

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Trail Junction to the Christmas Tree Farm

A trail junction: the uphill route (Fir Knoll Trail) climbs towards Long Ridge Open Space Preserve and an old Christmas Tree farm while this route stays low and along the shoreline of Horseshoe Lake.

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Equestrian Parking Lot Junction

Here the trail goes straight to the equestrian parking or left to skip the parking lot - note that the parking lot bypass is a bit overgrown and hard to follow.