Ever get bored from your typical weekends? Cleaning, catching up on errands, chilling at home, these can become so mundane after a while. We hit this point a few years ago. That’s when we decided it’s NATURE TIME! To change things up a bit, we began hiking to a new destination at least twice a month.

California is full of beautiful trails from a quick 1-hour trail to an adventurous 1-day trail. To start things off, we opted for the 1-hour trail (not exactly in the best shape of our lives at the time!).

We really wanted to see some waterfalls, so we headed down to Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. Little did we know, because of the drought in California, most of the small waterfalls had dried up. After driving around for a short bit, we decided to pull over at Horseshoe Lake Trail Loop and just see where it leads us. It was only 1.7 miles long, but it was a sight to see!

The trail was completely still; no crowds, no chatter, just us and the sound of nature doing its thing. Birds flitted through the trees, bush rabbits darted across the path and a few ducks floated lazily on the lake like they had all the time in the world. It felt like the kind of peace you don’t realize you’ve been missing. Just a heads-up though: this area is mountain lion territory. We didn’t see any (thankfully!), but you’ll spot signs along the way with tips on what to do if one ever makes an appearance

If you’re up for a bit more adventure, this trail connects to both Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and Long Ridge Open Space Preserve, perfect if you want to keep exploring or even switch things up with a bike ride. Since we were just doing a short loop, we kept it light: a couple of water bottles, some emergency snacks (just in case curiosity pulled us farther) and a small first aid kit because honestly, that’s one thing we never hike without.

There’s just something about this place. The wide sky, the still lake, the quiet all around that makes it easy to slow down. You don’t have to stay long to feel it. A few minutes out here and the stress, noise, and to-do lists feel like they’re miles away.

The incredible thing about the Horseshoe Trail Loop is that it’s accessible all year round and perfect for any skill level. It was perfect for us as we were just starting out. The serenity and sceneries surrounding this lake is a must see!

Planning Your Visit

• Trailhead: Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve
• Length: 1.7 miles (loop)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Good for: Beginners, families, casual hikers
• Extras: Connects to other preserves for longer hikes or cycling