Starting in the 1860s, the area was logged. Eight mills were operated in the area. Modern logging continued on and off until 1988.[5]
In 1953, BCPA Flight 304 crashed in what is now the preserve, killing all on board. An historical marker in the park commemorates the site.[6][7]
Prior to its acquisition by the Mid-peninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD), the area was also used by a local motorcycle club (PITS); who built an extensive network of trails in addition to the old logging trails.[8]
In the mid-90s, MROSD began taking a more active role in the management of trails in the preserve; closing several trails, and realigning or adjusting many others. Local mountain bikers from the organization ROMP (Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers - one of the original organizations which together formed IMBA. ROMP also grew into today's (2025) Silicon Valley Mountain Bikers) advocated for the preservation of certain trail features which made them so interesting for mountain bikers. These advocacy efforts resulted in mountain bikers building the new "Leaf Extension" trail, and the original "Leaf" trail being preserved at the original 3ft width. [9]
