A place with over a century of history
The story of Alta Woods began more than a century ago — and quietly became part of daily life in Hidden Valley.
In 1906, an early Chapman Park, Corte Madera subdivision map proposed a street called Alta Way, connecting what would later become the Hidden Valley neighborhood. Although the roadway was mapped, it was never constructed.
Instead, the corridor remained largely undisturbed as the surrounding neighborhood gradually developed during the 1950s and 1960s. Homes were built nearby, but Alta Way retained its natural character. Over time, neighbors came to know the paper street, the forested section of Alta Way, as Alta Woods.
A place defined by community use
For generations, Alta Woods has served the community in ways that were never formally planned. Residents have walked its paths, exercised their dogs, explored nature with their children, hosted Girl Scout activities, gathered with neighbors, and used the corridor to reach surrounding open space and the Bob Middagh Trail.
Unlike many mapped streets, Alta Woods never became a paved roadway. Instead, it evolved into something different—a neighborhood woodland that quietly became part of daily life in Hidden Valley.
Historic photographs, aerial imagery, and resident accounts consistently describe the area as natural woodland with pedestrian paths rather than a developed street. Residents recall mature vegetation, informal trails, and uninterrupted community use over many decades. That continuity is part of what makes Alta Woods unique today.
Today's turning point
For much of its history, Alta Woods attracted little public attention. That changed when a proposal for a second access roadway through portions of Alta Woods raised the prospect of permanent changes to this long-established landscape. The first proposal included a 450-foot driveway, which the Town Council recognized was in misalignment with the Corte Madera Town Plan. The second proposal focuses on an SB 9 lot split, with access to the second lot proposed through Alta Woods.
The proposal prompted many residents to ask broader questions:
- What is the history of Alta Woods?
- How has it been used over the past century?
- What role should it play in the future of Hidden Valley?
Those questions ultimately led to the formation of the Alta Woods Preservation Group. Our goal is not simply to respond to current proposals, but to help ensure that decisions about Alta Woods are informed by its history, its environmental value, and the experiences of the generations of neighbors who have enjoyed it.
One of those neighbors was David Zeff. For more than three decades, David and his wife Paula made Alta Woods part of their daily lives. David believed that communities are strongest when neighbors participate thoughtfully in decisions affecting the places they value. His generosity, civic spirit, and commitment to Alta Woods continue to inspire our work.
“I have personally used and observed others using this area since August of 1993… From 2002 onward I walked in Alta Woods almost every day, sometimes twice a day.”
David's words reflect what so many neighbors have experienced—that Alta Woods is more than open space. It is part of the life of this community.
Alta Woods through time
1906
Alta Way appears on the Chapman Park subdivision map.
1950s–1960s
Hidden Valley develops while Alta Way remains an undeveloped corridor.
1960s–Present
Generations of residents use Alta Woods for walking, recreation, and access to surrounding open space.
2025
A proposal for a second access roadway prompts renewed community interest in Alta Woods.
August 2026
Significant tree and vegetation removal occurs on the 800 Corte Madera Avenue property adjacent to Alta Woods and Alta Terrace. The activity prompts questions from neighbors regarding Town oversight, the applicable tree-removal process, and potential implications for drainage, slope conditions, fire and life safety, and the surrounding neighborhood. The event further highlights the importance of considering Alta Woods within the context of the larger hillside rather than as an isolated parcel of open space.
Today
Residents are working together to help shape Alta Woods' future.
See where we hope Alta Woods can go from here.
Explore Our Vision