trail running towards a wooded hillside

Fremont Older Preserve

Fremont Older (Craig Kuziel)

Overview

Located on the urban fringe and extending towards Mt. Eden Road to the south and Stevens Creek County Park to the west, the 739-acre Preserve offers a variety of experiences to hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. Local visitors will find Fremont Older Open Space Preserve of particular interest because of its proximity and richness in local history. 

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Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
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Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
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Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
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Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
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No Easy Access
No Easy Access
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Some parking
Parking: Designated Areas
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Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
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Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available

Preserve Highlights & Features

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view of the city from Hunters Point in Fremont Older Preserve
Hunters Point in Fremont Older Preserve (Jack Parees)

Hunter's Point

This 900-foot hilltop offers beautiful sweeping views of the Santa Clara Valley.

Stories from the Preserves

At-home use of rodenticides (pesticides that target rodents) pose a significant threat to the…

Nature

Here are some of the plants and animals that other visitors have observed at this preserve and recorded in iNaturalist. Protected species may be excluded and some species may not yet have been observed. Help improve iNaturalist by adding your observations to the Midpen Biodiversity Index project

Join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date on this preserve and other Midpen news! 

 

Know Before You Go

Preserve regulations help provide a safe, enjoyable visit while protecting sensitive areas and wildlife. 

Share the Trail 

  • Use designated trails to avoid damage to natural resources and prevent injury. 

  • Avoid blocking the trail. Step aside to allow others to pass .  

  • Whether you’re walking or biking, always yield to equestrians. 

  • Leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in. Most preserves do not have trash cans. Littering is prohibited. 

  • Abuses of trail etiquette should be brought to the attention of a ranger or call the Midpen main office at 650-691-1200. 

Activities & Events

History

The Preserve is named for Fremont Older, a noted San Francisco newspaper editor who, together with wife Cora, owned a portion of the Preserve for 60 years. Their home known as "Woodhills", once a gathering place for personalities of the day, has been leased to a private party and restored. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house and garden are not open to the public. While tours of the property have been offered in the past, there are no upcoming plans for tours at this time.

In 1975, Midpen purchased the property and the house was scheduled for demolition. Mort and Elaine Levine, local newspaper publishers, wanted to see the journalistic legacy of Fremont Older and "Woodhills" preserved. The District Board voted and approved a long-term lease with the Levines who absorbed the cost of the home’s restoration, which was completed in 1979. The Levine family still lives at "Woodhills."

Preserving Woodhills

Produced by Midpeninsula Media Center, May 2011

The full length version is available to the public at the following locations:
• Oral History and Community Memory Archive, CSU Monterey Bay • California History Center, De Anza College • Saratoga Historical Foundation • Cupertino Historical Society • California Room, San Jose State University Library