Revitalizing a Nature Trail
Published July 2, 2026
Visitors to Monte Bello Open Space Preserve may notice some eye-catching new additions to the Stevens Creek Nature Trail. A new collection of interpretive signs guides hikers along the trail, introducing the ecology, plants and critters of the surrounding landscape and the role we all play as caretakers of this land.
With the aim of revitalizing the old generation of interpretive signs that were created in the 1990s by an Eagle Scout, Midpen Natural Resources Management Analyst Sophie Christel developed new text and artwork to draw visitors in to learn more about their natural surroundings and connect with the land in a new way.
“My goal was to offer a foundational understanding of the landscape, its lifeforms and humanity’s role as stewards and beneficiaries, that will transfer to other outdoor adventures in the region,” said Christel. “The theme I developed to support this goal was: every landscape tells a story of sun, water, life, and death – and humans are both characters and co-authors.”
Using this theme as a guide, the interpretive panels introduce a variety of native species, from poison oak to California newts. Some panels dive into larger concepts like the food web and how nature is constantly changing, inviting visitors to take a closer look at their surroundings and think deeper about how we fit into the world around us.
The new signs are sprinkled along a self-guided 3-mile loop that takes visitors up a gentle slope from the Monte Bello Parking Area to a beautiful vista point with a bench to sit and enjoy the view. The rest of the trail then descends into the headwaters of Stevens Creek and continues along the water before turning back to the parking area.
“It’s awesome to see my artwork out in the preserve and to imagine that it could draw people in to learn something and connect with the land in a new way,” said Christel. “I hope that it makes hiking the Stevens Creek Nature Trail a fresh experience for some who might not have visited it in a while, and I hope that for new visitors it can serve as a portal to discovering some of the less obvious, but wholly magical elements that make our open spaces so special."
Plan your visit at openspace.org/Monte-Bello.