fallen tree on trail

Temporary COVID-19 Restrictions

  • Picnic areas at Picchetti Ranch are CLOSED.
  • Where picnic tables are available, visitors must bring sanitizer to clean tables before and after use and pack out all trash. At least six feet social distance must be kept between people not from the same household.
  • Paper maps are not available at preserves. Please download a map before leaving home or snap a photo of the signboard map before you hike.
  • One-way routes are in effect on some trails to promote social distancing.

Get detailed information about Midpen's efforts to keep our visitors and employees safe at openspace.org/coronavirus.

Trail Brushing Update

We are aware that many trails need brushing. Due to lowered staffing due to social distancing requirements, we are not currently able to clear trails to our usual standards or time-frames. Staff are hard at work, but it will take longer than normal to get to all of them. In a typical year, we add a significant number of full-time seasonal workers during the spring and summer to help with the heavy work load; however, we are not able to hire for these positions until and unless social distancing requirements are no longer necessary. Thank you for your understanding.

This information is updated as needed when trails are opened or closed, or when there is scheduled trail maintenance.

Trail conditions can vary depending on the time of year, the impact of rain and storms, construction and maintenance and other occurrences. Please be aware that trail closures may change from day to day without notice, based on current and predicted weather conditions. During winter storm season high waters can make creek crossings hazardous, so plan your outing accordingly. 

Trail closures are strictly enforced.

Bear Creek Redwoods

  • Construction activities began on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, in the closed area next to the parking lot as part of the Alma Cultural Landscape Rehabilitation Project, with no impacts to the publicly accessible areas of the preserve. 
Date updated: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 - 8:30am

El Corte de Madera Creek

  • Methuselah Trail, from Giant Salamander Trail to South Leaf Trail, is CLOSED to equestrians due to trail damage.
Date updated: Monday, August 31, 2020 - 9:00am

Fremont Older

 

The following trail may be closed to bicycle and equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Toyon Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
  • Wedding Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
Date updated: Friday, August 14, 2020 - 3:45pm

La Honda Creek

The following trail may be closed to hiking and equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Folger Ranch Loop Trail is OPEN to hikers and equestrians.  Beware of uneven, hoof impacted trail treads.
Date updated: Monday, August 31, 2020 - 9:00am

Long Ridge

The following trails may be closed to bicycle and equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Achistaca Trail is OPEN to equestrians.
  • Chestnut Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
  • Long Ridge Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
  • Peters Creek Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
Date updated: Sunday, September 13, 2020 - 8:30pm

Monte Bello

The following trails may be closed to bicycle and equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Skid Road Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
  • Stevens Creek Nature Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians between Skid Road and Canyon Trail.
  • White Oak Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
Date updated: Monday, August 31, 2020 - 9:00am

Picchetti Ranch

Date updated: Friday, March 13, 2020 - 3:00pm

Purisima Creek Redwoods

TEMPORARY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

  • Parking restrictions in place along Purisima Creek Road and Higgins Canyon Road.  Preserve parking is very limited at this time. 

 

parking restrictions at lower Purisima Creek Redwoods

The following trail may be closed to bicycle and equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Whittemore Gulch Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
Date updated: Monday, August 31, 2020 - 9:00am

Rancho San Antonio

  • Some trails have been changed to one-way routes on crowded trails to help with social distancing. Download the updated map for one-way route information
  • A portion of the Hammond-Snyder Trail is CLOSED, due to construction by the Santa Clara Valley Water District. The CLOSED segment of trail is marked in RED on the map below. Find out more about the Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project at valleywater.org.A portion of the Hammond-Snyder trail is closed during SCVWD construction.

The following trails may be closed to equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Quarry Trail is OPEN to equestrians.
  • Hammond-Snyder Trail is OPEN to equestrians.
Date updated: Thursday, September 3, 2020 - 2:00pm

Russian Ridge

  • Construction will take place in the Russian Ridge main parking lot beginning on Friday, September 25. The trail entrance will be rerouted and parking capacity in the lot will be slightly reduced during construction. Please follow all posted guidelines. Construction is estimated to be completed in November.
  • Construction related vehicle traffic is expected on the Mindego Hill Trail from August 31 to October 31, between 7 - 8 a.m. and 4 - 6 p.m. The trail will remain open to public use.
  • Clouds Rest Vista Point is closed by order of Caltrans. Roadside parking is very limited in this area.
Date updated: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 - 4:00pm

Sierra Azul

  • The Summit Shelter at Mount Umunhum is temporarily closed for maintenance. The viewing deck remains open.
  • The area surrounding the base of the Mount Umunhum radar tower is CLOSED to public access at this time. Visitors can access the East Summit using a temporary covered walkway. More info.
  • Additional closed areas within Sierra Azul Preserve are shown on the Preserve map.
Date updated: Friday, July 24, 2020 - 4:00pm

Windy Hill

  • Construction will begin in the lower Windy Hill parking lot on Monday, August 24. During this time the trail entrance will be rerouted and parking capacity in the lot will be slightly reduced. Please follow all posted guidelines. Construction is estimated to take approximately one month.
  • Due to COVID-19 precautions Sequoias Trail is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. for use only by residents of the adjacent Sequoias retirement community.

The following trails may be closed to equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Betsy Crowder Trail is OPEN to equestrians.
  • Hamms Gulch Trail is OPEN to equestrians.
  • Lost Trail is OPEN to equestrians.
  • Razorback Ridge Trail is OPEN to equestrians.
Date updated: Friday, September 4, 2020 - 4:00pm