Skip to main content

JULY 4 HOURS

Stay Fire Safe! To maintain public safety during the ongoing drought and fire season, Midpen will strictly enforce preserve and parking lot closure times – no access after sunset on July 4, 2022.
LEARN MORE about JULY 4 HOURS

Social Links

  • Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Instagram (Opens in new window)
  • YouTube (Opens in new window)
  • LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Store (Opens in new window)

Language:

Main navigation

  • Where to go
    • Visit a Preserve
    • New Visitors
    • What to Do
    • Event Calendar
    • Kids & Education
    • Nature
    • Permits
  • What We Do
    • Our Vision
    • Preserve & Protect
    • Caring for Nature
    • Planning for Public Access
    • Current Projects & Programs
    • Partnerships
    • Bids & Proposals
  • Who We Are
    • Board & Staff
    • Public Meetings
    • News
    • History
    • Public Information
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Contact
  • Search
Hikers / photo by Alisha Laborico

Discover your preserves

Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve (Alisha Laborico)
  • Home
  • 
  • Where To Go
  • 
  • Discover Your Preserves
Back to top

Get outside and connect with nature. Find an open space preserve where you can walk, hike, ride and more.

Permitted activities vary between preserves. Select the activities you would like to do and find out where to go.
Image
Pulgas Ridge Preserve by Erica Freeman.

Pulgas Ridge Preserve

6.2 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Image
Equestrian: Not Permitted
Equestrian: Not Permitted
Image
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available

Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve is located in the hills above the towns of San Carlos and Redwood City. This 366-acre preserve features trails for hiking and walking one's dog, including an off-leash area.

Read More
Image
Hiker on the Borden Hatch Trail in Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve by Karl Gohl.

Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve

22.8 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Some parking
Parking: Designated Areas
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available

Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is located on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay.

Read More
Image
Teague Hill Open Space Preserve. Photo by Eleanor Raab.

Teague Hill Preserve

0.2 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Image
Equestrian: All Trails
Equestrian: All Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available

Teague Hill Open Space Preserve is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains just above the town of Woodside. 

Read More
Image
Hiker in El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve. (Karl Gohl)

El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve

34.8 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: All Trails
Equestrian: All Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available

More than 34 miles of multiuse trail are available for exploration at the 2,908-acre El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve. While this preserve is extremely popular with bicyclists, it also has lots of hearty hiking and horseback riding opportunities. 

Read More
Image
multi-colored plants around a marsh

Ravenswood Preserve

2.1 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: All Trails
Bicycling: All Trails
Image
Equestrian: Not Permitted
Equestrian: Not Permitted
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
Easy Access: All Trails
Easy Access: All Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available
Image
Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

Located in the wetlands of the San Francisco Bay, the 376-acre Ravenswood Open Space Preserve is a great location for birdwatching and family adventures. A flat, easy-access pedestrian and bicycle trail runs along the levee surrounding the marsh. 

Read More
Image
Waterfall at Thornewood Preserve

Thornewood Preserve

1.5 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Image
Equestrian: All Trails
Equestrian: All Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available

Thornewood Preserve is a 167-acre preserve that offers opportunities for easy hikes or horseback rides through beautiful trees and creeks.

Read More
Image
La Honda Creek Preserve by Frances Freyberg

La Honda Creek Preserve

10.6 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Image
Equestrian: All Trails
Equestrian: All Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available

One of Midpen's largest and most diverse preserves, La Honda Creek offers immersion into a historic ranchland with grazing cattle, views of the San Mateo County Coast and Santa Cruz Mountains and pockets of redwood forest.

Read More
Image
Sunset at Windy Hill Preserve

Windy Hill Preserve

13.6 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available

Windy Hill is named for its distinctive, breezy grass-covered hilltop, which can be seen from many areas of the peninsula. The 1,414-acre preserve features open grassland ridges and forests of redwood, fir, and oak.

Read More
Image
View from Russian Ridge Preserve to Mindego Hill by Karl Gohl

Russian Ridge Preserve

13.1 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: All Trails
Equestrian: All Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available
Image
Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

Russian Ridge Preserve features 3,491 acres known for showy display of wildflowers in spring and views of the San Francisco Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains.

Read More
Image
Rainbow over Coal Creek Preserve

Coal Creek Preserve

3.7 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available

Coal Creek is an ideal place for a quick afternoon hike with one's dog. Several trails can be combined to create a pleasant 2- or 3-mile loop.

Read More
Image
a rider and horse in a grassy meadow

Foothills Preserve

0.3 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Image
Equestrian: All Trails
Equestrian: All Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available

The steep and forested ravines of Foothills Preserve form part of the Adobe Creek watershed above Hidden Villa Ranch and are adjacent to Palo Alto's Foothills Park.

Read More
Image
Los Trancos at sunset.

Los Trancos Preserve

6 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available

Los Trancos Open Space Preserve is a 274-acre area located in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Palo Alto. This is an ideal spot to learn about earthquake geology. The San Andreas Fault, one of the world's longest and most active faults, splits the preserve. 

Read More
Image
Horseshoe Lake at Skyline Ridge Preserve

Skyline Ridge Preserve

12.4 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available
Image
Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

Skyline Ridge Preserve offers 2,144-acres of remarkably varied landscape that includes ridge vistas, expansive meadows, a pond for nature study, and a quiet lake frequented by migrating birds. 

Read More
Image
Monte Bello Ridge

Monte Bello Preserve

15.5 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: Designated Areas
Camping: Designated Areas
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available
Image
Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

The 3,436-acre Monte Bello Open Space Preserve is a place of rolling grasslands, dense creekside forests and spectacular vistas. The preserve encompasses the upper Stevens Creek watershed and is one of Midpen's richest in wildlife and ecosystem diversity.

Read More
Image
a trail runs between two grassy fields lined with trees

Rancho San Antonio Preserve

26 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available
Image
Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve offers visitors a unique experience with a sampling of diverse environments, interesting cultural history and a variety of activities.

Read More
Image
white and black birds at rest in the water

Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Area

0.7 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: All Trails
Bicycling: All Trails
Image
Equestrian: Not Permitted
Equestrian: Not Permitted
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
Easy Access: All Trails
Easy Access: All Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available
Image
Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

At Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area, located adjacent to Mountain View’s Shoreline Park, visitors can view a wide variety of waterfowl and shorebirds.

Read More
Image
Landscape view of Long Ridge Preserve with cloudy sky

Long Ridge Preserve

14.1 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available

With options for short hikes, rides to scenic overlooks, and longer loop trips, Long Ridge Open Space Preserve provides something for everyone. 

Read More
Image
Fog in Saratoga Gap

Saratoga Gap Preserve

1.4 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: All Trails
Bicycling: All Trails
Image
Equestrian: All Trails
Equestrian: All Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available

Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve is a 1,600-acre outdoor adventure located at the junction of Highway 35 and Highway 9 in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Read More
Image
a pond surrounded by lush green trees

Picchetti Ranch Preserve

3.1 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available
Image
Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

Picchetti Ranch Preserve in the Cupertino foothills features forested canyons of madrone, coast live oak and California bay, perfect for a shady hike on a warm day.

Read More
Image
trail running towards a wooded hillside

Fremont Older Preserve

14.7 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available

Located on the urban fringe and extending towards Mt. Eden Road to the south and Stevens Creek County Park to the west, Fremont Older Preserve offers a variety of experiences to hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians.

Read More
Image
a view of Lexington Reservoir from El Sereno

El Sereno Preserve

6.9 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: All Trails
Bicycling: All Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available

El Sereno Open Space Preserve is named for Mount El Sereno, part of a prominent ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains that is located south of the city of Saratoga and west of the town of Los Gatos.

Read More
Image
Trail receding into distant hills

St. Joseph's Hill Preserve

4.2 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Dogs on Leash: All Trails
Image
No Easy Access
No Easy Access
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available

St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve sits above the town of Los Gatos on open space land that was once part of the Jesuit Novitiate for the California province of the Catholic order. Remnants of the school's historic vineyards are still visible to visitors of the 273-acre preserve.

Read More
Image
Redwood canopy at Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve / photo by Larry Turino

Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve

6 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Bicycling: Not Permitted
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available
Image
Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

Managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve protects 1,440 acres of biologically rich ecosystems including second-growth redwood forests, perennial creeks, oak woodland and extensive areas of Douglas fir.

Read More
Image
Sierra Azul Preserve / photo by Eric Bruce

Sierra Azul Preserve

25.8 Miles of Trail
Image
Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
Image
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Bicycling: Designated Trails
Image
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Equestrian: Designated Trails
Image
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Dogs on Leash: Designated Trails
Image
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Easy Access: Designated Trails
Image
Restrooms: Available
Restrooms: Available
Image
Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve protects 19,300 acres of wilderness in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Read More

Footer menu

  • First
    • Meeting Agendas
    • Board of Directors
    • Policies
    • Reports
    • Permits
  • Column 2
    • Contact Us
    • Jobs
    • Bids & Proposals
    • Volunteer
    • Visitor Feedback
    • Donate
    • Shop
  • Column 3
    • Accessibility
    • Terms of Use & Privacy
    • Volunteer & Docent Login

Stay Connected

  • Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Instagram (Opens in new window)
  • YouTube (Opens in new window)
  • LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Store (Opens in new window)

© 2021 All Rights Reserved

Mobile Menu

  • Where to go
    • Visit a Preserve
    • New Visitors
    • What To Do
    • Event Calendar
    • Kids & Education
    • Nature
    • Permits
  • What we do
    • Our Vision
    • Preserve
    • Protect & Restore
    • Planning for Public Access
    • Current Projects & Programs
    • Partnerships
    • Bids & Proposals
  • Who we are
    • Board & Staff
    • Public Meetings
    • History
    • News
    • Public Information
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Contact
  • Shop
  • Search

Social Links

  • Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Instagram (Opens in new window)
  • YouTube (Opens in new window)
  • LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Store (Opens in new window)