Thanks to a helpful hint from the Peninsula Open Space Trust, I discovered an amazing destination for night photography and stargazing in the Bay Area without driving to the middle of nowhere! The Black Mountain Backpack camp in Monte Bello is high enough to get you above the fog and pollution in the Bay Area, and the lack of population centers gives you a clear view of the galactic core of the Milky Way right from camp and the adjacent field!! The campground is quite spacious and comfortable, and with only a maximum of five groups camping including one larger group, the campground is very calm and peaceful. It's about a 2 mile hike to get up to the camp, and if you're packing all your gear it can get quite sweaty! But once you're there you won't regret it. There are perfect sunsets from the hill just before the camp and the stargazing at night is simply incredible. Note that there are no fires or potable water at this camp, but there is a pit toilet and a water spigot that you can filter to get clean water. I was able to reserve the campsite for a Saturday evening with about two months notice on the Midpeninsula open space district website. If you are looking for a really unique experience or to test out your Astro photography skills, this is a great location to do so. read more

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve - Clear skies from the backpack camp - Hiking Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Park 3 of 4 we did Sun 4/30/17. Started at Russian Ridge, then Coal Creek, then Monte Bello, last park was Skyline Ridge. Some hills that are moderate. Some wildflowers. Saw some lizards. Saw a field of owls clovers and a few two-eyed violets. Had a nice hike. read more

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As usual, another gem of a park from Mid-Peninsula Open Space District! Parking lot is large (with additional parking across the street) with a pit toilet. It's a hot spot for mountain bikers (especially when all trails are open), hikers, bird watchers, and photographers. If you can make the hike out to Black Mountain peak, you get a wonderful view of the south bay area. This is also where you can connect to Rancho San Antonio Park. Mostly I wanted to write this review to post some photos of snow in this park from a few weeks ago. Please please please keep in mind this park is rarely cold like that and usually very warm due to being in a shallow sort of valley so bring plenty of water and don't be surprised if it is warmer than the cities below. read more

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Where is this place? Palo Alto? Cupertino? Los Altos? La Honda? Los Gatos? If you ask Google Maps, different parts of the preserve fall within different city limits! I don't think it's clear to Google, nor to anybody else. GETTING THERE: ------------------------- Getting to Monte Bello requires driving a few miles on windy Page Mill Road, but like all good things that have to be worked for, it's worth it! If the beautiful scenery here doesn't evoke some feelings of joy in your heart, God help you. The parking lot is on the south side of Page Mill, opposite from the lot for Los Trancos Open Space Preserve. You'll know you're there when you see this sign: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/monte-bello-open-space-preserve-palo-alto?select=oRek1zxauAj9SEzWajFFtQ#oRek1zxauAj9SEzWajFFtQ Monte Bello's lot holds a decent amount of cars, about twice as many as Los Tranco's lot. A pit toilet (outhouse) can be found in Monte Bello's lot. Running water is absent. TRAILS: ------------------------- The elevation is relatively high already (you'll realize that as you're driving up Page Mill), so the trail inclines aren't too steep here. There isn't really a loop that will take you all around the entire preserve. Instead, the Canyon Trail runs down the center of the preserve with, you guessed it, canyon walls on both sides. This trail runs 4.8 miles before becoming Stevens Canyon Road. Alternatively, following the Bella Vista Trail or the Indian Creek Trail will take you to the Black Mountain Backpack Camp (http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-mountain-backpack-camp-los-altos), where there are a few small camp sites, a pit toilet and even a working payphone! From the camp, you can continue along Monte Bello Road to reach the summit of Black Mountain, where you'll find some unique rocks and a not-so-spectacular view (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/monte-bello-open-space-preserve-palo-alto?select=znrDCotX1kbVDA3ce_6h2Q#znrDCotX1kbVDA3ce_6h2Q). If you head north along the Black Mountain Trail, you'll reach Rancho San Antonio. Don't you love how all these preserves are inter-connected? GOOD VIEWS: ------------------------- So where are the good views? The Indian Creek Trail looks out over the canyon, providing a nice view (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/monte-bello-open-space-preserve-palo-alto?select=NttJvk_5ZQqf_jRg2iqlMA#NttJvk_5ZQqf_jRg2iqlMA) that gets better as you keep climbing (what a great motivator!). The view from the Bella Vista Trail isn't too bad, either. But the best view is probably right near the start of the hike (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/monte-bello-open-space-preserve-palo-alto?select=R5B4O5X-BPHAJumbjd56Tw#R5B4O5X-BPHAJumbjd56Tw), where the Stevens Creek Nature Trail and the Canyon Trail diverge. From here, you're looking straight down the middle of the downward-sloping canyon. Great place for a photo op. Just bring a jacket and a hat during the winter, because it can get quite windy and chilly! read more

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A beautiful space with some fantastic views! I've been here a number of times taking a couple different trails including the Skyline trail, ipiwa trail, Russian ridge trail, etc. and all are beautiful. They all pretty much interconnect which is great in case you get a bit turned around and they have a good mix of incline, decline, and flat walking. I've never had trouble parking in any of the parking lots and find them pretty easily. Definitely bring some sunscreen since there's not much cover and don't forget your water! read more

I came here on a cold Saturday to go hiking with some friends. The weather forecast was around 48-55 degrees with little to no sun. We did some stretches to help us warm up for the hike. We started off at the parking lot which is the beginning of the trail. We took the Canyon Trail and hiked about 5 miles. The trail starts off incline half way into the loop and then decline with some incline for the rest of the loop. I don't exercise often nor am I good with walking incline, but I found this trail to be very moderate for beginners! We took several breaks to catch our breaths. It was really windy in open areas, so we were freezing as we were walking along the trail. Two of my friend's baseball caps even flew off of their heads because of how windy it was. There were a lot of mountain bikers biking through the trail. I think we only passed by 2-4 people that weren't biking. The view on the trail was really nice, though the view would look nicer if there was more sun. We took about 3 hours to finish the trail due to our many breaks. Usually, I get really sore for walking more than 2 miles, but I didn't feel sore at all. I really enjoyed this trail and think that I would come back here during the spring time, when the weather is warmer. NOTES: -There's a parking lot, but the parking space is limited, so come early. -There's a unisex restroom in parking lot, but no sink and only hand sanitizer. -There's at least one bench along the trail. -We couldn't find a trash bin in the parking lot/trail, so keep your trash in your car or with you. -There's no drinking water fountain, so make sure to bring your own water bottles. -There are no outhouses along the trail, so make sure you pee at the parking lot or you'll have to pee along the trail. -The trail is pretty smooth, so you don't have to lunge over big rocks. -Please layer up with a hat, face mask/scarf, jackets, pants, and comfortable shorts if you plan to hike during in the cold! -Watch out for lots of poop on the trail. read more

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Mostly canyon type of trails with some pockets of shade. Dirt path about 0.5 miles before it starts declining? It's about 7 miles off the freeway entrance before you can get here. Bring sunblock, shades and plenty of water. read more

Peaceful, away from the crowd and cars. Open space for easy trails into the fields and nature. Well marked trail paths, mostly dirt roads spaced apart to accommodate two people. Wildflowers aplenty along the trail. Not much steep elevation gain and not hard to do at all. Easy trail although no water fountains or trash cans visible at beginning or on the way. A lone mobile toilet at the parking lot. Come here early. You can park on side of road or in the dirt parking lot(Space for 20-25 vehicles). Although it wasn't open till 7am in the morning when I arrived. read more

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Beautiful scenery for a 3 mile loop trail (follow the Stevens Creek trail). I followed a recommendation on strollerhikes.com and let me tell you this.. it isn't really compatible for stroller so bring a good baby carrier. At some point we had to cross screen by foot with the baby in the back carrier and it got pretty middy as well. Our friends managed to push their city mini stroller through the whole trail but it is definitely NOT recommended. They carried the stroller and the bassinet across the stream, in a way some people just won't be able to. If you are without babies it's a truly beautiful not too difficult trail. We ended our trip in the Alpine Inn BBQ (cool spot on a sunny day, sit in the back yard) read more

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This Open Space Preserve has loads of different trails and environments to explore. Did a 6-mile loop and was able to see creeks, forests and the rolling hills. However, this is more of a nice stroll, rather than steep inclines. If you're looking for a walk through nature, this is a great place. It's not very crowded either. read more

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The World According to Noelle ~Allergic Girl's Guide to Life~ "Allergy Girl- The Unexpected Hiker." Noelle W. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CZRudxD-NQ Directions From 280 North -Exit Page Mill Road. -Turn left onto Page Mill Road. -Drive about seven miles. -Destination on left hand side of road. -Parking lot small (best to carpool) -One Portable Restroom (no sink for hand washing). Destination: Black Mountain We took a Sunday Hike. We were in rather large group. The journey commenced around 11:15 a.m. It was a bright, sunny and rather warm day. It started at a rather fast clip our hike, until my asthma kicked into play. We slowed down and the rest of the group went ahead. There was some small spots of shade but a good portion of the way to Black Mountain was trekked in the glorious California Sunshine. I was prepared- wearing a dry fit shirt, shorts, a baseball cap, sunblock, hair in pony tail, bottle of HOH in hand. We trekked: Canyon Trail Bella Vista Trail Old Ranch Trail Indian Creek Trail Monte Bello Road A word to the wise- use the portable restrooms at Old Ranch Trail before going to Indian Creek Trail. Its an extremely steep incline to Black Mountain. We reached Black Mountain and met up with our group. We sat on some rocks and ate our lunch. After lunch we admired the view of the San Francisco Bay albeit a tad hazy. The elevation at Black Mountain is around 2,800 feet. There were a few group photos taken and we made our journey back to the parking lot. We trekked: Monte Bello Road Indian Creek Trail Canyon Trail I was elated that Indian Creek Trail was downhill at the start and a good portion of it was in the shade. Do note- there are no trees on Black Mountain ((thus no shade)). Towards the end of Indian Creek Trail there were extremely steep inclinations ((seriously not for the faint of heart)). Along the entire hike I slightly slipped every now and then, but somehow caught my balance. I was wearing leather walking/tennis shoes (new balance)- which was not good because my soles were smooth. I highly recommend wearing hiking shoes - hiking or tennis like with a sole that can properly grip the different trail surfaces. Not being an expert hiker I was learning much on this journey. The last portion of Indian Trail and the entire Canyon Trail was extremely difficult for me- due to the steep incline and my asthma. My friend was extremely kind and patient making sure we rested so I could catch my breath. Halfway through Indian Trail we spotted a family of deer- a truly beautiful site to see. Canyon Trail lacked any shade- but there were a few benches where we rested along the way. The landscape on Canyon Trail is dry tall grass and we spotted the occasional California Poppy. The tall grass reminded me of Willa Cather's book "My Antonia". There was a point in this hike where I was getting the chills, feeling dizzy and looking pale- which were signs of dehydration. Obviously, I didn't drink enough water before my hike and what water I did have was drunk exceptional fast due to the hot weather. Perhaps hiking during the time when the sun's rays are the hottest didn't help. He told me next time- we can hike in the morning when its cooler (his friend organized this hike). 45 minutes into the hike we almost turned around. I didn't want to turn around. I wanted to challenge myself. I couldn't have met the challenge without my friend patiently hiking with me. We didn't plan the hike, nor the way we came back to the parking lot. It was extremely challenging- Canyon Trail. The trail markers on the way back were not written very well and at times confusing. When hiking this trail be sure to have a print out of the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. Sprint and Verizon cell phones do not get reception in most of the Open Space Preserve. Essentials for people hiking to Black Mountain - Good hiking shoes, lots of water, a hat, sunblock. Note that the trails to Black Mountain and back are challenging. Taking Indian Creek Trail to Canyon Trail is more difficult than going back via Old Ranch Trail and Bella Vista Trail. Next time I will definitely bring my asthma inhaler and reapply sunblock! I survived the steep, a little over six mile hike- that's attributed to a little determination and my good friend =) by my side! Noelle's Notes Extremely Beautiful Views of the Bay and natural open space preserve. Noelle's Post Secerts Sans the sauce =) lol. read more

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Monte Bello OSP is one of several open space preserves that hug the top of the Santa Cruz range without reaching too far down into the valley below. (Minimum elevation is 1600 feet). Other parks of this type include Russian Ridge, Long Ridge, and Skyline OSP. The major feature in this park is Black Mountain, the tallest peak in the immediate area at 2812 ft above sea level; and featuring 360 degree views (and more than a few radio antennae). To get here from the Rancho San Antonio side, it's a 2500 foot climb and at least a ten mile round trip. From Monte Bello OSP, however, it's only a 700 foot climb and a 5 mile round trip. So next time someone says they "climbed Black Mountain", ask them this: "The hard way, or the easy way?" The preserve itself encompasses a long upland valley and ridge. The valley is forested, mostly mixed deciduous and conifer, whereas the ridge is exposed grassland and scrub, punctuated by live oaks; There aren't as many redwoods as some other OSPs in the area. (Interesting factoid: This high valley is the source of Stevens Creek, which eventually travels down through Cupertino, Sunnyvale and Mountain View before emptying into the bay near Moffet field). In my opinion, the main downside of Monte Bello is the scarcity of trails for it's size. The preserve itself is very large - 3400 acres. But there are only two main trails stretching down the length the park; one on the ridge top (Monte Bello Road and Waterwheel Trail) and one on the valley floor (Canyon Trail). Both of these trails head southeast from the main parking area and then each reaches a dead end at a road. These trails never meet, nor are there spur trails that connect them (nor do roads connect them). It's a damn shame for those of us who prefer long loop hikes; and it would be such a straightforward fix (the trails get within 0.5 miles of each other) The northwest corner of the park does offer several loop hikes, but these are less than 4 miles total, even when you get creative; they can get a little longer if you include the summit of Black Mtn. My favorite trail on this side of the park is the Nature Trail, which passes through the deepest part of the forest and skirts the very upper reaches of Stevens Creek. A good trail to check out with kids; it's close to the parking lot and has signs explaining natural features. All in all, Monte Bello is an average OSP for the Santa Cruz mountains. The lack of long loops keeps it from being on my regular rotation (hiking or mountain biking). But it's nice to visit once in a while, especially if clear skies make the Black Mtn views worth the climb up. Hike Spot Checklist: -- Parking: A large dirt lot plus a little roadside parking -- Bathrooms: Yes; single pit toilet at main entrance -- Potable water: No -- Maps provided: Yes, at parking lot -- Highlights: Views from Black Mountain My Peninsula Hike Collection is here: (https://www.yelp.com/collection/qBI6U6Lz9LJQjnGjFW6ubg) read more

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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If you are looking to do a 2~3 hours hike, here is a good one at the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve This is a 6.5 mile loop hike. The preserve map can be found here: http://bit.ly/UcXmID - Start from the trailhead on to White Oak Trail. - At 2 miles following the trail signs for Stevens Creek Nature Trail and Canyon Trail. - At 2.9 miles turn right and head south on Canyon Trail. - At 3.1 miles,turn left at the Indian Creek Trail junction. This is where you will climb for about 750 feet and can be quite grueling on a hot summer day. - At 4.1 miles, turn left following the signs to the backpack camp. - At 4.2 miles, turn left when the path ends at a T junction - At 4.3 miles, take the Old Ranch Trail. - At 4.9 miles, take the Bella Vista Trail. - At 5.7 miles, Bella Vista Trail ends and turn right on the Canyon Trail - At 5.9 miles, take the trail signed "to Monte Bello Parking Lot". - At 6.2 miles, Stevens Creek Nature Trail heads back down into the canyon. continue straight, back to the parking lot. The toughest segment of the hike is a one mile steady ascent on Indian Creek Trail. Total elevation change is about 1000 feet. Preserve elevation ranges from about 1800 to 2800 feet. This hike begins at about 2200 feet, drops to 1800 feet, climbs to 2680 feet, then descends back to the trailhead. To get here from Interstate 280, exit Page Mill Road. Drive west on Page Mill for about 7 miles up the narrow winding road to the preserve entrance on the left side of the road. read more

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First thing first, the address isn't correct, use Google Map to search for Monte Bello and use that address (or 37.3099° N, 122.1547° W). If you end up at Foothill Park, continue driving for 7 miles and Monte Bello will be on your left Part of the five South Skyline Region Preserves: Coal Creek OSP, Los Trancos OSP, Montel Bello OSP, Russian Ridge OSP and Skyline Ridge OSP The parking lot is big and dusty. There are there main trails: Canyon Trail, White Oak Trail and Steven Creeks Trail. I did a mini loop, started with Steven Creeks Trail to Canyon Trail, roughly 4 miles. You can do the same with White Oak Trail. Canyon Trail is wide, flat and paved, there are even chairs on the side of the trail to rest. Steven Creeks trail is a nature hike, you will be going through the forest, and there are a lot of bugs in the midday, so spray yourself with some bug sprays (I got few bug bites) Overall, it is a bit out of the way to hike and it isn't very long, But you can make it longer if you don't mind overlaying certain path. BUT, I really enjoyed the hike, the view is outstanding read more

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I hiked here once in early spring two years ago and don't quite remember all the fine details by now. I was not yelping back then. Luckily I took some photos. All that I can recall was that it was a very pleasant hike. The beautiful Santa Cruz mountain range presented us with grand vistas of the bay and of the preserve itself. We hiked leisurely for about five or six hours, starting from the parking lot all the way to the top of Black Mountain and back. We descended from the parking lot to the valley below which was cool and shady. As we left the valley and ascended toward Black Mountain, it got steeper and steeper and there was little or no shade for quite some time. Thus, a hat and plenty of water were essential to keep it a pleasant hike. The spring weather was chilly and hazy in the morning. Gradually the sky turned sunny blue and it became pleasantly warm as we were climbing up. I imagine it can be quite hot in the summer and fall when there is no fog. I will update with more detail later if I can jog my memory. Noelle did a great job writing a much more informative review than this one. There is also another Monte Bello entry in yelp with a few more reviews. (http://www.yelp.com/biz/monte-bello-open-space-preserve-la-honda). In the mean time I let my photos do the rest of my Yelping :-) read more

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The address here on yelp is incorrect, direct yourself instead to Monte Bello Open Space Preserve - Parking and it takes you exactly where you need to be. The drive up is daunting, it is quite literally the definition of switchbacks! Very narrow road and around 6-7 miles up at around 20 miles per hour so it takes a bit and a lot of careful driving! Also watch out for the cyclists and impatient drivers. Other than that, it is a gorgeous and secluded Preserve high in the Santa Cruz mountain range with several trails. Per recommendation here I took the Stevens Creek trail which is about 3 miles as a loop. This is a moderate terrain with elevation so be prepared. read more

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Gorgeous views and well kept trails. We took the trail on the left from the parking lot (on the way to vista point trail). Didn't get all the way to the top but the hike was easy to moderate--good for kids or beginners but challenging going up and narrow at times. Didn't see any wildflowers on 3/24/19 but still a nice hike. The drive up is a bit scary, I wouldn't go too late or near dark because it's very windy and the locals drive fast. Lots of bikes too so we had to be very careful not to get too close to the edge on the narrow road. read more

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Palo Alto, California

One of the best OSPs. It is in the center of South Skyline Region, it is connected to Rancho San Antonio, Upper Stevens Creek county park, Skyline Ridge OSP. I usually starts at Rancho and climb up to Black Mountain. Then, go into MOnte Bello OSP. On canyon trail, hikers are rare and tree covered. very quiet. I prefer open spaced region like Old ranch, Indian Creek, Skid road trail areas. read more

This open space is a wonderful place for the whole family to spend the day. Farm animals as well as turkeys are interesting to see. Chickens, pigs , sheep, and goats. There's also an area for picnicking and bbq. Take your camera with you. read more

The aptly named Monte Bello preserve is beautiful indeed. In a short one-hour hike, you can feast your eyes on pastoral grassland, richly shaded forest, placid creek, and serendipitous clutches of wildflowers. It's a really nice microcosm of Bay Area / Peninsular wilderness at its best! p.s.: Please take care to watch your step. During certain time of the year, there are lots of languid newts crawling across the trails. read more

This is my favorite mountain biking park in the south bay. I enter from the Cupertino side of the park which means I ride up Montebello Rd. Montebello Rd = 3000 ft climb = arse so sore my foot gets numb near the top Needless to say, make sure you have a comfortable bike seat. Montebello demands a steep down payment (no pun intended). Before you even enter the park you have to ride uphill for about 75 minutes before you come to the park entrance. Don't bother driving because on the Cupertino side of the park, there is no parking. The road dead ends into the park gate. I used to park right next to the no parking sign until I got a parking ticket. I guess they were serious. Coincidentally, if you decide you've had enough riding and choose to turn back and ride down Montebello Rd, it should take you 10-15 minutes. The Canyon Trail is what makes this park amazing. It has a bit of everything: downhill, moguls where you can do jumps, twisting single track, fire trails, forest, meadows, wild animals (I have personally seen coyotes and wild turkeys). You even get to ride through a small stream. Technically, this park is more demanding than neighboring parks. I wouldn't come here as a novice. The hills can get steep and rocky, and the switch backs are tight in some places. Door to door from my house in Cupertino, it takes about 3 hours. But it's well worth the time. And like I said, this is as good as it gets. read more

The Background: Beautiful well marked preserve with lots of parking, maps, and a variety of trails. While it's pretty far up Page Mill, it's at least a little closer to 280 then many of the other hikes on skyline. The Positives: The view from Monte Bello is beautiful when you climb to the top of the mountain. Additionally, if you want some shady forest, just go on the trail that follows skyline from the parking lot and you will go down into some beautifully shaded valleys which makes for great hiking. Finally, there are numerous outhouses which is kinda nice. The Negatives: On the uphill climb I did, the roughest part was unshaded which made for some hot walking. Additionally, while spring was beautiful, I can see summer being pretty hot. read more

I hope I am posting on the correct page. We did the 8 mile shorter Grizzly Peak trail that starts off Skyline not Page Mill. Although I hear the 15 mile trail is pretty with meadows and ocean views, the 8 mile trail is straight down for a 1,500 foot drop...we never made the complete loop because when we got to stevens creek, it was flowing with tons of water (I'm happy we have water, but I wish I had hiking shoes). So, we spent 15-20 minutes throwing rocks into the stream to make a land bridge, which I ended up chickening out crossing because I kept slipping and didn't want to fall into the water. I finally took my shoes off, threw them across and walked barefoot across the creek. The water was pretty cold, but bearable. Then after hiking up, we get to the canyon trail on the other side and encounter an even larger creek....after much debate, we turn back, walked down and crossed over the same creek. This time I was smart and took my shoes off and hopped across right away, then hiked 1.9 miles straight up. This trail is either up or down. There were very few places where it was flat (and where you could catch your breath). We never saw the sun and were in the woods this ~5 mile round trip hike. What I did see were a bunch of pot bellied lizards, or brown geckos. I don't know what they are called, but they are the slowest moving lizards around and I almost stepped on a few of them! read more

I first came here something like eight years ago. Actually, this was the first time that I'd ever been on any camping trip and I remember learning how to do all of the basic fundamental stuff like lighting a match (burned my hand, whoops). Anyway, this place is too scenic. I particularly remember one sunset where we were sitting under one of those trees gazing out into the open space. The place was high enough to be above the clouds and most of trees so you couldn't really see anything other than this blanket of whipped cream with small pieces of broccoli sticking out. It was a view of epic proportions. I just came back for the first time in eight years today. The hike is really green. There's lots of bikers so you're constantly jumping to the side of the trail. Altogether a fun, but very different experience than backpacking. Anyway, this place rocks. It's better than both foothill park and arastradero preserve (keep driving up there, it's worth it!) read more

Scenic, beautiful, free, low traffic. Highly recommended. Check out the featured hike at Bay Area Hiker for an especially epic hike: http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/monte.html This may not be the most iconic hike in the Bay Area, but it's definitely right up there in quality. Have to love the Bay Area nature. Another great cog in the tapestry of beautiful parks, trails, and protected lands. Did I mention it's FREE? That earns it 5 stars. read more

I've spent a lot of time on Skyline Ridge exploring the various open space preserves, but since I'm lazy, I hadn't yet made it to the top of Black Mountain. So far as I know, the easiest path to the top is from Monte Bello, where you can hike 4.5ish miles roundtrip with an elevation change of about 1000 feet to experience the spectacular panoramic views. ...So they say. I'm extremely heat sensitive and this trail is almost completely exposed, so I was saving this for a cooler day. As it turned out, our first hiking day that fell officially into Summer 2013 was forecast to be gloriously cool so we headed to Monte Bello. It was indeed gloriously cool...and completely socked in. We'll have to head up there another time to see what that view is all about, though, because we couldn't even see the adjacent hillsides on our hike. I look forward to returning on a clearer (but still cool) day to enjoy the view. read more

Great place to watch a meteor shower! The view was amazing from so high up and very clear. Make sure to get the night permit through their website or the Park Ranger may ask you to leave. read more

Came here for a ~3 mile loop hike down Stevens Creek Nature Trail and back up the Canyon Trail. Do NOT follow Google Maps to lead you here if you're coming from the north - take 280S, exit Page Mill, and travel south for about 20-25 minutes. The parking lot will be on your left and is very well marked. I came here on a Sunday around 2pm and had no problems parking; plenty of available spaces. The parking lot area is uncovered so very hot; once you start down Stevens Creek, it is shady. However, if you go back up Canyon Trail, you will be exposed to sun for a bit, so don't forget your sunblock. There was no water fountain, but there was a bathroom facility. The loop I did was easy/moderate and not busy at all. No major gems on the hike, but it's a good hike to do if you've already done all the more famous hikes of the bay area. read more

This is a super pretty looped hiking trail on a hill. It's very tranquil and we didn't come across too many other hikers- maybe three or four groups on a Sunday. The views are far-reaching, and the hike itself isn't strenuous at all. Though, because it's half uphill, if strenuous is what you desire, just run the trail. :) Also, it goes without saying that it gets pretty windy/cold at the top of the hill. read more

We did a 2.5 hour round-trip hike up to Black Mountain starting from the Page Mill parking lot. It was thick fog on the way up but the trail had beautiful views with the landscape fading in and out of the mist. On the way back (the same route) the fog cleared and we could see beautiful scenery throughout. The route we took starts at a higher altitude and goes along the ridge so it is an easy to moderate hike. Please look this up on a map before starting out. The parking lot is on the south side of Page Mill and has a pit toilet. Start at the trail that goes out of the southern tip of the parking lot and bear left/east toward Stevens Creek Nature trail. Great view at this spot. Then do the Canyon Trail, Bella Vista Trail, Old Ranch Trail and follow signs to the camp. Toilet here too. From the camp follow signs for Monte Bello Rd trail which takes you to the top of Black Mountain. read more

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Ease of Parking: Good. Visitor parking available at Preserve entrance. Amenities: Restrooms at entrance, lots of educational nature signs on trail Letting me forget I live in Si Valley: Good - away from noise and the city We did this in the Fall based on good reviews of beautiful autumn colors along the hike. We did witness this along the hills prior to dipping down to the forested areas of the hike. The nature signs about plant and animal life makes it more interesting for kids. Otherwise, nothing too awe-inspiring on this hike. If you want a relatively leisurely hike do the roughly 3mile Canyon to White Oak Trail loop. read more

Super cool little hike. We saw this from 280 and it looked like it was worth a stop. This is part of Standford's ranch, there is a lot of horses and cows and the smell of "farm" or "poo" or whatever you want to identify it with is definitely present through most of the trails. None the less it is still very pretty and you can do about a 3 miles round trip hike around the ranch and even extend it further as the land continues on. It is also good for bikes as a lot of it is paved. Definitely worth the stop, oh and there are bushes if you have to pee. read more

I stopped by here over the Thanksgiving weekend, on the way to my Mom's place. I was driving around the winding mountain roads listening to music, when I chanced upon it. Having availed myself of the gravel parking area out front, I stepped out of my car and onto a pathway that lead into a dark forested crevice that snaked furtively between the rolling foothills. I emerged an hour or so later, steeped in the pastoral vision I was meant to see. I was hungry. Mom's house lay well down the precipitous blue highway, with its gentle hairpin turns and verdant woodland shroud. read more