About Rancho Canada del Oro: Tucked into the western foothills of Santa Clara County, Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve boasts beautiful oak woodlands, native grassland areas, and spectacular scenic views. Over 8 miles of trails offer opportunities for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians to explore the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountain range. This extraordinary environment allows visitors the chance to discover the quietness of the foothills, enjoy panoramic vistas, and observe a diverse array of plant and animal species. The new Mayfair and Catamount trails provide direct access to the higher elevation Bald Peaks and Long Wall Canyon trails while the whole-access Llagas Creek Loop Trail offers a unique outdoor opportunity for visitors with limited mobility. The nearly half-mile paved, ADA-compliant Loop Trail is accessible right from the parking lot and meanders through a meadow that offers great birding, deer watching, and a view of flowers and native grasses. Rancho Canada del Oro's parking area has 24 paved parking spaces, a vault toilet, horse trough, and a gravel lot for 10 horse trailers. Picnic tables are also available near the parking lot.
Hike Description: From the parking lot we started on the Serpentine Loop Trail where we experienced increasingly beautiful views of the Diablo Range and Mt. Hamilton as we made our way to the Longwall Canyon Trail through native grasslands, live and valley oaks woodlands, sage-chaparral scrub and dry creekside habitats along the way. We hiked the Longwall Canyon to the Horse Trough and picnic tables. This is a good spot to take a break and enjoy the stunning views of the Santa Clara Valley and surrounding habitat. Continuing up the Bald Peaks Trail, we experienced great views of the adjoining Calero County Park and Calero Reservoir. Almost all the trails and roads offer spectacular views of the Diablo Range and Mt. Hamilton. The hike was 7 1/2 miles and took us approximately 3 1/2 hours.
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Hikers at Canada del Oro |
View from Serpentine Loop Trail |
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Park Details and Maps |
Hours:
6:00 a.m. to sunset - April 16th - Sept. 15
7:00 a.m. to sunets - Sept. 16 through April 15th
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Driving Directions: From 101 South or 85 South Take the Bailey Exit off of Hwy 101 and go West (right). Go approximately 2.5 miles and turn left on McKean Rd. Turn right onto Casa Loma Road (where McKean turns into Uvas Road). Follow Casa Loma Road approximately 2 miles to the OSA parking lot. Parking: FREE |
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