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Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
297 reviews for Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
297 reviews in English
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Review from J N.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/11/2012
I like this place for the different number of trails and entrances you can run, walk, hike, etc. I like that there are different trails with differing amounts of steepness and difficulty.
I usually run the Wildcat Loop. Depending on where you start off, it goes from pretty level, to uphill, then downhill, and back to level. A lot of the trails are surrounded by trees which provides shade for those hot days.
Looking for a good challenge and after reading people's comments about the PG&E trail, last weekend my bf and I decided to hike the PG&E trail. I honestly was expecting worse, but by no means was it easy. The trail undulates in steepness, sometimes going uphill, then downhill, and back uphill and so forth. It has nice green, hilly, and city views minus the huge power line (maybe that's why its called PG&E trail?)
I am no hiking expert nor a hiking snob, but compared to Mission Peak, the PG&E trail seemed of mediocre difficulty. Hike Mission Peak if you haven't already done so, it's pretty uphill if you like uphill hikes. -
Review from Eric G.
Mountain View, CA
1/21/2012
Rancho San Antonio County Park: Rhus Ridge to Black Mountain
Rancho San Antonio is the nearest "hiking" park to my house in Mountain View, but I've never been a fan of it. I don't like the crowds or the fight for parking, but more than anything, I find the hikes there boring. It take 15+ minutes to get into the hills, and even after that investment, many of the trails are repetitive and visually uninteresting.
Recently, I tried a new trailhead in Rancho San Antonio, and it totally changed my attitude about the park. This time, I started at the Rhus Ridge parking lot and hiked to Black Mountain via the Rhus Ridge Trail and the Black Mountain Trail, a RT of about 9 miles and 2300 feet of elevation gain. In contrast to starting from the main Rancho San Antonio parking lot, the hike starts strong and keeps getting better. In fact, I think this is the nicest mid-range/half-day hike within a 20 (or even 30) minute radius of Mountain View.
Unlike many other trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains facing the Bay, where vegetation often obscures the view, the trail offers frequent panoramic vistas of the Bay from San Jose to Palo Alto, with Mt. Diablo and Mt. Tam poking up over the haze. Personally, I think the views along the way are better than the views from the top of Black Mountain. The trail goes through ecosystems ranging from moist and shaded ridgesides to fully exposed semi-arid chaparral. There was only one uninteresting spot when the trail goes along the power line easement for a bit (a number of Rancho San Antonio trails suffer from this defect), but it's brief. The first and last mile are quite steep, so it's a tough workout, but it's manageable for hikers that pace themselves, and the rest of the trail is nicely graded. Signage is excellent. I saw plenty of people but it wasn't "crowded" (the parking, discussed below, helps limit the crowds). All of Rancho San Antonio (and most parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains) gets frequent airplane noise. Refreshingly, the trail was mostly free of horse poop.
Two crucial downsides of this hike:
1) Like other Rancho San Antonio hikes, don't do this hike on warm days. I went when temperatures were in the 50s, and it was pleasant. Indeed, the perfect time to go is on a cool but sunny Winter day after a storm, when temperatures are comfortable but the storm has cleaned up the haze. In contrast, when the temperatures get into the high 60s or warmer, this hike will become miserable or even unbearable. On warm days (up into the 70s), I prefer hiking Wunderlich County Park because its trails are mostly shaded.
2) The parking lot is TINY! It holds maybe a dozen cars max. The local residents have done a good job making street parking illegal for a mile in every direction too, and I sense they take a perverse delight in towing illegally parked cars. The result is that finding a parking spot feels a little like winning the lottery. As usual, go early. The good news: if you can snag a spot, parking is free. -
Review from Carol S.
Los Altos, CA
1/2/2012
Great place to go for a hike and enjoy nature while being really close to everything. Just minutes off 280, you have your choice of any type of trail from the paved easy for mom's with strollers or those who want a leisurely walk to the steep dirt trails of the hills.
Bathrooms are there and pretty basic but they flush! :)
Enjoy this gem all year round. On one hike I saw about 50 tiny quail babies and their parents looking for grubs. I'd never seen so many quails in my life!! But the secret is to be quiet and watch for those little moments. -
Review from Claire W.
1/2/2012
5 stars for the following:
1. Easy access from 280.
2. Big parking lot. Caution: the parking lot can fill up quickly so it's best to come earlier.
3. Very wide trail for runners, hikers & bikers to share the road.
4. You can do a mild hike here up to the vista point, or you can do a more streneous hike taking the PG&E trail.
5. Since it is such a popular trail, you can go there by yourself without feeling all alone while hiking.Listed in: Best Hiking Spots
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Review from Helen K.
Cupertino, CA
1/2/2012
Well, I'm going to keep this simple and sweet. Come run the PG&E trail if you want a proper ass-kicking. If you're like me and crave the next best physical challenge, this is the spot. I should have hiked it at least once before running it, but when the guy I went with suggested we run, I couldn't turn him down, now could I? BEWARE: the inclines... OH GOODNESS GRACIOUS. running up the inclines suck. like REALLY suck. on the other hand, after we reached the top and ran downhill, man, I was having the time of my life. I was practically flying, I had to slow down for my friend to catch his breath. muhahha. For two/three days after, my bum, and calves were toasty toast.
oops, this didn't turn out so short, but you should run it.Listed in: Sweat a little bit
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Review from Roy E.
RSAOSP (geez) is quite the place to go hiking. There were 4 trails I believe and we hit one that was approximately 2-3 miles in length. Our trail consisted of a few switchbacks, wooden bridge crossings, and some narrow paths as we ascended to the top of the trail. There's a lot of wildlife along the way including but not limited to deer, squirrels, turkey (which we didn't see) and birds. I had never been so close to wild deer. We got within 20' of them before they scurried up a hillside.
The trail would have been awesome to run but our little group walked it. It gets a bit damp up there so tread carefully. If I do happen to come here again, I will definitely run this trail. Another option would be to hit it with a mountain bike. The majority of the trail is just wide enough to comfortably walk beside someone but you'll often find spots with just enough space for a single file line.
Once you get to the top, you can see San Francisco in all it's glory roughly 40 miles away. There are a few benches up top for those of you who need your breaks to recuperate. The rest of the trail is downhill and the scenery is quite nice with somewhat dense patches of moss covered trees. The air (at 8am) was fresh, cold, and dense (I love that when I'm working out).
Towards the end of the trail, you're led to a quaint little farm (Deer Hallow Farm). It's your typical farm setup with pigs pen, a garden (Phoebe garden) with fresh veggies, a barn, and living quarters. There was even a Blacksmith's workshop! The farm animals on site included hens, a purdy brown cow, two black pigs, some sheep, and a goat (I believe). There were fresh persimmons from their three priced at 3 for $1.00.
RSAOSP is a place you should definitely visit if you have the opportunity. It's a mostly beginner type hiking experience but I hear one of the trails is pretty intense. Maybe I'll try that one next time when I'm not with a group or with someone who can keep up preferably in case of any accidents. Good times fellow yelpsters!
P.S. Plenty of parking and a great spot to fly your RC planes and helicopters for any of you who are into that. Plenty of hobbyists there to play with. -
Review from Janet O.
Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Cupertino
Length: 23.9 totalmiles
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Trail Type: Many options
Duration: 1.5 to 4.5 hours
Season: Year-round
Other Uses: Bicycles allowed only on the paved path.
This splendid foothill retreat consists of a 165-acre Santa Clara County park and a neighboring,3800-acre Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District preserve. A diversity of trail environments, from spreading oaks and cool creeksides of the valley floor to dry chaparral and oak-madrone forests on the slopes of Black Mountain, makes this a place of endless interest. With the 1993 addition of the former quarry ridge lands, the Duveneck Windmill Pasture and the Preserve are linked by a 2.1-mile trail along the preserve 's northern ridge. This trail guide includes the following trails: Deer Hollow Farm, Wildcat Canyon, Meadow Ridge, Rogue Valley Loop, Up Rogue Valley and back over the Ridge to Upper Wildcat Canyon, To the Shoulder of Black MountainListed in: Hiking/Backpacking/ Day Hikes/…
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Review from Sharondippity D.
San Jose, CA
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
this place would get five stars if it had sufficient parking. The views and the nature make up for so much, otherwise I'd give it two stars.
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Review from Elizabeth L.
Sunnyvale, CA
2/4/2012
Contracted Lyme disease and tick-borne co-infections from Rancho San Antonio, 18 years ago, and again recently. My 9 year old daughter also has Lyme and co-infections, Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma and Powassam. She went to a summer camp here last year and the kids and their backpacks were all sprayed with lots of bug repellent containing DEET. The kids found multiple ticks on themselves, including small ones on their scalp. After 2 days of camp. it was moved to another location for the rest of the week. We've been dealing with the diseases since then, since its chronic. Very expensive to see Lyme Literate MD and taking tons of different antibiotics which caused serious systemic Candida in our bodies. Is a real nightmare. Also, I have been going to a monthly Lyme Support Group at El Camino Hospital, and others in the group contracted lyme from Rancho San Antonio. In fact, more people got it from there than any other place.
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Review from Jackie S.
11/24/2011
Great place to hike or run! There are plenty of routes to choose from so you could easily spend hours on the trails. I get confused on where to go, especially when there is a fork that goes in four various directions. I either get a flat or a hilly course. Regardless, the trails are amazing and there is so much wildlife here! During our last trip, we saw deer, wild turkeys, and bunnies.
This is my go to place to practice for trail runs.
Free parking available. -
Review from Raymond M.
San Jose, CA
10/30/2011
All hikers, walkers, and joggers from beginners to advanced must visit Rancho San Antonio. There are many trails, many sights, and plenty of trees and plants. There are deer, snakes, and rabbits. There are elevation changes from flats to mountain areas. There are great views of Silicon Valley from Cupertino to Menlo Park. I definitely come back to hike the trails my date and I didn't have time.
There is a farm an easy walk from the parking lot. The farm is open most days of the week and during the daytime for kids and their families. The farm has animals including pigs, goats, cows, and an actual barn and blacksmith.
Come visit Rancho. I saw kids, senior citizens, and groups walk the trails to relax, have fun, and be with each other. Bring water. There are three parking areas with plenty of spaces. -
Review from Caitlin H.
Campbell, CA
1/11/2012
There are many trails to choose from. I come here to enjoy the fresh air and scenery during a walk or hike when I need to clear my head.
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Review from Rajkumar J.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/25/2011
Great place for a hike or a run. There are numerous trails with different levels of difficulty depending on your level of fitness. Some trails start deceptively flat but soon you are climbing up and your heart rate is hitting the high 80%. The view from the top to the East Bay and the Valley is well worth the exertion. The trails are well posted with clear maps.
There is ample parking if you are willing to walk a bit. That is the idea, right? -
Review from Chi N.
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Easily accessible from 280, this park provides a taste of what the rest of the peninsula has to offer in terms of trails, hiking. The trails here accomodate runners/hikers as well as bikes and equestrians, check out the map before you go to see what's allowed where. The main trail is the PG&E trail that goes up at a pretty fast clip, make sure you have trail shoes on for best grip as it does get steep. As you go up, you'll have the choice of diverging towards some of the trails that flatten and then descend. I enjoyed the trail that goes by the farm and loops back onto the meadow and tennis courts; this path is about 3 miles roundtrip. If you're not up to the climb or just want to have a nice stroll w/ your family, from the lower parking lots, go left all the way past the beginning of the PG&E trail, and you'll hit a network of relatively flat trails that you can explore, although it is certainly less scenic than the steeper trails.
Plenty of parking here, you can park at either of the two higher lots and walk down to the trail heads, or drive down a bit further and park by the bathrooms, lower lots and you'll basically be at the trail heads. There is a larger clear area at the higher lots where hobbyists come to fly RC airplanes, pretty neat to watch. -
Review from Veronica S.
Sunnyvale, CA
9/5/2011 5 Check-ins Here
What's very impressive about this location is the fact that it presents a wide array of trails to choose from (sounding like a secret shopper here).
From the number of times I have trekked here, I cannot say that I am that familiar with the trails and where they go or end up at eventually. As a matter of fact, I have not gone here by myself. Blame it on one of my hiking buddies to tell me about mountain lions and the like!
So far, I have encountered deers, a bunch of lizards, a few snakes crossing the "street", lots of birds, bees, flies, occasional idiots and quite a number of runners.
Rancho San Antonio has always been a pretty popular site for hiking and running. It would be a great experience for me to run a whole trail here one day. However, every walking, climbing, gasping and jogging (with a few good minutes of running) opportunity has been worth every sweat and next-day muscle soreness.
More often than not, it's the PG&E trail that I would take. With the fact that I am more used to slaving on the infamous Mission Peak, I can only take the Coyote Trail or some other mild-to-moderate trail if I had been working that day or I am not feeling really good. Otherwise, it's the PG&E trail.
Alrighty then. The foot of the PG&E trail begins at the first parking lot to the left, right after entering Rancho. The parking "dirty" so don't expect your car to be squeaky clean when you come back to it after trekking for a day. Parking in here is much easier than parking where most trails would begin. As always, best times to come here would be during the week, in the morning or maybe just about after 4 pm. Now if you decide to come by after 4, and you decide to do the PG&E trail, make sure you have no one with you who has a tendency to stop and take pictures with every open scenery. Guaranteed, you will get the opportunity to meet Mr. Lion (first name Mountain) before you finish the hike.
The PG&E trail has plenty of shaded paths and a lot of alternating inclines and declines (is that an appropriate term?). As compared to Mission Peak, that is a major plus. However, sunblock is not optional either. I am not sure how you are, but I always remember first times (cough couch...I'm quite sure you do too). The PG&E trail and I crossed paths for the first time about 4 years ago. The hell, I didn't finish the damn thing! Like right after the 5th tower (PG&E tower), I was sweating like Roger Ebert and for some reason, that day, a family of flies decided to follow me. Eeeeek! I turned around and I was cussing like a sailor.
That was then.
After finishing the PG&E trail for the first time, I told my boyfriend that it wasn't that bad after all and oh boy, it felt good. The walk through Deer Hollow Farm would prove to be the cool down...I suggest to run it even! The Deer Hollow Farm is a common field trip destination for elementary students too. They have a pig farm and goats and an mini herbal garden. There's also a big spot for stretching. Some water fountains that may sometimes be swarming with bees...or one or two Black Widows. Really!
Despite the earlier possibility of a Mr. Lion encounter, I would say that it is safe to hike the trails of Rancho San Antonio. It's good for kids and adults alike. However, just like hiking any trail, make sure you observe proper hiking etiquette.
Let's go again!Listed in: Trekking Fun
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Review from Janet H.
9/11/2011
After coming here, I realized how unfit I am for running on hills! Flat land, I can do, but hills, no... so my goal is to be able to run 4 miles up without stopping!
It got really steep towards the end of the route I took, which pretty much KILLED me. The route I took was lot - Deer Hollow Farm - Wildcat trail (?) - PG&E. I can't quite remember, but it was about 3.5 miles up. This is a great trail to get some nice scenery, see some farm animals, and then run up steep, steep hills... I must also add a perfect place to get toned legs and get a perkier butt, haha. As usual, don't wear new shoes, because they will no longer be white... and yes, there are some obstacles on the way, like horse poop and flies... but that's natural. What I like about this place is that it's really shady, pretty breezy, and there seems to be a lot of different paths, too. There are also a lot of families and kids walking to the farm.
But I'm super excited I finally found a place other than a boring treadmill to go running! It's a great motivation! -
Review from Evan R.
Los Altos, CA
10/3/2011
I just moved to Los Altos from Santa Barbara and had grown quite accustomed to having loads of steep trails right out the door. Then I found that this place is a quick jog, 3/4 mile from me. It did not disappoint. Tried it out yesterday had a great time. Today decided to go out at link together a couple of trails for a 12 mile run. The PG & E section was brutal run with lots of uphill. There's just enough shade that you don't feel like you are cooking.
I'd hoped to see more runners, but really just saw lots of Silicon Valley family-types (lots of stanford shirts, spf 1,000,000, and picture taking)
Both trips out, I saw multiple groups of deer along with the usual preponderance of lizards, squirrels and the like. Also, at one point when I was about 6 miles away from the main trail head, came across a rattlesnake. It was in no hurry to move from the middle of the trail. If you move quickly and like to let your brain wander, don't let it wander too far. I'm kind of shocked I didn't step on it.
But the place is big, well maintained, many great vistas, lots of shade lined trail, lots ways to combine trails. Major drawback compared to Santa Barbara: no ocean view vistas, no great places for post trail-run tacos. -
Review from Richard G.
Fremont, CA
9/25/2011
Great place just off 280 near los altos and Cupertino, There is parking, but it get crowded on weekends. I came on Saturday meeting friends for a picnic and a walk. Great place for a picnic and a hike. I park at the upper lot where the model airplane nuts play airport. Walk down to the lower lot where the bathrooms are. We picnic in a grove of trees. Although the parking lot is ful, the park seens light. Only downside there were a bunch of wasps we were trying to avoid while we ate.
The place also has a working farm, down a short walk.
This place is great. Easy to moderate well marked trails. I need to come back explore more of the trails. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Newark, CA
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Did a 5 mile loop trail run on a random Tuesday. Most of the trail was covered by foliage or trees, so even on hot, sunny days, you won't be dying in the heat. The uphill portion of my run was quite challenging, but it was only 2-3 miles before we reached the top.
Along the way, we saw numerous deer, frolicking around the brush and signs for mountain lions! I wasn't too alarmed at the signs because there were a lot of other hikers around and all you have to do is out-run them if a mtn lion did rear its head. :)
The trails aren't paved, so do not bring your nice white shoes on this hike. It'll come back with dirt all over them. -
Review from Diana K.
Cupertino, CA
8/10/2011 ROTD 8/27/2011
I've been coming here for years for running and hikes. I"m usually very boring and take the same 2-3 trails.
But i finally decided to hike to the top of the PG&E trail to see the amazing views of the valley. A definite must and great picture points along the way.
Read more on the 9 mile route i took and the cool picture taken here:http://blog.fitgeekspo...Listed in: "Yesterday, Today, and…
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Review from Ashley T.
San Jose, CA
9/25/2011 5 photos
I went hiking here on a nice breezy day so it wasn't too hot. I came around 10 A.M. and the parking lot was filled. WHY!?!?!?! It was a monday morning, too. I 'd hate to see this place on the weekend.
There are restrooms at the parking lot so you can pee before you go on your hike. This is where you can get brochures and maps of the trail. Swooped one up for myself just in case I get everyone lost.
We looked and decided to take the short 3 mile hike on the WIldcat Loop. This would lead us to the deer hollow farm. I really wanted to see the cute farm animals that they had. So we hiked very briefly before reaching the farm, it was really shady by the way.
Deer Hollow Farm has cute giant pigs, a milking cow and her calf, goats, and chickens and ducks. It's pretty small but fun to take your kids. They have little post that tell you how resourceful these animals are for humans. I had fun gazing for about ten minutes and decided to head back.
We felt like going back would've made the hike not worth it. A cute old man persuaded us to take the PG&E hike. He said it's something you have to do when you're here. So we looked at the map... oh another 4 miles, why not. The trail was pretty tough for my little cousin who doesn't work out regularly. Theres two miles of straight up hill with little to no shade, but a beautiful view. I was really glad the down hill had shade, the views were so beautiful. A great place to get away from civilization and take a breath of fresh air. We didn't see much wild life only a few deers in the bushes.
The hike was about 8 miles in total, it was really relaxing and we ran into a lot of friendly faces on the trail. Very nice people. Don't let someone pass you by without saying good morning or hello! I would definitely come back here again. It's a great place to jog as well. Bring lots of water! -
Review from Loan N.
Milpitas, CA
8/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Easy to moderate hike. One of my favorite places to hike in the South Bay Area. I've been here 3 times this summer. Located outside of Cupertino off 280, exit Foothill Expy. I like how it's close to home, and it's a easy drive to get to. But when you're there, it doesn't feel like you're in the South Bay at all. Great for a morning or late afternoon hike.
Plenty of parking at the lot. Restrooms available. Grab a map for your hike. From the parking lot, it's a mile trail walk until you reach the main part of the park. Separate adjacent paths for pedestrians and bikers. Deer Hollow Farm has farm animals (goats, cows, pigs, ducks) and it's family friendly for children. They sell fresh eggs, which sell out pretty quickly in the day, and 25 cent pears.
I like the 3 mile Wild Cat Loop Trail, which goes through trees and greenery. Mostly shaded. There's another moderate trail that does switchbacks up a hill to a lovely view of the peninsula. I've read good things about the PG&E trail, but never been myself. I've seen rabbits, lizards, quail birds, wild turkeys, and squirrels on the hike. There are also tons of trail runners here. Great outdoor place to be!Listed in: Hiking Trails
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Review from Daniel W.
San Jose, CA
8/16/2011
This isn't my favorite spot. People love it but I'm a little confused by it. Its extremely popular which chokes the parking lots with people. Always some kind of group gathering thickens up the parking lot with oodles of people. Lots of self entitled douchebags.
It gets really dry and dusty here and some nasty biting flies on the trails where the horses are close to.
There are some gentler trails that go through some community token like farms. You can even see the animals a couple times a week.
They have some fairly busy moderate trails. You'll never get immersed in nature because they are choked with people.
There are a few nicer trails for the more experienced hiker on the higher elevations like the PGE trail that are less traveled but you'll never be alone for long in this park.
May I recommend Fremont Older as a close and comparable but less crowded alternative. -
Review from Glenn G.
This morning, my review of the Stanford Theatre got ROTD (my first one!) for the Peninsula Region. It felt so good that I headed out for a hike to celebrate.
I hike all over the Bay Area, and this is hands-down my favorite destination when I don't have my dogs with me. I'd give it 6 stars (even though Yelp only allows 5) if dogs were allowed. Teal'c, my yellow Labrador, would absolutely love this place! Unfortunately, No pets are allowed, unless you have a pet horse. Maybe if I buy a saddle for Teal'c, nobody would notice - he certainly wants to eat enough to pass for a horse...
I guess whatever rules you can't rewrite, you just have to live with - be that as it may, I've been on every single trail here, including PG&E and they're all outstanding. The PG&E trail is great to do on a weekend. It is a well-worn trail that follows the PG&E power lines. The trail is full of switchbacks and has an elevation gain and loss of around 2500 feet. It will take you through a mixture of woodland, grassland, and some amazing panoramic views of the Bay. Combine the PG&E with the Wildcat Loop trail for a combination of aerobic challenge and aesthetic beauty that's hard to beat.
There are 3 parking lots (more or less). The main parking lot located to the right of the entrance has bathrooms and leads to the trail to the farm. While the farm is a nice place to bring younger children (there's sheep and goats and other livestock animals for them to see) the best hiking trails are those that start from the equestrian entrance, which is off the lot farthest from the main parking lot.
On weekends, the lower trails are usually packed with families and other walkers (sometimes its really challenging to find parking in any of the lots), but once you get into the inclined trails, the traffic thins out.Listed in: "It was the best of times...", Shank's Mare
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Review from Michael S.
Campbell, CA
7/21/2011
This place is the best all-around park in the Bay Area. It has one of the hardest hikes in the area, the Black Mountain Trail with 2300 ft. of elevation change over 4.7 miles, and also the best attraction for kids, Deer Hollow Farm, which is easy to get to from level trails.
Your experience here will largely depend on what trails you use. Although all the trails attract heavy use, the level trails around Deer Hollow Farm attract a lot of families while the more elevated and difficult trails attract plenty of serious hikers and trail runners. I recommend avoiding the Hammond-Snyder Loop Trail on the far eastern side of the park, which doesn't provide much to see other than a cemetery, some electrical transformers, and the roads and houses near the entrance to the park.
Parking can be difficult to find at any of the entrances, so I recommend going early and being prepared to wait for someone to leave to get a parking space. Even in the hour just after sunrise you might see up to half the parking spots taken. -
Review from Athena S.
6/30/2011 4 photos
Rancho is a very special place, especially at dawn during Autumn.
Weekdays are brilliant: lovely sounds, sights & scents. Highly recommended but if you see me here, don't say hi because I easily get in my impenetrable zone. :)
Weekends here have turned into the Disneyland of hiking paths, which means it's clusterfuck for lack of a more fitting word at this moment. As other yelpers must have mentioned, the easier trails are way too congested. Choose your timing wisely; you've been warned. I neither bother nor recommend it lest you like too many people on your trail...
...unless, of course, you're doing the PG& E trail. Most of the one- hour-max hikers will shun that one, which is great because while PG&E takes your money, their namesake trail is a good Sunday kick in the aSSphalt after a solid night of drinking.
The end.Listed in: Favorite Non-Restaurants, Sweat here...
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Review from Jonathan A.
Mountain View, CA
7/30/2011
Beautiful and scenic....
I've been coming here since I was little and have always enjoyed the trails.
I love taking a hard hike/jog up the more challenging ones, resting at the top, and taking in the view (on a good day you can see South SF to Gilroy), before running down.
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION:
Open from sunrise to sunset, parking can be challenging on weekends with heavy "tourist" traffic (Ho Chi Minh Trail).
If you are running down certain trails, you may encounter large groups of people that impede forward motion.
My advice if you are running; bring a whistle so you can warn below you.
Wildcat loop/Wildcat Canyon trails are awesome! -
Review from Menlo k.
Menlo Park, CA
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's great that we have so many parks in the area. This is not one of the nicest, but it is very convenient... just off 280 right near 85. Lots of trails, but not a lot of shade. If it's a warm day in the area, it can be brutally hot at Rancho San Antonio. Better for early in the day or on a cooler day.
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Review from Eva H.
5/21/2011
Tons of options for trails for the truly adventurous (and in-shape) as well as for families and people looking for an easy casual stroll. My only complaint is where are all the signs for the directionally-challenged like ME!!
We took the easy 2 mile trail to the Animal farm - it was less than impressive, I mean some ducks and rabbits behind mesh wire fences. Meh. I'm sure kids would like it.
There's a little barn, picnic area for you to rest and eat - surprisingly clean and no bird poo on the tables.
Tiny parking lot small so get here early!! -
Review from Elise G.
Gorgeous views, lots of trails, farm animals, well groomed paths, wild life.
No dogs allowed.
My friend and I have been here twice together now and we really enjoy the hikes. Some trails are shadier than others and the sun's intensity is worse the later it gets during the day. Bring water, sunglasses, sunblock, and your camera! Leave the iPod at home. You'll want to absorb your natural surroundings.Listed in: Hiking and cool trails
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Review from J S.
Sunnyvale, CA
Updated - 5/31/2011
The wonders of nature I have spotted here with my eagle eyes:
-an angry mountain lion (which I escaped with my cool demeanor)
-a frolicking fox
-a tiny fairy riding a mini-dragon
-a smiling lizard
-a dying salamander :(
-a 110 year old hiker
- deer friends
I cant wait to see what i spot next1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/29/2011
this is my enchanted forest, transforms me from kitten to tiger. I prefer coming here on weekday… Read more »
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Review from megan h.
Saratoga, CA
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
There are tons of trails here for walkers and runners with sun, shade, hills, flatland. They provide maps of all the options. And the best part is that it's all free!
I came not really knowing the trails that well and found that there's so many branch points to each trail that it's easy to customize your own workout based on your level.
The only problem is that parking is a bitch. On a weekend morning-noon, you could end up circling for 20 minutes if you're as unlucky as me! -
Review from Danny K.
6/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Rancho San Antonio is a great place to go for a run, hike or just visit with your kids. They have everything you could need (steep hiking trails, running trail, mini-farm for the kids, etc). If I lived closer to Los Altos I would definitely visit more!
Parking can get pretty bad. People come for picnics, flying their motor plane around, biking, hiking, running, etc. If parking is really bad just park about 2 blocks away at the neighborhood street parking. There's usually plenty of parking there and there is also a direct trail back to the main area. Bathroom are available at the entrance. -
Review from Cherie S.
3/31/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Rancho is a sanctuary of open space, a celebration of nature. The 24-miles of trails can be hiked or biked. No pets are allowed, unless you have a pet horse--and then you can go ahead and saddle up.
My favorite is the Wild Cat Loop Trail. There is also an easy flat 1-mile trail (each way) to Deer Hallow Farm. Bring your kids to see the new kids--cute baby goats just arrived! Don't miss the cow and fat pigs.
I love coming here and watching families bond, children laughing, and friends sharing confidences. Did I mention the occasional bonus of hot, sweaty, shirtless male runners?
The bathrooms are slightly neglected and you'll have grade-school flash-backs when you wash your hands with the gritty powder soap. Parking can be difficult at peak times (after work and weekend afternoons.) Just make sure you bring your "lucky parking necklace" and you won't have any issues. -
Review from Jerome B.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/2/2012
The park is rather nice, but the whole experience is ruined by the hassle of finding a parking spot. It's close to impossible on weekends or holidays after 10am, unless you're prepared to wait for hours for a parking spot to miraculously free up...
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Review from Mike S.
San Jose, CA
11/18/2011
If you're looking for an easy walk in the park or a place to train in the hills, Rancho will do. A quick escape with several opportunities for great views and moderate wild life. Because it's not far from town there is usually people on the trails especially during peak hours which brings an element of safety if you are alone. Trails well maintained and plenty of signs to help navigate.
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Review from Kevin L.
5/8/2011 4 photos
Nice place to walk and enjoy nature - I've done the trail a few times, but my favorite part about Rancho is the meadows near the top of the trail. During the golden hour (right before sunset), it's gorgeous and I've done quite a few photoshoots here.
Most of the trail is shaded and about 0.5 mile in, there's actually a farm and a garden (sometimes with wild rabbits or other random animals). Parking is difficult near the entrance of the trail (right next to the bathrooms), but there are multiple lots. -
Review from Tony R.
Sunnyvale, CA
I started hiking at this place about a year ago, the location is hidden in between Cupertino and Los Altos. There are many different trails to go on at this park which is a cool thing, you can take a lot of different routes and change things up if you get bored (just don't get lost). The scenery and environment is really great, you see a lot of nature and if you hike high enough you can see some great views of the valley and the bay. This trail being located in the hills, you will see your fair share of wildlife, everything from squirrels, deers, rabbits, reptiles, snakes, people riding their horses, and even mountain lions (which i've never actually seen, but have been warned about).
This place can get pretty warm during the summer time, there are water fountains around the trails (water isn't too good and kinda warm, I recommend bringing your own bottled water). However like stated in other reviews, I wouldn't recommend using the outhouses cause they do smell and seem a little iffy, but there are other restrooms near the parking lot which are much cleaner. Overall this is a great place to come for a workout, run, hike, or if you just want to take a walk and see the views, just be careful because the trails can be rocky at times, so don't trip......literally. -
Review from Lauren F.
Mountain View, CA
10/4/2011
I love hiking here. Great trails, beautiful view, all that you could ask for when it comes to hiking. The most annoying part is the lack of parking. Often times we have to wait 10+ minutes and stalk people to get a spot. I enjoy hiking for the relaxation effect, which can be hard at this park since it's SO crowded. Once you get up to the higher elevations though, you leave all the kiddies on their bikes behind and it's very pleasant and quiet.
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Review from Alena B.
5/25/2011
This place is great!!! There are gentle hills which have paved and nonpaved options. Both the paved and nonpaved paths were perfectly suitable to a stroller...you might not even need a more rugged stroller, but I was glad to have my BOB. Parking is free (win), the scenery is beautiful (win) and the petting zoo is a freaking godsend after a walk with a toddler (win!). I swear I felt like Charlie Sheen the whole time I was there. WINNING! The trails have a pretty even mix of sun and shade which is perfect. I cannot think of any complaints! Loved the baby goats and my 2 year old had a ball!
I am sure there are a lot more trails here than I was exposed to today but you can bet your booty that I will be back there to check them out as soon as possible!
