Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve

7.2 mile hike. 1200 ft elevation gain. Great views of valley and city. Lots of shade.

We do an 8.7mile hike here starting up the Mayfair trail to Longwall Canyon, Bald Peaks and Little Llagas Creek. It's a great hike no matter what time of year. Today, July 9, there were still some wildflowers and we saw deer as well.

Standard parking lot with a restroom (paved). And an additional overflow parking lot (not paved).

Moderate 4.3 miles for 1.5-2.0 hrs. Excellent!

Beautiful location. Good mix of sunny and shaded trails. Restroom and picnic tables near the parking area.

Wildlife everywhere, empty trails, wild forests and wide expanses, within 20 min of San Jose? I first discovered this beautiful place with a friend who toured the whole of it with me in pouring rain, but not before we scanned the surrounding view from the top of the ridge. We hiked during the downpour from hastening clouds, and found red salamanders as our colorful beacons on the wet trail. Summer's heat packs a bounty of deer, foxes, and other creatures that inhabit a wonderful range of habitats. Go to the little bridge over the creek just down from the parking lot. A charming place to catch during the winter rains. Astronomy nights here are perfect conditions for exploring galaxies and planets with the greater community's telescopes.