A dirt trail stretching over rolling green hills into the distance, under a light blue sky

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A paved trail stretching through a green meadow filled with grass and yellow and purple wildflowers, under a blue sky full of wispy white clouds

Best Paved Trails in Santa Clara County

Everyone deserves access to nature! We compiled some of our favorite paved, wheelchair-, walker- and stroller-accessible trails in Authority-funded parks and other open spaces across Santa Clara County.

A clump of bright orange California poppies growing in green grass on a hillside with more green hills behind

Santa Clara Valley Wildflower Guide

Spring in the Santa Clara Valley is the most colorful time of year! Open spaces provide habitat for many diverse species of native flowers, and every spring, you can find them across the region. From lilies to lupine, we’ve compiled this list of 24 flowers you can find in your open space preserves this spring.

A small brown and tan gopher snake slithers towards the camera through yellow grass, looking straight at the camera

Snakes of the Sssssouth Bay

The Santa Clara Valley is home to a variety of snakes. Like them or not, snakes are vital to their ecosystems! Meet six species of native snakes, and learn why it's important for us to respect and protect these slithery friends.

A coyote in profile walks through a field full of green and golden grass, looking down

A Guide to Keeping Wildlife (and Yourself) Safe

When you visit a park or open space, you step into the home of a variety of plants and animals. Keep reading to learn how you can protect local wildlife (and yourself) out on the trail.