Office holiday closure

Our office will be closed December 23-January 3. Open space preserves remain open!

large field of lupines that are purple with white tips

Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve

About this Preserve

Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve

Hours: 

Sunday - Saturday | 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Facilities:

  • Accessible all-gender restroom
  • Picnic tables
  • No trash cans
  • No drinking water

Location:

4289 Casa Loma Rd, Morgan Hill, CA

Parking & Transportation:

  • Free parking lot (TBD SPACES)
  • Free horse trailer parking available. Reserve horse trailer parking (optional) on our Reservations & Permits page.

Accessibility accommodations:

Everyone deserves equitable access to nature. Please visit our Accessibility page or email ada@openspaceauthority.org for questions, concerns or specific accessibility resource requests.   

Emergency Information:

For emergencies or to report suspicious activity, please call 911.

Due to the sensitivity of this habitat, dogs and drones are not permitted anywhere on the preserve. 

Activities
Accessible Trails
Biking
Connecting to Nature
Environmental Education
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Download Map
Two hikers walk towards the camera on a dirt trail across a green grassy hill covered in trees, with a view behind them of more hills and a blue sky
Located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains in South Santa Clara County, Rancho Cañada del Oro contains mixed oak woodlands and grasslands.
A deer in profile looking towards the left with tall golden grasses surrounding it and a blue sky behind
Deer, bobcats, foxes and other wildlife roam throughout Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve.
A paved trail winds through green and golden grass under shady oak trees
This preserve contains 12 miles of multi-use trails, including two accessible trails, which provide full nature experiences for visitors with limited mobility.
A rust-colored pedestrian bridge spans a small creek surrounded by lush trees on either side and under a bright blue sky
In 2024, the Open Space Authority completed construction connecting Rancho Cañada del Oro's accessible Llagas Creek Loop Trail to a newly-installed bridge over Llagas Creek.

Know Before You Go

Preserve Highlights & Features

Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains in South Santa Clara County. Two glistening creeks run through mixed oak woodlands and grasslands. Deer, bobcats, foxes and other wildlife roam throughout the preserve. In the spring months, wildflowers adorn the meadows and hillsides.

This preserve contains 12 miles of multi-use trails, including two accessible trails, which provide full nature experiences for visitors with limited mobility. In 2024, the Open Space Authority completed construction connecting the accessible Llagas Creek Loop Trail to a newly-installed bridge over Llagas Creek. By crossing the bridge, visitors can enjoy the new Hidden Meadow Trail, nearly surrounded by riparian woodlands and Llagas Creek, with views of the hillsides beyond. Amenities include an accessible trail, seating areas and interpretation about the surrounding environment.

The Open Space Authority is currently planning new backcountry trail connections to Blair Ranch, which is an expanse of protected lands to the south-east of the preserve. This will provide up to 5 miles of new multi-use trails, opening up an additional 1,800 acres of the preserve to public access.  Learn more on the Rancho Cañada del Oro Regional Trail Planning page.
 

A paved trail winds through green and golden grass under shady oak trees
2004
Opened to the public
Looking across a golden field with a dark oak tree towards mountains in the distance covered by mist and a sun rising on the horizon with a yellow and blue sky
12
miles of trails
A dirt trail winding past a tree log and through a green meadow of short grass surrounded by big green trees, under a clear blue sky
5,675
acres protected

Upcoming Events at this Preserve

Related Nature

Here are some of the plants and animals that other visitors have observed at this preserve and recorded in iNaturalist. Protected species may be excluded and some species may not yet have been observed.

Funding for this Preserve

The Open Space Authority acquired Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve in 2000, with the generous support of Prop 12, Peninsula Open Space Trust, the City of San José, California Coastal Conservancy, Department of Parks and Recreation, the County of Santa Clara and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

The Llagas Creek Bridge and Hidden Meadow Trail project was made possible with $1.12 million in funding from State Parks' Per Capita Program and is an example of how the Open Space Authority is Investing in Nature.

Learn More

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