Rancho San Antonio

Location

From the Foothill Blvd exit of Hwy 280, drive Southwest on Foothill Expressway. Turn right at the first light (Cristo Rey Drive), take second right at the roundabout, and enter the park (on your left). Parking: Two lower lots and 3 upper lots. Main lot (North-most, downhill) has bathrooms.

Attractions:

Model Plane flying area (non-gas models only)
Historically maintained farm with animals (cow, goats, sheep, pigs, fowl, rabbits) and garden; eggs and produce are for sale occasionally
Wild critters including lizards, rabbits, quail, woodpeckers, various other birds, deer, and less commonly seen screech owls, wild turkey, bobcats, coyotes, rattlesnakes, cougars. Ladybugs amass here during their breeding season.
Extensive range of well marked and maintained trails (although many are too bumpy for strollers)
Horse corral at lower parking lot immediately after entrance to park; horses are allowed on many trails
Well kept parking lot with bathrooms and water at trailhead; bathrooms and water also at farm
Barn at farm offers ample picnic tables for large groups. There are also picnic tables along the first part of the trails coming from the main parking lot
There is a small playground as Hammond-Snyder Trail loops through the residential area.

Limitations:

No dogs allowed
No bicycles except on paved trails and some fire roads in the valley
No smoking
Stay on the trails to avoid ticks and poison oak!
This is very popular with locals, so it may be difficult to find parking

Season:

Year round, 8am to sunset

Fees:

None.

Maps & More Information:

Maps are available at lower parking lot trailheads, although trails are very well marked.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Website: http://www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_rancho_san_antonio.asp
MROSD's Map of the Park: http://www.openspace.org/preserves/maps/rancho_san_antonio_map.pdf
Santa Clara County Webpage; click Find a Park and Select Rancho San Antonio: http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/parks/
City of Mountain View Webpage; information about Deer Hollow Farm: http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/city_hall/comm_services/recreation_programs_and_services/deer_hollow_farm.asp

Handicapped Access:

There are handicapped parking spots and handicapped stalls in the bathrooms. Several trails are wide and flat enough for handicapped access, particularly the Lower Meadow Trail to Deer Hollow Farm (do not take road, as it has a steep grade within Ľ mile of parking lot). There is a small parking lot closer to the farm that may be used with a park-issued permit.

Recommended routes:

Lower Meadow Trail to Deer Hollow Farm:
Travel through gate from main parking lot, following road OR paved trail that runs parallel but to the right of road OR along packed dirt and fine gravel trail that runs almost parallel but to the right of the paved path. Continue on to Deer Hollow Farm along paved trail. At the farm, the pavement ends and is replaced by very flat dirt and fine gravel. Return the way you came. About 2 miles total.

Several ways to extend Lower Meadow Trail to Deer Hollow Farm route:
1. Rogue Valley Trail:
  Travel straight past farm along Rogue Valley Trail until you reach the other entrance of the park (packed dirt trail). Return the way you came. Adds 0.8 miles (round trip).
2. Permanente Creek from Equestrian Parking Lot:
  Begin the hike from the other lower parking lot. Cross the bridge and turn right, following the packed dirt & gravel Permanente Creek Trail until the road / gate to the main parking lot. Continue on the easy route. Adds 0.2 miles.
3. Upper Parking Trail from Model Airplane Lot:
  Begin the hike from the first upper parking lot (where model planes are flown). A two-lane footpath runs just East of the parking lot, across the road. You can enter at the driving entrance to the park, near the entrance to the first upper parking lot. Take this path down hill to the main lot. Adds 0.6 miles (round trip).
4. Permanente Creek towards St. Joseph's:
  Stroll down the paved or gravel path along Permanent Creek, North of the tennis court area, after you have begun the easy route. Reach the trail by turning right to cross the bridge, at the junction between several trails and a paved road. The gravel path begins immediately to the left, or you can continue straight on the pavement. The gravel path skirts the Eastern edge of the park, then arrives at the paved path, which you can take back to the park, making a small loop. Adds 1 mile (loop).
5. Mora Trail: This adjustment has not been tested.
  Head right from the end of Rogue Valley (edge of park) to Mora Trail, then back to the lower meadow. Adds 1 mile.

Coyote Trail to Deer Hollow Farm:
Begin at the lower parking lot (not the main one), cross the bridge, and head uphill, following Coyote Trail. Continue about 0.6 miles until junction at the water tank, where the trail forks. Take the center fork that heads downhill and is narrower (but sufficiently wide for a stroller), continuing on Coyote Trail for another mile. Watch your speed, as it is downhill almost the entire way to the farm, and there are occasional roots, stones, or ruts to navigate, and one sharp turn. When you get to a trail junction, continue straight towards Deer Hollow Farm for about 0.3 miles, then turn right at the valley floor. Walk through the farm and continue along the easy route, to parking. About 3 miles total. Because this finishes along the easy route, the aforementioned extensions can be made.

PG & E Trail to High and Lower Meadow Trails:
Begin at the lower parking lot (not the main one), cross the bridge, and head uphill, following Coyote Trail. Continue about 0.6 miles until junction at the water tank, where the trail forks. Take the left-most fork that passes uphill very steeply through a new gate (these initial hills and gate are some of the most challenging obstacles of this route). Follow trail as you pass by several power towers along the South Ridge of the park, often ascending and descending short steep hills (use those breaks on the baby jogger!). Several benches occur at view points, and a picnic table occurs as the trail turns you back towards your starting point, at approximately the half-way point. On the returning half, the trail is called Upper High Meadow Trail and follows the North Ridge with shallow rolling hills and often flat terrain. The trail dips down to Deer Hollow Farm or Lower Meadow Trail as you near the parking lot, following the easy route. Approximately 8.5 miles.

PG & E to Wildcat Canyon Trail to Deer Hollow Farm:
Begin at the lower parking lot (not the main one), cross the bridge, and head uphill, following Coyote Trail. Continue about 0.6 miles until junction at the water tank, where the trail forks. Take the left-most fork that passes uphill very steeply through a new gate (these initial hills and gate are some of the most challenging obstacles of this route). Follow trail for 1.6 miles as you pass by several power towers along the South Ridge of the park, often ascending and descending short steep hills. At the clearly marked trail junction with Wildcat Canyon Trail, turn right and carefully head downhill. The beginning of this trail is steep with sharp switch-backs. This trail covers about 0.5 miles and leads to the valley floor and Deer Hollow Farm. See above to Deer Hollow description, to exit the park this way. Approximately 4.5 miles.

Hammond-Snyder Loop Trail:
This trail was added to the park in 2006. It runs through grassy hills along a narrow dirt trail, and travels through residential areas near the roundabout travellers navigate to get to the park, via a wide paved path. It can be accessed from the equestrian parking lot (lower parking lot without bathrooms) on the South end of that parking lot. The loop reaches a halfway point at Anza Knoll (there is a small path leading up to it) that looks over Cristo Rey Drive. The trail passes through the residential area adjacent to the park and you can stop off for a drink of water and slide at a little play area / park. Total distance is about 2.3 miles.