Monte Bello Preserve

Monte Bello, meaning "beautiful mountain" in Italian, is a fitting name for this open space preserve along Skyline Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Rolling grasslands open to expansive views of the mountains and San Francisco Bay while dense canyon forests shade hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. At 3,436 acres, Monte Bello Preserve is one of the districts richest in wildlife and ecosystem diversity. Take the Stevens Creek Nature Trail, a 3 mile loop, for a self guided tour with interpretive signs, hike, bike, or horseback ride to the top of Black Mountain for beautiful views of the Santa Clara Valley and Mount Hamilton Range, or take the Canyon Trail to Stevens Creek Canyon. Visitors can extend their exploration by taking connecting trails to Upper Stevens Creek County Park and Rancho San Antonio, Russian Ridge, Skyline Ridge, Los Trancos, and Coal Creek Open Space Preserves. Backpackers can stay, by permit only, at Black Mountain Backpack Camp.