FOM FOK Hiking Group

Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve

Description

This park offers a very wide variety of experiences. You can take totally flat, short hikes up to Deer Hollow Farm and back, or you can take long hikes, over 10 miles, climbing over 1000 feet.

There are several streams, and the shorter hikes are all under cover. The trails are all well maintained and heavily used, so there is little to worry about poison oak unless you go off trail. There are, however, a fair number of rattle snakes that have been sighted, bob cats are not uncommon, and even mountain lions have been seen. Deer and quail are plentiful, as are a wide variety of plants and other wildlife. To fully appreciate the park, stop at Deer Hollow Farm and let one of the docents give you a tour and a lot of information about the area.

This trail is east to moderate on the "Wimble Scale", depending on which trails you take. Plan on two large water bottles and one or two snacks for the longer hikes. The longer hikes will take 3 to 4 hours. There are facilities at the trail head and at Deer Hollow Farm.

Directions

At the intersection of Interstate 280 and Foothill Boulevard, head south and turn right immediately on Cristo Rey Drive. The park entrance is about one mile up the road on your left. There are three parking lots which fill up before 8 AM on weekends. Parking is free.
For one of the longer hikes, but one that takes you through most of the features of the park in the easiest direction, begin at the northern most parking lot, the one which has the permanent toilet facilities.
Head northwest out of the parking lot and follow the wide dirt road. You will pass a tennis court on your left.
Just past the tennis court and hidden on your right is a small garden that is the remnant of the seminary that was located just on the other side of the Permanente Creek. You can still see the crosses that marked the Stations of the Cross path, and a small grotto just on the other side of the creek.
Just a few feet further on, again hidden on the right, you can see a further continuation of the hidden garden.
Just a few feet further you come to the intersection of the dirt road and several paved roads. Bear slightly left towards Deer Hollow Farm which is about a half mile further on. Take either the paved road or the dirt trail.
At Deer Hollow Farm, you should stop and talk to the docents if you have time. There is a lot to this park, such as the Indian Village, and you'll miss a lot of features, such as the rat nests if you don't know what to look for.
Continue beyond the farm and, at the intersection of several trails you'll see a large posted map and toilet facilities.
Take the High Meadow Trail and begin a gradual climb. There are 8 switch backs before you reach the intersection with the Wildcat Loop Trail.
Take the Wildcat Loop Trail for a short option back to Deer Hollow Farm, or continue on for the longer trail.
For the longer trail, there are two paths to the right of the Wildcat Loop Trail intersection. The one that goes straight is a harder climb over pea gravel. The trail to the right is an easier climb over packed dirt.
After a short climb, you come to another choice of two trails for the next short section. Bear left for views of the inner valley.
After another short climb, you come to another trail intersection. Bear left.
About 3 tenths of a mile, you will come to the intersection of the Upper Wildcat Canyon Trail. Here is another opportunity for a shorter trail back to Deer Hollow Farm. For the longer trail along the exposed ridge line, continue straight along the Upper High Meadow Trail.
This trail continues the gradual climb and provides many views of both the inner and outer valleys. Near the summit and far point of the trail, there is a short, steep hike up to a bench near one of the power line towers.
Continue along the trail which is pretty much totally down hill from then on along a mostly exposed cut in the mountain side. About 2 miles from the summit, you will come to an intersection with the Upper Wildcat Canyon Trail and the PG&E Trail.
Bear right along the PG&E Trail for a longer hike. For a shorter but prettier hike, bear left along the Upper Wildcat Canyon Trail.
After a short steep descent, you will come to a trail intersection. Bear left to go back into the canyon along either the Upper Wildcat Canyon Trail or the Wildcat Loop Trail. For the shorter, pretty trail back to Deer Hollow Farm, bear right.
This trail back to Deer Hollow Farm follows a stream bed. There is some nice views here of sunlight breaking through tree tops and dappling the stream with light. Look for turkeys, quail, deer, rabbits, and perhaps even a coyote.
At the next trail intersection, continue straight to return to Deer Hollow Farm and retrace your steps back to the parking lot, or bear right for either the Farm Bypass Trail, or the Coyote Trail.
The Farm Bypass Trail is usually full of quail and is an easy alternate way back to the original track back to the trailhead.
The Coyote Trail is a longer return path and involves some gentle climbs.

Flowers

[Many—to be filled in yet]

Trip Reports

Saturday, May 27, 2000

Frank, Dirk, Michael, Kathy, and Nancy take the Upper High Meadow Trail in an anti-clockwise direction. Frank gives us additional docent information about the seminary gardens and the Indian Village.

Click on pictures below to view 1024 x 768 versions (approximately 1 MB in size).

Near the end of the Upper High Meadow Trail Nancy and Kathy have their back to the canyon, looking back towards the Silicon Valley.

Dirk, Kathy, and Nancy, at the summit.

As Kathy contemplates the beauty, Nancy receives divine inspiration.