Monte Bello Open Space Preserve

"Beautiful Mountain" Yes, indeed!

PSA: No dogs allowed - I had to leave mine at home. It's ok, you can enjoy this one alone!

Take the drive! Yes, the road is windy and please slow for cyclists on your way up.

Come along, sing a song. Dancing feet, magical retreat. Bring a friend or brave alone, it'll be worthwhile - 2, 4, or 7 miles!

Our small group hiked the 7 mile loop, and had many photos stops along the way. Our leisure hike took approximately 4.5 hours.

We spotted a tarantula early on the trail, other hiking groups, a backpacking group, bikers in groups and a few solo peeps.

Shaded Hike & Open Space Sunny Hike:
If you're wanting a shaded hike, start on the White Oak Trail located to the right of the Monte Bello parking. If you begin your hike on Bella Vista Trail, it's more of an open space with direct sunlight.

Start early and enjoy! =)

Beautiful hike. Moderate difficulty. Not that crowded in mid August. The road to the hiking trailhead is winding. Some parts of the right side trails are shaded.

Monte Bello is a hidden treasure for the Mid-Peninsula area.

Funny thing, though. For being hidden, it's sure well known.

To get there, you drive seven miles up a narrow, windy road. You're wondering if there's anything here besides big houses on tree-filled hills. Make a sharp left at Foothills Park - oops, never mind, you don't live in PA, you can't drive in here. More driving, more driving . . . and you finally get there, only to find a spacious parking lot crammed with cars.

Here's why I gave it five stars: At first, it looks like typical landscape on this part of the Peninsula. But then I went down the narrow Stevens Creek Nature Trail. And ended up in a deep, dark forest with a babbling brook, pretty wildflowers, romantic bridges, and interpretive signs to explain what you're gazing at. If you felt like you got away from it all by driving up Page Mill Road, now you *really* feel like you're away from it all.

Monte Bello also has a few peaks to climb up, and a backpacking camp. I'm itching to come back to try these out. I was not here long enough to really appreciate Monte Bello, but I saw enough to appreciate it a LOT.

I had written about Russian Ridge that it's part of a conglomerate of Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserves that gives you a few days of outback hiking. Monte Bello is part of that conglomerate, which combines with Los Trancos (and Foothills Park, but don't tell anyone, shhhh) to give you even more wandering. And bring a lunch, because you'll be so mesmerized that you may forget to leave and get food.

Thanks to a helpful hint from the Peninsula Open Space Trust, I discovered an amazing destination for night photography and stargazing in the Bay Area without driving to the middle of nowhere! The Black Mountain Backpack camp in Monte Bello is high enough to get you above the fog and pollution in the Bay Area, and the lack of population centers gives you a clear view of the galactic core of the Milky Way right from camp and the adjacent field!! The campground is quite spacious and comfortable, and with only a maximum of five groups camping including one larger group, the campground is very calm and peaceful. It's about a 2 mile hike to get up to the camp, and if you're packing all your gear it can get quite sweaty! But once you're there you won't regret it. There are perfect sunsets from the hill just before the camp and the stargazing at night is simply incredible. Note that there are no fires or potable water at this camp, but there is a pit toilet and a water spigot that you can filter to get clean water. I was able to reserve the campsite for a Saturday evening with about two months notice on the Midpeninsula open space district website. If you are looking for a really unique experience or to test out your Astro photography skills, this is a great location to do so.

This is a great spot for hiking during the day and astrophotography at night, which requires a free permit. Just apply online and print out the permit to bring with you.

There are usually a few groups with telescopes or cameras, but not very crowded. People are friendly. The light pollution is not too bad for the Bay Area. You'll have planes crossing semi-frequently at high altitudes, making for interesting trails in long exposures.

Decent hike!

Wanted to find a new trail to hike Saturday mornings, so drove at around 9am to find 7 miles of windy, narrow roads to get to this preserve. If I could go back in time I'd save myself from suffering that. JK, the drive wasn't that bad, but beware for bikers as there were many in that narrow road so maneuvering through was a tad bit difficult but luckily there weren't that many cars on the other side.

Parking seemed quite small - but luckily found a small spot to squeeze my car in. After a minute of stretching, we walked along Stevens Creek trail to get to Canyon trail (about 0.5 miles). The view was incredible! Usually I'd hike to get to the top, but here you actually start at the top.

The initial .5 miles to canyon road was easy - mostly flat or downhill roads with views of the mountains / photos I've included. Afterward you get to the "meat" of the hike - where there's a lot of trees but also a lot of sunshine. It was 71 degrees sunny today and I couldn't survive with a jacket on. So be careful and where sunscreen because the sun felt so close, even with trees around! 3-4 miles in and it was a lot of flat/downhill roads, took about an hour. Going back, now that was the hard part. It was mainly all uphill roads which I wasn't used to because I was used to struggling in the first 2ish hours of a hike and smooth sailing going down back to your car. Here it was pretty smooth the first 2 hours, but was pretty challenging going back to my car! I don't think it's as bad as Rancho San Antonio Preserve, and the view is a lot better in my opinion, but the fact that getting to my car had to be done going uphill was something else.

Anyway, would I go back? 8 mile drive for 25-30 minutes of windy/narrow roads? Not sure if worth for the views given, but why not! Great for a first time experience though :)

With so many gorgeous preserves in this area, I'm sorry to say this is one of my least favorite. Very crowded. Almost no shade and straight up about 1000 feet. Not even a marker at the top of Black Mountain. Lots of rocks and very dry despite the winter season. The highlight was seeing three deer. Getting there is quite tough taking Page Mill for a long time on a very windy road. I actually got the last parking spot at 12:30 PM on a Saturday. Bring lots of sunscreen and water.

"Driving Miss Moblee," Act III, Scene II (13/18).

[Overhead drone tracking shot of Monte Bello Ridge, with Silicon Valley to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, with the Santa Cruz Mountains visible, following an early morning rain].

["Cross Creek Road" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klf9B4BexbQ) plays as the camera zooms in to two figures ascending a single track path on the edge of Upper Stevens Creek Canyon. We see Boke in the lead, followed by Miss Esther Moblee in the same hiking gear she had on earlier in Purisima Canyon. B. wears a backpack while E. is clad only in her hiking outfit. Her dark hair is tied back in simple fashion, revealing a strikingly attractive face complimenting her tall, slender body].

E: Boke! I say, Boke! Jes' how looong is this here hike gonna' last before we get ta' Ridge? Honestly, Boke! Most people jes' drives up there in their caaaars! Why, pray tell, do the two of US havta' hike up this steep and exposed trail, if I may kindly ask of ya'?

B: This here is Monte Beller Reedge an' all, Miss Moblee. If we foller' it all da' way ta' da' wahnery, well, we'll see how this place is fah da' grapes an' all dat' go inta' Monte Beller red wahn, the best darn Caleefornia Bore-dough blend in da' whole wide whirld, ses me.

E: Boke, I am the Official Wiiiiine Critic fah' tha' Chronicle, so of COURSE I know that Ridge Monte Bella' is one of the best red wines that we've evah' made in this here Golden State of ours. But why the six miiiile hike jes' ta' get there?

B: It's jes' betta' dis' way, Miss Moblee. I can't raghtlee 'splain it ta' ya', but it jes' ees.

E: Well, Boke, I can certainlah' appreciate these here views of Sil'con Valley and that deep blue Pacific Ocean o' ours, but it's gonna' take us nearly three hours ta' even reach the tastin' room!

B: Da' grapes, they don' mind, Miss Moblee. The Reedge peoples neither. Des haard wahkers, dontcha' know, what wit' making such fine wahn in such a high and chall'ngin' place an' all. Makes ya' 'pprectiate it more 'dis way, Im'a thinkin ...

E: If you says so, Boke. I'm startin' ta' trust ya' judgement when it comes to wahn much more 'den when ya' was jes' ma' drivah.

B: Thankyee kindly, Miss Moblee. Thankyee v'ry much.

E: Boke, why don't you jes' call me "Estah" instead a' "Miss Moblee"? We's friends by this point now. Aftah' all: I SLEPT in ya' pee-ja-mas last couple a' nights now, hasn't I?

B: Too true, Miss Moble ... er, Estah. Too true. But yous an award-winnin' pr'fession'l wahn crit'c an' all, I's jes' a heel-bee-lee Yelp r'vier an' all.

E: Boke!!!! If you so much as MENTION that one more time, I swear ta' God I's gonna' smack you!!

[Camera pans out several hundred feet in the air, as B. and E. approach the exposed summit of Black Mountain and proceed onward towards Ridge Vineyards].

[Time lapse, montage-style sequence with B. and E. playfully hiking and chasing each other along the trail and, eventually, on Monte Bello Road to"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbNlMtqrYS0).

[Ridge staff member #1 sees B. and E. approaching the entrance and greets them with glasses of Chardonnay. "Come Away with Me" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbjZPFBD6JU) plays on outdoor speakers].

SM#1: Hello, Boke, is it? And your ... wife, Hesther Nobley, is it?

B: That's rahgt. Mah wife, Hesther. I jes' luvs her so much she walked all dis' way wid' me jes' ta' taste a' vert'cl of yourn Monte Beller wahns an' all.

MB1: We have five of our very best vintages of our flagship red wine, Monte Bello, lined up for you to taste, double decanted about two hours ago. 1995, 2000, 2011, 2012, and 2013, plus a special pour of our Lytton Springs 2011 Syrah as well, because we understand that your ... wife loves Syrah, and this was a cooler year vintage from our Dry Creek Valley organic vineyard that she should adore.

[B. sips from his glass of wine].

B: Well, this Monte Beller' whaht ain't ta' shabby, neither.

MB1; No, we only make Monte Bello Chardonnay in special years. It's a stunning wine, full malolactic completed in 50% new French oak barrels with 50% neutral American oak as well, aged for 18 months before release. Simply put, one of the best Monte Bello Chardonnays we've ever released. And, can I assume you've both brought California driver's licenses so that we can confirm your legal drinking ages? Santa Clara cops and all, they are such ... a-holes about the rules and regulations and all, I'm sure you two understand.

[MB1 smiles, sheepishly].

B: Indeed, sir, we duz. I ain't nevah gonna' make dat' miss-steak agin' let me tell ya'!

[E. finishes off her Monte Bello Chardonnay in a few, long sultry sips].

E: I do declare; this here is the very BEST California Chardonnay I've tasted in the last decade! Kin' I get anotha' splash before we begin that Monte Bella' vertical?

MB1: For you, Miss Nobley, I would only be too happy to oblige.

[End of scene].

Park 3 of 4 we did Sun 4/30/17. Started at Russian Ridge, then Coal Creek, then Monte Bello, last park was Skyline Ridge.

Some hills that are moderate. Some wildflowers. Saw some lizards. Saw a field of owls clovers and a few two-eyed violets.

Had a nice hike.

I came here on a cold Saturday to go hiking with some friends. The weather forecast was around 48-55 degrees with little to no sun. We did some stretches to help us warm up for the hike. We started off at the parking lot which is the beginning of the trail. We took the Canyon Trail and hiked about 5 miles. The trail starts off incline half way into the loop and then decline with some incline for the rest of the loop. I don't exercise often nor am I good with walking incline, but I found this trail to be very moderate for beginners! We took several breaks to catch our breaths. It was really windy in open areas, so we were freezing as we were walking along the trail. Two of my friend's baseball caps even flew off of their heads because of how windy it was. There were a lot of mountain bikers biking through the trail. I think we only passed by 2-4 people that weren't biking. The view on the trail was really nice, though the view would look nicer if there was more sun. We took about 3 hours to finish the trail due to our many breaks. Usually, I get really sore for walking more than 2 miles, but I didn't feel sore at all. I really enjoyed this trail and think that I would come back here during the spring time, when the weather is warmer.

NOTES:
-There's a parking lot, but the parking space is limited, so come early.
-There's a unisex restroom in parking lot, but no sink and only hand sanitizer.
-There's at least one bench along the trail.
-We couldn't find a trash bin in the parking lot/trail, so keep your trash in your car or with you.
-There's no drinking water fountain, so make sure to bring your own water bottles.
-There are no outhouses along the trail, so make sure you pee at the parking lot or you'll have to pee along the trail.
-The trail is pretty smooth, so you don't have to lunge over big rocks.
-Please layer up with a hat, face mask/scarf, jackets, pants, and comfortable shorts if you plan to hike during in the cold!
-Watch out for lots of poop on the trail.