Calero County Park
Featured hike: Lisa Killough Trail to the Vista Del Oro Trail
Distance: 3.5 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 500 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Season: All year (spring is best for wildflowers!)
Parking lot address: Click here
More info: Santa Clara County Parks website
Hike Description: I love hiking and I like things that are new. So, when I went for a hike in the newly opened Rancho San Vicente, I was a pretty happy camper.
On top of that, it was a warm, sunny day and a perfect opportunity to enjoy the wildflowers that are in bloom during the spring.
POST-protected Rancho San Vicente (996 acres) is the newest addition to Calero County Park and features several miles of multi-use trails (all of which are DOG-FRIENDLY). There are plenty of options, from a short, flat loop to longer, hilly options. My group opted for a 3.5-mile option along the Lisa Killough Trail to the Vista Del Oro Trail.
This route takes you to the top of a hill with an overlook of the Calero Reservoir. Looking in the opposite direction offers views of rolling green hills and Mt. Umunhum.
This trail is well-groomed and really easy to walk on. But trekking poles made the return trip a little easier as we headed downhill on gravel.
There isn’t a lot of shade along the trail, so sunscreen and a good hat are a must. Even though new things are great, a new sunburn is a quick way to ruin an otherwise beautiful hike.
At the end of our hike, I felt proud of the work we’re doing at POST, knowing so many generations of hikers will be able to enjoy these trails and beautiful open spaces. Hope you can get out there for a visit soon.
Enjoy this new preserve!
In 2009, POST purchased the 966-acre Rancho San Vicente from private developers, who had originally intended to build a luxury housing development. This property is an important piece in completing a 15-mile greenbelt from Los Gatos to near Highway 101 in Morgan Hill.
POST has since transferred the property to the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department to establish public use trails. It’s now open for you to explore and enjoy.
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About Post
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. Since its founding in 1977, POST has been responsible for saving more than 87,000 acres as permanently protected land in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Learn more