Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
Hike Data:
Length: 9.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet
Elevation Loss: 1,200 feet
Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Difficulty: 2/5
Rating: 2/5
Other Information: There is no fee. Bathrooms are available at the parking area and pit
toilets are available at Deer Hollow Farm. Maps are available at the trailhead.
Date Last Hiked: Wednesday, July 31, 2002
Links:
Introduction:
Rancho San Antonio is a fairly large park. It is extremely popular with runners. In fact
the number of runners far outnumbers all the other trail users. The only problem with that is
that it made me feel really out of shape getting passed on uphills by people running...
The lower half of the park is fairly flat, and if you just want to hang out there is abundant
wildlife not far from the parking area. Deer Hollow Farm, about 0.9 miles from the parking area,
is interesting if you're curious how a farm works.
Many of the trails are old fire roads (in fact, some are still used by PG&E), but several
are singletrack. If you're feeling really adventurous, the Chamise Trail climbs up to the
Black Mountain Trail, which climbs up to the summit of Black Mountain (at 2800 feet...a gain of
about 2400 feet from the trailhead.) The loop I did is not too difficult if you hike often.
Getting There:
From Interstate 280, take the Foothill Expressway exit. Head South a few hundred feet and make
a right (West) onto Cristo Rey Drive. Follow this road for about a mile, then turn into the
preserve's main entrance on the left. Follow the signs to the main parking area.
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