El Sereno Open Space Preserve
Monte Sereno, Santa Clara County, CA
- Size
- 1,579 acres Source
About El Sereno Open Space Preserve
A 1,614-acre ridge preserve south of Saratoga and west of Los Gatos, named for Mount El Sereno. Source
El Sereno Open Space Preserve is named for 2,500-foot Mount El Sereno, part of a prominent ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains that is located south of the city of Saratoga and west of the town of Los Gatos. A distinctive scenic backdrop to these cities, the 1,614-acre preserve rises from the foothills up steep slopes to the ridgeline.
Facilities
- RestroomsNot available
Facility details: official park information
Sunrise & sunset
El Sereno Open Space Preserve hours follow the sun (Sunrise to sunset ±30 min). Mid-month times for this location:
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7:20 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. |
| Feb | 6:58 a.m. | 5:46 p.m. |
| Mar | 7:20 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Apr | 6:34 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. |
| May | 6:00 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. |
| Jun | 5:46 a.m. | 8:29 p.m. |
| Jul | 5:58 a.m. | 8:28 p.m. |
| Aug | 6:23 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. |
| Sep | 6:49 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct | 7:14 a.m. | 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov | 6:46 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. |
| Dec | 7:14 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. |
Calculated from the park's coordinates (NOAA solar equations), Pacific time.
El Sereno Open Space Preserve at a glance
- PParking · 1
- Named trails · 6
Outline: CPAD. Points and trail lines: OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
Trails
| Trail | Mapped length | Elevation | Surface & uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquinas Trail | 3.6 mi | 1,461 ft up & down1,134–2,530 ft | UnpavedBikesHorses |
| Overlook Trail | 1.1 mi | 315 ft up & down1,119–1,317 ft | UnpavedBikesNo horses |
| Serenity Trail | 1 mi | 260 ft up & down1,414–1,694 ft | UnpavedBikesHorses |
| Loma Vista Trail | 0.5 mi | 250 ft up & down1,639–1,899 ft | UnpavedBikesHorses |
| Montevina Ridge Trail | 0.4 mi | 135 ft up & down2,469–2,586 ft | UnpavedBikesHorses |
| Montevina Road | 0.3 mi | 87 ft up & down2,362–2,472 ft | UnpavedBikesHorses |
Trail names and mapped lengths come from OpenStreetMap; lengths count only the part inside the park boundary. Up-and-down totals (climbing plus descent, one way) and elevation ranges are estimates from USGS 3DEP elevation (about 15 m grid) sampled along the mapped line. Use the official guide map for the route and current closures.
Rules & reservations
Official park page- Dogs
Leash 6 feet or shorter; dogs are not allowed in any Midpen water areas (district rules). Source
Open a half-hour before sunrise until a half-hour after sunset.
Map & directions
Nearby parks
Straight-line distanceContinue exploring
Santa Clara County parksSources & verification
Last verified: Oct 15, 2026- California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026aname, county, agency, access, acres
- Midpen preserve pageofficial_url, hours, hours_note, dogs, facilities.restrooms, description
- Midpen visitor FAQ (no entry or parking fees)fees
- Midpen dog access rulesdogs
- OpenStreetMap facilities and trailstrails
- U.S. Census Bureau place boundaries (nearest place)city
- OpenStreetMap: parking, restrooms, water, trailheads, trail lines, and bus stopsvisit
- Terrain Tiles elevation (USGS 3DEP), sampled every 20 m along OpenStreetMap trail linestrails.elevation
- Official park page (introduction excerpt)intro