St Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve

Los Gatos, Santa Clara County, CA

EntryFree entry
Source
ParkingNo parking fee
Source
DogsOn leash, all trails
Source
HoursSunrise to sunset ±30 min
Source
Size
181 acres Source
Managed by
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

About St Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve

A 273-acre preserve that forms a scenic backdrop to the town of Los Gatos. Source

Serving as a scenic backdrop to the town of Los Gatos, St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve protects 273-acres of open space land on top of the 1,250-foot hill from which it takes its name. Providing a quick escape from nearby urban areas of the southern peninsula, the historic property begins about a mile from Los Gatos's popular downtown business district.
From the official park page · checked Oct 15, 2026

Facilities

  • RestroomsNot available

Facility details: official park information

Sunrise & sunset

St Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve hours follow the sun (Sunrise to sunset ±30 min). Mid-month times for this location:

MonthSunriseSunset
Jan7:20 a.m.5:12 p.m.
Feb6:58 a.m.5:46 p.m.
Mar7:20 a.m.7:14 p.m.
Apr6:34 a.m.7:41 p.m.
May5:59 a.m.8:08 p.m.
Jun5:46 a.m.8:29 p.m.
Jul5:58 a.m.8:28 p.m.
Aug6:23 a.m.8:01 p.m.
Sep6:48 a.m.7:17 p.m.
Oct7:14 a.m.6:32 p.m.
Nov6:46 a.m.4:59 p.m.
Dec7:14 a.m.4:51 p.m.

Calculated from the park's coordinates (NOAA solar equations), Pacific time.

Trails

TrailMapped lengthElevationSurface & uses
Manzanita Trail1.5 mi509 ft up & down961–1,247 ftUnpavedBikesHorses
Jones Trail0.7 mi195 ft up & down541–820 ftUnpavedBikesHorses
Flume Trail0.5 mi188 ft up & down529–707 ftUnpavedNo bikesNo horses
Novitiate Trail0.4 mi129 ft up & down885–1,064 ftBikesHorses
Serpentine Trail0.2 mi70 ft up & down1,049–1,108 ftBikesHorses
Lower Brothers Bypass0.2 mi39 ft up & down1,064–1,103 ftBikesHorses
Range Trail0.1 mi62 ft up & down1,005–1,085 ftBikesHorses
Upper Brothers Bypass0.1 mi25 ft up & down1,125–1,154 ftBikesHorses

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

1Location overview · map data © OpenStreetMap

37.208068, -121.978194Get directions

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance
Lexington Reservoir County ParkLexington Hills · 1.7 mi · Boat Launch, Historic SiteVasona Lake County ParkLos Gatos · 1.9 mi · Playground, Picnic AreaEl Sereno Open Space PreserveMonte Sereno · 2.0 miSierra Azul Open Space PreserveLos Gatos · 2.8 mi · Drinking Water, Historic SiteBear Creek Redwoods Open Space PreserveLexington Hills · 3.1 mi · Historic Site, Picnic Area

Continue exploring

Santa Clara County parks Parks in Los Gatos

Sources & verification

Last verified: Oct 15, 2026
  1. California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026aname, county, agency, access, acres
  2. Midpen preserve pageofficial_url, hours, hours_note, dogs, facilities.restrooms, description
  3. Midpen visitor FAQ (no entry or parking fees)fees
  4. Midpen dog access rulesdogs
  5. OpenStreetMap facilities and trailstrails
  6. U.S. Census Bureau place boundariescity
  7. OpenStreetMap: parking, restrooms, water, trailheads, trail lines, and bus stopsvisit
  8. Terrain Tiles elevation (USGS 3DEP), sampled every 20 m along OpenStreetMap trail linestrails.elevation
  9. Official park page (introduction excerpt)intro
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