The best gravel rides in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve (Closed Area)

There are 9 gravel bike routes available in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. These trails offer a diverse landscape within the Santa Cruz Mountains, featuring rolling grasslands and dense creekside forests.

You can expect a varied terrain, including challenging climbs, scenic descents, fire roads, and old dirt roads that have narrowed into singletrack-like paths. Trails like White Oak Trail offer fun, narrow descents through woodlands, while others provide extensive riding through diverse open spaces.

Yes, there are routes suitable for moderate riders. For example, the White Oak Trail – Bella Vista Trail loop from Los Trancos Open Space Preserve is a moderate 6.2-mile trail that takes about 1 hour 8 minutes to complete, featuring fun descents through wooded areas.

For more challenging rides, consider routes like the White Oak Trail – Old Ranch Trail loop from Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve, which is a difficult 26.0-mile path offering extensive riding through varied terrain. Another difficult option is the West Old La Honda Road – Hickory Oaks Trail loop from Long Ridge Open Space Preserve, a 33.5-mile trail through diverse open spaces.

The preserve is generally enjoyable year-round, but spring brings vibrant wildflowers like California poppy and blue-eyed grass to the grasslands. During wet conditions, it's advisable to check for intermittent trail closures to prevent damage and ensure safety.

Absolutely. Many trails offer panoramic views, especially from Black Mountain at 2,800 feet, where you can see Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, Stanford, and even across the San Francisco Bay to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The preserve also features the Stevens Creek Nature Trail, which descends into a forested canyon and offers a dramatic vista point overlooking Stevens Creek Canyon. The straight valley of upper Stevens Creek is also the rift valley of the San Andreas Fault.

Monte Bello is rich in wildlife. You might spot large mammals such as coyote, bobcat, deer, badger, and even mountain lions. The preserve is also a haven for various raptors, including red-tailed hawks and northern harriers, as well as a wide array of owl species.

Yes, many of the gravel biking routes in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve are designed as loops. Examples include the White Oak Trail – Bella Vista Trail loop and the White Oak Trail – Old Ranch Trail loop, offering circular journeys through the diverse landscape.

Yes, parking is available at various access points to the preserve. It's always a good idea to check specific trailheads or visitor information for the most convenient parking locations before your ride.

While most trails are open to bikes, e-bikes are generally not allowed. A 15 mph speed limit (5 mph when passing) is enforced for all cyclists. For overnight experiences at the Black Mountain Backpack Camp, a permit and reservation are required, but this does not typically apply to day-use gravel biking.

The area is highly rated by the komoot community, with an average score of 5.0 stars. Reviewers often praise the diverse landscape, ranging from rolling grasslands to dense creekside forests, and the mix of challenging climbs and fun, narrow descents on trails that feel like singletrack. The panoramic views from Black Mountain are also a frequent highlight.

Yes, Monte Bello Open Space Preserve connects to a larger network of open spaces. This allows for extensive gravel loops that can incorporate Montebello Road, Stevens Canyon Road, and even link to Skyline Ridge Open Space, providing opportunities for longer and more varied rides.