Monte Bello Open Space Preserve  >>   Italian for "beautiful mountain," Monte Bello Open Space Preserve is a place of rolling grasslands, dense creekside forests, and spectacular vistas. The 2,758-acre preserve is one of the District's richest in wildlife and ecosystem diversity. Hawks soar overhead, bobcats hunt, and deer browse. This riparian corridor is considered to be one of the finest in the Santa Cruz Mountains.   Purisima Creek Redwoods  >>   The Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is located on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay. This magnificent preserve, encompassing 2,633 acres, offers hikers, equestrians, and bicyclists a wide variety of environments. Purisima Creek Canyon provides towering redwoods and an understory of ferns, berries, and wildflowers.   El Corte de Madera Creek  >>   The preserve centers around El Corte de Madera Creek Canyon with its towering redwoods and understory of fems, berries and wildflowers. El Corte de Madera Creek Canyon primarily runs north to south with a number of smaller creeks feeding into it and is popular with hikers, equestrians and particularly mountain bicyclists.   Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve >>   Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve is a spectacular place to enjoy the changes in the seasons. In the spring, this 1,580-acre preserve explodes with color as the native wildflowers put on a showy display. An ideal place to enjoy the views of San Francisco Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains through the crisp air.   >>  back to top