Hidden Villa Hiking

Hidden Villa, in Los Altos Hills, is a 1,600 acre preserve that is privately owned and operated by a non-profit trust set up by Frank and Josephine Duveneck, who purchased the property in 1924. The Duvenecks were a socially and environmentally conscious couple who established the first youth hostel on the west coast and a multi-cultural summer camp. Hidden Villa has an organic farm, farm animals, and a network of trails that are open to the public from September until June. It is closed during the summer when summer camp is in session. There is a $5.00 per car parking fee.

Yesterday my College of San Mateo class carpooled to the main parking lot, where we began our outing. After touring the Educational Garden we visited the sheep, cows, goats, chickens, and pigs. We saw the white house and white barn which were built in the 1860's and we then poked our heads into the Duveneck's home, which was built in 1930.

From the big house we started our 5.7-mile hike by heading up the Long Bunny Loop trail, which climbs through a variety of habitats. We admired many beautiful bay, oak, madrone, and maple trees. Despite the drought, there were lots of wildflowers in bloom, including honeysuckle, pennyroyal, Ithurial's spear,  blue witch, cream bush, globe lilly, indian paintbrush, climatis, golden yarrow, morning glory, starflower, thimbleberry, crimson columbine, linanthus, wind poppy, ookow, larkspur, and indian pink.

At the intersection of the Long Bunny Loop and the Creek Trail we paused for lunch along Adobe Creek, which was flowing rather well. We then ascended the Creek Trail and the Ewing Hill Trail, which crosses into Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. From a hilltop just off the trail we could see grand views of the Santa Clara Valley and San Francisco Bay. We then hiked the Black Mountain Trail south and tur

ned west on the Hostel Trail, which re-enters Hidden Villa. The Hostel Trail passes through chaparral, with great views and an unusual cluster of wind poppies. This trail makes a rather steep descent to near the hostel. Some of us entered the main hostel building and looked around at the adjacent cabins before making our way back to the parking lot.

TO GET THERE... Take Highway 280 to El Monte/Moody Road exit. Follow signs to El Monte Road west and continue past Foothill College. Continue 1.7 miles to the entrance on the left side of Moody Road.