Hidden Villa

Hidden Villa sits at the end of a narrow road in the Los Altos Hills, where the suburbs give way to oak woodland and the Adobe Creek canyon. It is a working organic farm, a wilderness preserve and an education center rolled into one. It is also a place with an unusual past: a ranch where refugees found shelter, where the first racially integrated residential summer camp in the country began and where farmworker organizers found allies.

Our Los Altos Hills guide and nature programs page mention Hidden Villa briefly. This page goes further, with its history, the trail loops, the visitor rules and the programs on its calendar.

What Hidden Villa is

Hidden Villa is a nonprofit, run by the Trust for Hidden Villa. It describes itself as a 1,600-acre outdoor refuge at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains, with programs centered on food, nature and outdoor education. It says its annual budget is about $5 million, raised from individuals, companies and foundations. It says it receives no government support.

Visitors come for three things: the farm, with its gardens, pastures and animals; the trails, which climb into the wild upper canyon; and programs, from school field trips and summer camps to weekend workshops and volunteer days. Hidden Villa acknowledges that the land is the ancestral territory of the Tamien Nation, the Ramaytush Ohlone and the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Our page on the Ohlone covers that longer history.

History since 1924

Hidden Villa's own history timeline is the best source. Highlights:

Josephine Duveneck died in 1978 and Frank in 1985. Hidden Villa marked its centennial in 2024. One wrinkle: its archivist has found that the first deed, for 869.42 acres, was recorded in August 1923. The organization still uses 1924, the year Josephine gave in her autobiography.

The 1972 gift of Windmill Pasture explains why Hidden Villa and Rancho San Antonio share a border. The meadow at the end of Rancho's Chamise Trail is that same pasture.

Visiting: fees, passes and directions

Hidden Villa does not charge admission. Its plan your trip page asks guests to pay a $10 parking fee, which helps maintain the roads, trails, farmland and education space.

• Paying: buy a day parking pass online, or bring cash or a check for the green ranger box near the gatehouse.
• Can't pay: Hidden Villa says it will not turn anyone away and offers a discount code on request.
• Access Pass: a pass gives free, unlimited visits during open hours from September to May for one year from purchase. Pass holders do not need a reservation.
• Reservations: encouraged but not required at this time, according to the trails page.

Getting there

From Interstate 280, take the El Monte Road and Moody Road exit in Los Altos. Follow El Monte Road past Foothill College, turn left on Moody Road and continue 1.7 miles to the Hidden Villa sign on the left. From downtown Palo Alto the drive is about 20 minutes. Park in the main lot. Hidden Villa asks visitors not to park on Moody Road. There is no practical transit, so visitors without a car can compare rental cars or use a rideshare, though cell coverage at the farm is limited for the trip home.

Trails

Hidden Villa says it has about 8 miles of trails, from easy creekside walks to steep climbs. Its hiking trails page lists these loops:

The Creek-Pipeline loop is the gentlest and the best choice with young children. The hostel loops climb to the slopes above the farm and give the best views of the canyon. Trails also connect toward Rancho San Antonio for longer outings. For other options, see our hiking guide.

Rules and etiquette

Hidden Villa asks every visitor to know its rules before arriving. The main ones:

• Dogs must be leashed and attended at all times. They are not allowed on wilderness trails or where chickens range free.
• Bikes may be ridden on the farm but not in the wilderness areas. Helmets are required and the speed limit is 5 mph.
• Horses are welcome on the farm and on designated equestrian trails.
• Farm produce and animals: do not pick flowers, fruit or vegetables and do not feed the animals. Handle chickens only with a docent.
• Animal pens and most buildings are closed to the public except during programs.
• Pack out everything. There are no public trash cans.
• Not allowed: fires, smoking, weapons and drones. Professional photographers need a photo permit.

Safety

Hidden Villa is prime mountain lion habitat with plenty of deer. Travel in pairs, carry water and sunscreen, dress in layers and check for ticks after a hike. Electrified fences protect some pastures. The farm advises extra care for children under 5, older adults, pregnant visitors and people with weakened immune systems. It asks everyone to wash hands after visiting the animals.

Programs and volunteering

The individuals and families calendar changes through the year. In late October 2026 it listed:

• Three-hour farm volunteer mornings, 9 a.m. to noon
• Trails and garden volunteer days
• Guided 1.5-hour explorations of the garden, farm and animals
• Behind-the-Scenes with the Farmer, a 1.5-hour visit with the animal husbandry manager at feeding time
• Archery sessions with certified USA Archery instructors
• Seasonal workshops such as making hoshigaki from persimmons, watercolor and block printing

Summer camps continue the tradition that began in 1945. School groups from around the region also visit for field trips, as they have since the first documented trip in 1927. Hidden Villa also runs a community supported agriculture program and sells produce at the seasonal Downtown Los Altos Farmers' Market. For more ways to give time, see our volunteering guide.

Frequently asked questions