Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve

Picchetti Ranch is the easy, shady counterpart to the big climbs around Black Mountain. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, known as Midpen, manages 308 acres here with 3.7 miles of trail. Forested canyons of madrone, coast live oak and California bay keep it cool on a warm day. Through a break in the trees you can see the Sierra Azul range to the south, crowned by Mount Umunhum.

The preserve also holds a piece of Santa Clara County's wine history. The Picchetti family's winery and homestead, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sit at the edge of the preserve. Midpen marks the preserve as kid friendly, which makes it a good pick for a short family outing. This guide covers parking, the trails, the rules and the story of the ranch.

Getting there and parking

From Palo Alto, take Interstate 280 south to the Foothill Expressway exit. Midpen's directions continue from there: travel 3.5 miles southwest, toward the mountains, on Foothill Boulevard, which becomes Stevens Canyon Road. Turn right on Montebello Road. The preserve is 0.5 mile up Montebello Road on the left. There is no transit to the trailhead.

The main lot is large for a Midpen preserve. Midpen does not list a parking fee. Winery visitors share the area, so weekend afternoons can be busy. Montebello Road is narrow and steep. Drive slowly and watch for cyclists.

Midpen's Rancho San Antonio parking page warns that Rancho is very crowded and suggests Picchetti Ranch and Fremont Older as nearby alternatives. If the lots on Cristo Rey Drive are full, this is a short drive away. The preserve opens half an hour before sunrise and closes half an hour after sunset.

Trails

Zinfandel Trail

Midpen calls this a 1.9-mile easy hike through shaded areas lush with ferns, with a view of Stevens Creek Reservoir. The trail ducks into the forest and crosses seasonal creeks before it connects with Stevens Creek County Park, managed by Santa Clara County. It is the longest walk in the preserve. Turn around at the boundary for a shorter outing or continue into the county park.

Bear Meadow Trail

This one invites a leisurely walk to a small pond, which Midpen suggests as a picnic spot. From there the trail winds to the top of a knoll that Midpen says has superb views. It is a good choice with young children.

Easy access

Midpen lists easy-access opportunities on designated trails here. Its easy-access brochure on the Picchetti Ranch page has details on surfaces and grades. Download the map before you go.

Picchetti Winery

Midpen says Picchetti Winery, started in the 1880s, is one of the oldest surviving wineries in California. A private lessee runs it today and offers public tastings in the historic building and on the adjoining picnic areas. Midpen does not publish winery hours, so check the winery's own site before planning a tasting. Peacocks still wander the grounds, a reminder, Midpen says, of the days when the ranch was full of animals. Please do not feed them.

If you plan to taste after a hike, choose a designated driver. Montebello Road is steep and winding on the way down. Pack out your trash and keep glass off the trails.

Rules for dogs, bikes and horses

• Dogs: not allowed. Service dogs are accommodated under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Fremont Older Preserve, a short drive south, allows leashed dogs on all trails.
• Bikes: not allowed in this preserve. Midpen's biking page lists other preserves open to bikes.
• Horses: allowed on designated trails marked on the map. Helmets are recommended. Everyone yields to riders.
• Groups: a permit is required for events of 20 or more people or events that charge a fee.
• Also prohibited: drones and model aircraft, fires, smoking, swimming or wading and weapons. Leave plants and wildlife undisturbed, including the frogs and newts at the pond.

At the time of writing Midpen reported no trail closures here.

Seasons and events

Midpen calls spring a great time to visit the pond. Look for frogs and newts, or a duck floating by. The seasonal creeks on the Zinfandel Trail run after winter storms. In summer the shade makes this one of the more comfortable short hikes near Cupertino, though the open knoll on Bear Meadow gets warm. Fall is dry and quiet. Our wildflowers guide covers spring timing.

Midpen's calendar for Picchetti Ranch lists Newt Knowledge on December 12, Water Wonders on December 14 and Escape the Holiday Madness! on December 19, 2026. A Scenic Aerobic Hike follows on February 10, 2027. See our nature programs guide for more.

A family half day

Picchetti works well for a morning with children because the distances are short and the parking is simple. One way to plan it:

1. Start at the main lot and walk the Bear Meadow Trail to the pond. Look for newts in the wet season.
2. Continue to the knoll for the view, then return the same way.
3. Older children can add part of the Zinfandel Trail into the shade and turn back whenever they like.
4. Have a picnic where it is allowed, or head down the hill to Stevens Creek County Park, which has picnic areas by the reservoir.

Bring snacks, water and a layer. The canyons can feel cool in the morning even when the valley is warm.

Safety

Carry water: Midpen recommends two quarts per person for every two hours. Cell service is sporadic on the preserves. In an emergency call 911. For other problems call Midpen at 650-691-1200.

• Mountain lions are a natural part of this region. Keep children close. If you meet one, do not run. Face it, stand tall, make noise and back away. Report sightings to 650-691-2165.
• Ticks are present and may carry disease.
• Poison oak grows on most preserves, including along shady creeks.
• Rattlesnakes are especially active in warm weather. Watch where you put hands and feet.
• Wildlife: do not approach or feed animals, including the peacocks.

History

The ranch is named for brothers Vincenzo and Secondo Picchetti. Midpen says Vincenzo came from Italy in the 1800s and bought land on a ridge he called "Monte Bello," Italian for beautiful mountain. The brothers planted vineyards and orchards that supported four generations. Wine production began in 1877. In 1896 the family built the main winery that still stands, along with other buildings now considered historic.

During Prohibition the family sold parts of the land and lived on prunes, apricots and pears from the orchards and on boarding horses. Eventually the ranch stopped paying its way. When Midpen acquired the 308 acres in 1976, the winery and buildings were in great disrepair. The Santa Clara County Historical Society, the California Office of Historic Preservation and earlier lessees helped restore them. The same ridge rises to Black Mountain in Monte Bello Preserve. Compare this walk with others on our hiking guide.

Frequently asked questions