The new accessible Hidden Meadow Trail at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve is now open for all to enjoy. This project was made possible with $1.12M in funding from State Parks’ Per Capita Program and is an example of how the Open Space Authority is investing in nature. On June 8, 2024, the Open Space Authority's ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the new bridge and trail, bringing together Bay Area Older Adults, dedicated volunteers and excited visitors.
A group from Bay Area Older Adults arrived early for a unique sensory program to experience the new bridge and Hidden Meadow Trail. (Photo: Lanny Nguyen Photography)
Open Space Authority volunteer Emily Chao gave remarks about the importance of accessible outdoor experiences for people with disabilities. As a person who is visually impaired, she emphasized that no one should have to pay a high price to enjoy nature. (Photo: David Mauk)
Dr. Nusrat Khaleeli, Chief Operating Officer for Bay Area Older Adults, spoke about the importance of empowering adults of all abilities to take charge of their health, embrace diversity and become change agents for environmental sustainability. Bay Area Older Adults programs help reduce barriers to nature exploration, and their flagship program is multisensory educational nature walks for visually, mobility and cognitively impaired adults and their caregivers. (Photo: David Mauk)
Andrea Mackenzie, General Manager of the Open Space Authority, welcomes the crowd and gives a sneak preview of what lies ahead for regional trail connections at Rancho Cañada del Oro. In the fall of 2024, 5 miles of existing trails will be dedicated as part of the official Bay Area Ridge Trail in partnership with Santa Clara County Parks and the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. (Photo: David Mauk)
Andrea Mackenzie cutting the ribbon, which says "Welcome" in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Hindi. (Photo: David Mauk)
Visitors cross the new bridge which extends the existing half-mile ADA and wheelchair-friendly Llagas Creek Loop Trail with the new 800-foot Hidden Meadow Trail. (Photo: David Mauk)
General Manager Andrea Mackenzie (on the left) and Assistant General Manager Marc Landgraf (on the right) walk across the new bridge. (Photo: David Mauk)
The Hidden Meadow Trail features rest stops with benches and educational signage. (Photo: Lanny Nguyen Photography)
The new bridge leads visitors to a grassland day-use area, which is nearly surrounded by riparian woodlands -the forested areas found adjacent to bodies of water. Amenities include an accessible trail, seating and educational signage on the diverse ecosystem found surrounding the creek. (Photo: Lanny Nguyen Photography)
A foothill yellow-legged frog sits on a rock in the creek under the bridge. (Photo: David Mauk)
Open Space Authority Board members, Citizens' Advisory Committee members and staff pose in front of the new bridge (Photo: Lanny Nguyen Photography)
In the summer of 2024, the Open Space Authority will begin planning new backcountry trail connections to Blair Ranch, which is an expanse of protected lands to the south-east of the preserve. This will provide up to 5 miles of new multi-use trails, opening up an additional 1,800 acres of the preserve to public access. Click here to join the interest list to receive email updates.
