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Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Preserve Opening Day, 8/31/23 by Ronald Horii
Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve (formerly just called Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve), owned by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA), opened to the public on 8/31/23. It covers 1,859 acres in the hills east of Hwy 101 and has over 5 miles of trails. For decades, it was used as buffer land around the United Technologies rocket development and testing facility. (https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/10/05/historic-silicon-valley-site-becoming-new-public-open-space-preserve/) It was kept undeveloped to keep people away from the rocket plant. It wasn't appreciated at the time, but the ridge, which contains huge expanses of serpentine soil, is home for many rare and endangered plant and animal species, most notably the Bay checkerspot butterfly. Coyote Ridge is the only place left in the world where the butterfly can still be found in healthy numbers. Serpentine is a rare type of soil that supports native plants, which in turn support native wildlife. Because of the soil, there are spectacular wildflower displays in the spring. This time of year, there's not many wildflowers out, but it always has great views. It's a good place for birding. Tule elk can sometimes be spotted. I came to the preserve in the morning on opening day and hiked all the trails. I've been to Coyote Ridge many times over the years (https://www.rhorii.com/#coyoteridge), either on guided tours or special open access days. Now it's finally open to everyone. Here's more information about it: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/coyoteridge.html. To prepare it for public access, the Open Space Authority built new trails, an access road, a parking lot, a restroom, and rest areas with lots of interpretive signs. Here are pictures of those signs: https://tinyurl.com/2p8e5wkz. Note that because of the extremely sensitive habitat, access to the upper trails requires getting a free "Butterfly Pass." Here's how to get one: https://news.openspaceauthority.org/butterfly-pass-2023. To reach the preserve, take Hwy 101 to the Bailey Ave. exit. Go east. The road becomes Malech Road. The entrance to the preserve is a short distance down the road on the right. Note the preserve hours, which change during the year. There are also special access rules during March-May. https://www.openspaceauthority.org/system/user_files/Documents/Grids/preserves/MOCR%20Operations%20Calendar%20-%202023.pdf. Here's a visitor's guide to the preserve: https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/family-friendly-guide-to-accessing-máyyan-ooyákma-coyote-ridge. Here's a video about the history and conservation of the preserve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zTbFcBdLBk. ABC7 did a news story about it: https://abc7news.com/coyote-ridge-santa-clara-county-cold-war-valley-open-space-authority/13712822/. Open Road TV did an episode on it: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/openroad/openroad-episode-88/3284307/. 3.8 miles of the trails are dedicated as part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail network. There was a Ridge Trail dedication ceremony on 8/30/23: https://www.facebook.com/openspaceauthority/videos/862881785357233.
This album has pictures from 3 cameras: my Samsung A42 smartphone, my Panasonic ZS100 travelzoom, which has a 10X zoom lens, and my Olympus OMD E-M10 with a 3X zoom lens and a polarizing filter. Most of the pictures were taken with the E-M10. The telephoto pictures were taken with the ZS100. The polarizer helped cut through the smoky haze. Some pictures were posted with the A42 while I was still hiking.
Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve (formerly just called Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve), owned by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA), opened to the public on 8/31/23. It covers 1,859 acres in the hills east of Hwy 101 and has over 5 miles of trails. For decades, it was used as buffer land around the United Technologies rocket development and testing facility. (https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/10/05/historic-silicon-valley-site-becoming-new-public-open-space-preserve/) It was kept undeveloped to keep people away from the rocket plant. It wasn't appreciated at the time, but the ridge, which contains huge expanses of serpentine soil, is home for many rare and endangered plant and animal species, most notably the Bay checkerspot butterfly. Coyote Ridge is the only place left in the world where the butterfly can still be found in healthy numbers. Serpentine is a rare type of soil that supports native plants, which in turn support native wildlife. Because of the soil, there are spectacular wildflower displays in the spring. This time of year, there's not many wildflowers out, but it always has great views. It's a good place for birding. Tule elk can sometimes be spotted. I came to the preserve in the morning on opening day and hiked all the trails. I've been to Coyote Ridge many times over the years (https://www.rhorii.com/#coyoteridge), either on guided tours or special open access days. Now it's finally open to everyone. Here's more information about it: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/coyoteridge.html. To prepare it for public access, the Open Space Authority built new trails, an access road, a parking lot, a restroom, and rest areas with lots of interpretive signs. Here are pictures of those signs: https://tinyurl.com/2p8e5wkz. Note that because of the extremely sensitive habitat, access to the upper trails requires getting a free "Butterfly Pass." Here's how to get one: https://news.openspaceauthority.org/butterfly-pass-2023. To reach the preserve, take Hwy 101 to the Bailey Ave. exit. Go east. The road becomes Malech Road. The entrance to the preserve is a short distance down the road on the right. Note the preserve hours, which change during the year. There are also special access rules during March-May. https://www.openspaceauthority.org/system/user_files/Documents/Grids/preserves/MOCR%20Operations%20Calendar%20-%202023.pdf. Here's a visitor's guide to the preserve: https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/family-friendly-guide-to-accessing-máyyan-ooyákma-coyote-ridge. Here's a video about the history and conservation of the preserve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zTbFcBdLBk. ABC7 did a news story about it: https://abc7news.com/coyote-ridge-santa-clara-county-cold-war-valley-open-space-authority/13712822/. Open Road TV did an episode on it: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/openroad/openroad-episode-88/3284307/. 3.8 miles of the trails are dedicated as part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail network. There was a Ridge Trail dedication ceremony on 8/30/23: https://www.facebook.com/openspaceauthority/videos/862881785357233.
This album has pictures from 3 cameras: my Samsung A42 smartphone, my Panasonic ZS100 travelzoom, which has a 10X zoom lens, and my Olympus OMD E-M10 with a 3X zoom lens and a polarizing filter. Most of the pictures were taken with the E-M10. The telephoto pictures were taken with the ZS100. The polarizer helped cut through the smoky haze. Some pictures were posted with the A42 while I was still hiking.
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