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Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve "Hike Your Pie Off" 11/24/23 by Ronald Horii
The day after Thanksgiving, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA) had guided hikes at each of their open preserves. The events are called "Hike Your Pie Off, " where visitors are invited to get exercise and experience the open spaces. There was a 4-mile, 3-hour hike at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. It was led by long-time docent and volunteer Craige Edgerton, with help from docents Ryan Shubert and me. A dozen people showed up and 2 more dropped in along the way. We hiked the Arrowhead Loop Trail. We paused periodically at points of interest. Craige talked about the history of the preserve. He actually recommended that the OSA purchase it when it was up for sale. He's also an avid birder, so he talked about birds and wildlife. The preserve covers 348 acres. It was originally part of the adjacent Tilton Ranch, but it was sold to developers to pay off inheritance taxes. There were once plans to build 25 luxury estates here, on 1-2 acre lots. Those plans were dropped after development proposals for the huge Cisco project in North Coyote Valley fell through because of the recession and opposition by environmental groups. OSA purchased the property in 2010 for $3.5 million, with help from other agencies and foundations. It was open for docent-guided hikes only (e.g. https://tinyurl.com/hrdvt2j6) until it opened to the public in 2015 (https://www.stpfriends.org/CoyoteValleyOSP_06-27-15/Opening.html). The last group hike I went on in the preserve was a plant/wildflower hike on 2/19/23: https://tinyurl.com/ywefpbaw. Below are pictures of today's hike. Here are more of my pictures of Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve: http://www.rhorii.com/#CoyoteValley. For more Coyote Valley OSP information, see: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/visitors/preserves/coyotevalley.html. Trail map: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/system/user_files/Documents/Grids/preserves/Coyote%20Valley%20Trail%20Map%2011-2021%20-1.pdf
The day after Thanksgiving, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA) had guided hikes at each of their open preserves. The events are called "Hike Your Pie Off, " where visitors are invited to get exercise and experience the open spaces. There was a 4-mile, 3-hour hike at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. It was led by long-time docent and volunteer Craige Edgerton, with help from docents Ryan Shubert and me. A dozen people showed up and 2 more dropped in along the way. We hiked the Arrowhead Loop Trail. We paused periodically at points of interest. Craige talked about the history of the preserve. He actually recommended that the OSA purchase it when it was up for sale. He's also an avid birder, so he talked about birds and wildlife. The preserve covers 348 acres. It was originally part of the adjacent Tilton Ranch, but it was sold to developers to pay off inheritance taxes. There were once plans to build 25 luxury estates here, on 1-2 acre lots. Those plans were dropped after development proposals for the huge Cisco project in North Coyote Valley fell through because of the recession and opposition by environmental groups. OSA purchased the property in 2010 for $3.5 million, with help from other agencies and foundations. It was open for docent-guided hikes only (e.g. https://tinyurl.com/hrdvt2j6) until it opened to the public in 2015 (https://www.stpfriends.org/CoyoteValleyOSP_06-27-15/Opening.html). The last group hike I went on in the preserve was a plant/wildflower hike on 2/19/23: https://tinyurl.com/ywefpbaw. Below are pictures of today's hike. Here are more of my pictures of Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve: http://www.rhorii.com/#CoyoteValley. For more Coyote Valley OSP information, see: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/visitors/preserves/coyotevalley.html. Trail map: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/system/user_files/Documents/Grids/preserves/Coyote%20Valley%20Trail%20Map%2011-2021%20-1.pdf
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