Stile Ranch Trail

The Stile Ranch Trail is a scenic, although rocky, trail into the Santa Teresa Hills, from the Almaden Valley side of Santa Teresa County Park. It goes through grass covered hills that are dotted with stands of trees. There are views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Almaden Valley countryside, and the Diablo Range. Stile Ranch Trail starts from a small parking area and immediately climbs a series of switchbacks for about the first 0.7 miles. The views get better and better as the trail goes higher. The Almaden Valley countryside unfolds below, with the Santa Cruz Mountains in the distance on the other side of Almaden Valley. About 0.7 miles from its trailhead, Stile Ranch Trail levels out with good views of the surrounding Santa Teresa Hills. Views of the Diablo Range emerge ahead, to the northeast. The trail then descends for a short ways over a couple of switchbacks to cross a stream. After crossing the stream, the trail climbs out of the stream valley on a couple of switchbacks. At this time, the trail is now deep in the grass covered Santa Teresa Hills. About 1.1 miles from its trailhead, Stile Ranch Trail again levels off before beginning a final, short descent through the grass hills, to end at the Mine Trail, deep in the Santa Teresa Hills, 1.5 miles from the Stile Ranch Trail trailhead.