It's the most beautiful place to relax and bring yourself back to nature. So peaceful and so much to learn there too. They have great classes and camps or just sitting under a tree time and watch the leaves grow. read more

It was tucked further down south from a narrow road (moody), hence the name "hidden". There's parking site on your right after you enter. A farm was set up along the way up to a trail sign where's to divide into two directions. Left is hidden villa trail, right is bunny something trail. We went for the left. It was a narrow, sloped and uneven trail, right next to a creek. The scenary was tranquil. Be careful of midsized rocks and tree roots stuck out on ground for their ankle-spraining hazards, and the sharp-edged hanging branch on tree. (My son bumped his head, causing swelling, thank God no bleeding!) Some area shady some not, bring a sun hat. Wear long sleeved clothing as there're mysterious outgrown weed bushes that might irritate your skin. Parts of ground were covered by leaves, it was easy to walk on providing landing cushion and traction. There's an archery site next to parking lot. Already signed up for my next adventure. read more

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When I was there, it was very disorganized and rundown. I'm not sure that's a good model for kids.

I love this place. It's a hidden gem in the Bay Area and a lovely place to explore and see farm animals, flowers, plants and walk through a vegetable and plant garden. My favorite animals here at the big, fat, pigs. They are ginormous and you can pet them. The enclosure is not supervised and the pigs love people. I've been here a few times and enjoyed each visit. You pay $10 for parking and then enter the park at no charge. Everything is labeled and there are lots of animals here. I've brought a lot of friends and family to this place and they all loved it too. Nice place for sure! read more

Hidden Villa - Baby sheep! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Altos Hills, California

You know, this place sounds whimsical and it could be...if it weren't for the ticks! This place is crawling with them, literally. I have no idea if this was just us because of the hike we chose (short bunny trail over to creek trail) but my family found around 10 ticks on each of us. Wear light clothes and keep your eyes open for them. So now for the positives. The farm has really cute baby sheep and giant pigs that seem friendly. It is clear the people working there care about the animals and the grounds. The location is also pretty accessible, close from the freeway. The view and trails are beautiful and slightly challenging. But yeah...beware of the ticks and poison oak. read more

Hidden Villa - View from the bunny loop - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Altos Hills, California

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Great place for everyone! I usually go for a hike around there. Sometimes it's packed and other times it's empty. Parking is $10 donations. It's really important to bring cash for the donation box. Bring your kids to explore and have fun. Bring yourself to enjoy the nature and disconnect from your "to do" list. read more

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From September to May It is a great place for families, but be advised they are closed all summer for camps. Do not bother going here from June to the end of August. NO trails are open! read more

Chaperoned a group of kids on a field trip at hidden villa and the whole team was fantastic. Garth was super engaging with the kids. Our volunteer Tonia was great with the kids and they had so much fun. There's a garden with lots of vegetables and herbs. It also had fun tunnels they could crawl through. The kids also enjoyed holding compost worms. There are animals like pigs, goats, sheep, chicken, and cows. There are fun hiking areas and picnic areas. There was also a super cool sundial. Overall a super educational and fun time for kids and adults alike! read more

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This place is not just for kids - we adults loved it too! It was so much fun to stroll around and interact with the animals. They're all pretty friendly! My favorites were the sheep, but we also got there for one of the presumably many mealtimes for the pigs (~3pm). read more

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Hidden Villa is a beautiful nature preserve with so much to offer, especially for those who appreciate the simpler things. It's an educational facility and farm set in the wilderness, an endeared setting for weddings, summer camps for kids, trails with a view for hikers, and couples/individuals looking for a peaceful and enchanting getaway not so far from the busy bay area city life... this is it! Everything is eco-friendly on site, in fact they don't have trash receptacles around, as they encourage visitors to bring and use "no-garbage meals and snacks". They also insist and expect visitors to take care of all of the plants, animals, other humans around you, to share with and respect others and their belongings.  I stayed at the Hostel (which can be rented by groups or individuals), and the cabins are small and simple with the bare necessities, including a mobile heater for colder nights. You definitely get the camping vibe staying here. The shared restroom for the Hostel was also on the simple side, but was sufficient. Five stalls in the womens restroom, 3 with toilets, 2 with showers (by the way, the water was lukewarm at best, for someone who prefers hot water, I was a bit uncomfortable and cold while showering). Keep in mind this isn't a hotel so don't forget to bring your own towels. They do have a washer and dryer at the restroom building, in case you want to wash your clothes here. The shared rec room/building had a beautiful rustic feel and plenty of furniture and seating to accommodate different groups of friends and families simultaneously, but during this past weekend, we were the only ones there pretty much the entire time. There's even a screened patio attached with even more lounge seating, great for relaxing. The shared space also had a piano, and although it was out of tune, we still enjoyed playing music on it, along with our own instruments that we brought. The furniture wasn't in the best condition. There wasn't a traditional piano bench, rather a wooden seat, and that seat broke while being sat on during piano play... broke into pieces and crashed to the ground. Luckily no one got hurt. The disturbing thing is that it's not the only seat that broke during our stay... another seat's armrest broke without us even touching it, the pieces just detached (see my photo). So yeah, be careful with any wooden furniture here, it could be unstable and dangerous. The large kitchen facilities had industrial appliances and kitchenware, everything you would need to cook and enjoy a nice steak dinner on a Friday night (we brought our own food and drinks to store in the shared fridge), but various spices, napkins, saran wrap, along with glassware for wine and the like were available for use in the shared kitchen. Beyond the Hostel, Hidden Villa has a lovely Education Garden with lots of labeled plants and herbs. There are plenty of nooks and tunnels for kids to climb through and explore in this garden so it's quite charming. There was also an Education Center nearby, but it was currently closed, and the pool dry and empty. We enjoyed visiting the animals on the farm. You can open the green bins near each of the habitats to learn more about how the animals contribute to the food we eat, in the circle of life. We got to interact with the goats and sheep eager for attention, and see the fat and adorable pigs stretched out and napping. We also caught a cute chestnut-colored bunny wandering freely, stopping just for a moment to mesmerize us on our way to the Bunny Trails (cuz that was a must-do on my list!). We hiked on the Short Bunny Loop, a dirt trail about a mile long which took us through an uphill zigzag before leveling out and leading us back toward the farm. Yes, there is poison oak and ticks at Hidden Villa, but it's not really cause for concern. Poison oak can be found at any park, but if you educate yourself about what it looks like, you can avoid it. You're not really in danger of touching it unless you walk "off" the trails. Same with the ticks.. they're not actually crawling around everywhere, instead they're found at the tips of tall grass, so again you're not in danger of touching it unless you wander into the plantlife "off" the trails. Normal, intelligent adults will not encounter any problems. Disobedient or uncontrollable kids are a different story, so bring them at your own risk. read more

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One of my favorite places to be. Nature abounds here with wild animals, native plants, great hiking trails, and super cute farm animals! The organic produce and pasture-raised meat is top shelf quality in taste. Just make sure to take whatever trash you bring in with you when you leave! read more

Hidden Villa - Emelie relaxing in the pasture - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Altos Hills, California

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Wow what a beautiful peaceful happy Haven did week long silent Retreats here many years in was heartwarming hearing the kids say we love you farm and walking through the organic Gardens and beautiful Trails meditating with the chickens and pigs / I'm almost taking off to stars because they kill animals and that is inhumane and unnecessary however the egg Harvest is fully sustainable and if you eat eggs give yourself the gift of Hidden Villa organic eggs...... read more

Go-to spot for hiking with the kids. Not a lot of people which is great. Reservations are required. Hiking plus seeing farm animals is a win win. The entire pipeline loop is about half an hour. read more

For my Mother's Day gift, I only ask to go out as a family and I chose Hidden Villa for our easy short trail hike. Parking is $10 cash fee. Nice place for kids as their is a small farm and swimming area. Not sure when the pool is open but it was not open when we were there. They seem to also have activities and tours here. There is a good easy to moderate hike...kids can come but the trails are very narrow if you loose balance or get dizzy like my son, you will fall on a high ridge. I would say for experienced kids that are used to hiking, this would be good for them. I used the AllTrails app and it said 3 miles but it was really 4.1 miles. Also, not much shade especially by black mountain. I suggest to wear sunblock, wear a hat and bring water and snacks for the kids. Enjoy! [49/100] read more

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We came here to hike, so this review is not on any of the events or facilities. We came on a Sunday late morning and there were already 20 cars or so in the parking lot. May be a big group with young kids getting together. We hiked for about 2 hours. It was a lovely hike. It was very quiet enjoyable w/o too many ppl (until the end when we ran into a large group). I came once before about 8 years ago and it used to be a lot business. It could be due to the season (more ppl in spring and summer, not so much in winter) and post pandemic, things everywhere have changed. I wonder if the hostel is mostly taking event rental instead of individual overnight guests. read more

Wonderful! Here is the YouTube video of our visit on Aug 2023: https://youtu.be/SynVF_383ek read more

I love Hidden Villa. It's an educational farm that really aims to introduce the natural world to the imagination of a child. I've spent years coming here to check out the garden, take hikes and spend some time with the happy sheep. This time I stayed in the hostel that Hidden Villa offers. These are simple and rustic cabins with a community space and a large well stocked kitchen. Like any hostel, the space is made for travelers to meet. Every time I've stayed here I've met the most interesting people ever. In the community space you'll find a patio with seating for about 10 and a main space that seats for 20 or so. You'll find books and games on the shelves as well as an old timey piano. I always bring an instrument and love playing music into the night with anyone down to jam. Though I'm guilty for pushing the sound curfew which is 9pm. Ooops! This place is absolutely charming and a breath of fresh air from the urban life. But no place comes without flaws. Such as the furniture is a bit over worn and could use some updating. Though the hostel does have a free wifi connection, it doesn't reach the cabins. These are small issues but would definitely make the stay a little more comfortable. The best thing about staying at the hostel is waking up to the smells and sounds of a working farm and checking out all of the awesome sites Hidden Villa has to offer. There are many. Bring your food, hiking boots and an open mind to the Duvenicks' humble little farm in the Los Altos Hills. read more

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I have been a patron of Hidden Villa for over 10 years and truly think it is one of the most beautiful secret gems of the Bay Area. Yesterday I took my 18 month old to go and visit the farm animals and after the way we were treated, I won't ever be returning. I pay $10 for admission, I follow all the guidelines and generally try to be a true steward of the farm and land. I often visit with my baby and we go from pen to pen trying to pet and see all the animals. Yesterday there seemed to be a daycare/preschool group with small children roughly the same age as my daughter. They were being guided by docents. Every time that we were at a pen, and had managed to get a goat/sheep/cow/pig over to the fence for my daughter to pet, the tour group would come over, and lure the animals away and let their group into the pen. I asked first if we could go in the goat barn, and I was told we couldn't, which I mostly understand. My daughter was really sad and crying when all the goats followed the other two year olds into the barn so they were out of sight and could no longer be pet by her. Next we went to the cows, we got both cows over to the fence and we were petting them and really recovering from the goat incident, when another different group came over, and lured the cows away to the other side of their enclosure- not behind any fences at all. They all stood on a bench and were petting the cows. My daughter wandered over there and attempted to also stand on the bench to pet the cows. We were then told by the docent that we were not allowed to be there by the bench because we weren't part of their group and we had to leave the cow pen. After yet another meltdown, we tried the sheep. The same exact thing happened with a different docent, where they led all the sheep away from the fence where we were petting them and she cried watching the other small children get to pet the sheep while we were not allowed to. I understand the importance of tour groups, however this was 9:30am on a Tuesday- it was 36 degrees outside. We were literally the only other people there. I don't understand what I pay for if my daughter is legitimately forbidden from interacting with the farm animals we came to see. It was so disappointing and really really sucked. On top of it, no one ever seems happy that we are visiting or makes us feel welcome. No one smiles and waves as we drive in, no one says hello. It feels like people don't want visitors there. In the future if there are private tour groups planned, why "sell" reserved spots for visiting the farm if it will inhibit your ability to experience the farm? I'm just super disappointed and sad. read more

This was such a fun spot to come to during quarantine. Covid update: - they are currently by reservation only (it wasn't hard to make one a week in advance). It is $10 per vehicle for a 2 hour window (honor system though of when you choose to leave!) - great place to entertain the kiddos: you can see goats, sheep, cows, and even walk into the huge chicken area and be surrounded by like a hundred chickens. The farm is a short 5 minute walk from the parking - beyond the farm there are absolutely gorgeous hiking trails. The trail entrance behind the goat/ram leads to beautiful trails along the creek where you are just completely enveloped in a canopy of trees. The creek is shallow enough that it's another fun place for the kids to explore, but I need to come back sans-kiddos to get my hike on! - trails are all dirt, so not the best to do with strollers. - they also had very clean porta potties. hand sanitizer also available around teh farm animals. read more

This is a review for the summer day camp. My kids are pretty easy going kids, and they both gave Hidden Villa thumbs down. The report from them is that there are a lot of dead things in the swimming pool, and the bottom of the swimming pool is very slimy. I have concerns regarding the cleanliness of the swimming pool to allow kids to swim inside. Additionally, the swimming pool isn't heated at all. The camp is supposed to last until 4pm, but by 3:15 pm, they already take the kids down to Dana Center to wait for parents to pick them up. When I went to pick up the kids, one counselor was just looking at her phone and not engaging with the children at all. My older child was provided with toddler toys during breaktime. The kids are required to do "quiet time" throughout the day. The schedule isn't engaging at all. It's like daycare on a farm. Oh, I forgot to add that Friday pick up is at 11:45 am! At $725/kid/week save your money and stress, sign up for another camp! read more

After reading most of the reviews I am guessing most of them are probably fake. This place is nothing as described. It looks pretty neglected and shabby, there's only a couple of animals that you can't interact with unless you're a part of an organized tour. And you're supposed $10 for it (most of people just drive through and do t bother paying, now I understand why). read more

A really great place to hike and explore nature and farm life. There are quite a few farm animals here; I'm definitely happy about that. I like how some farm areas are open, so you are able to get closer to the farm animals. I once came on a lucky day and time where they were wrapping up "yoga goats" with the baby goats. We were able to enter the field and pet the goats. We were also allowed to pluck grass and feed the baby goats. The baby goats were absolutely adorable! The hiking trails are generally shady, so it's really good for those hotter summer days. There are multiple trails for hikers of different levels. Bring $10 cash for parking. If you want to buy a parking pass in advance, you can pay via card on their website: $10 for the day pass and $80 for the one year season pass. read more

Hidden Villa - Baby goats. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Altos Hills, California

The Long Bunny and Creek Trails are wonderful shady trails. Loving it. read more

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I didn't know Hidden Villa was such a great park to hike. Extremely quiet and peaceful. I really enjoyed solitude. Recent some rain filled Adobe creek water, and it was great to hike with the stream music. This park is in Los Altos Hills, but it's isolated and I felt like I was very far from the civilized area. Although trails here are only 8 miles, but highly recommended. This park is not very famous and doesn't get much attention of hardcore hikers. Probably because this place is relatively small, people go to an adjacent park Rancho San Antonio. I was not an exception. When I passed a trail junction that connects to Hidden Villa on Black Mountain Trail, I wonered what the Hidden Villa was. However, always I went to Black mountain and Monte Bello, I didn't have a time to explore here and didn't even look up what this was. Finally I google/yelped and found out this is open to public with nice farm and hostel. Historically Hidden Villa is interesting as well. Originally native Ohlone people lived here for thousands of years, but later Duveneck family owned here after several other people owned it, and now they donated this to non profit trust. They valued the land and preserved the wilderness instead of commercial use, also they had social justice including assisting Japanese-American families returning from internment camps. That's why this place has summer camps, school and public programs to contribute to education. read more

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This place was a snooze fest. I took my four year old there yesterday and it wasn't at all what I expected. First of all I'm not sure why I paid the $10 fee because there is no one there regulating anything. They had chickens, pigs, sheep, and goats. We weren't able to interact with any of the animals, maybe it's because of the COVID but there was no one there to explain things. We could get into where they kept the chicken but it was basically just watching them walk around. All the other animals were just sitting there, which really doesn't interest a 4 year old. They have a little garden area which is also not interactive. The highlight of our trip was a log of wood that was in the middle of the road so my daughter and her friend used it like a balance beam for 30 minutes I didn't need to pay $10 to do that. Maybe it's more of hiking spot but I was expecting more. read more

What a beautifully tranquil place to take a walk and see some animals! The kids loved it and the hiking was nice. Would definitely recommend and will be coming back soon with the kids. Stroller friendl read more

Follow the Toyon hill trail for a light upward hike with lots of twists and turns. Gives you a nice lower body workout as you climb up a nice little incline and then slowly downward. Enjoy magnificent views near the top! Coming back down is a breeze - just follow the clearly marked trails and you'll just walk a loop, finding your way straight back to the start point! There's plenty of other trails that branch off from the Toyon trail, giving you a much longer hike but be sure to have plenty of water with you because while there are plenty of shaded areas, it can also get pretty warm sometimes, especially in the late afternoons. You can bring the whole family to enjoy awesome nature walks, have a picnic near the creek and under nice shaded areas, or let your little ones pet the farm animals or run through the gardens. Beware, there might be poison oak in the wooded areas though. Costs $5 to park but totally worth it! read more

Hidden Villa - Outstanding views near the top along toyon hill trail! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Altos Hills, California

Went to this place for my son's field trip. The view was great and the air so clean here! They have a garden patch, where they will make you a burrito salad from their garden. They have a path to go to the forest and hike. They also have animals for you to feed and pet. Their volunteers were all nice and friendly. Our guide name is Bob. He was very patient with all the kids, especially my son who happens to talk a lot. Oh! If you have not seen a dinosauric pig, you should come check theirs! I would also recommend hiking here as it is so peaceful here. read more

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Beautiful area for a weekend walk. Lots of shade. Family oriented. Farm animals for kids to see. Lady at the parking lot coordinating was a bit snooty. read more

Since I enjoy walking the trails of the Santa Cruz Mt's. I decided to attend one of Garth Harwood's classes at hidden villa: Know Your Enemy / all About Ticks. After a short talk and a fun pop quiz that debunked one of the classes beliefs that ticks can jump or fly, we strolled outside and were soon finding ticks. Having learned their habitats and hangouts and which species carry Lyme disease, I felt my comfort levels increase. If you want to get to know about your surroundings while out on the trail, consider taking one of Garth's classes . read more

This is an amazing place to take kids! We came here for a field trip. I was a chaperone with my daughter's class. It's ALSO apparently an amazing place to: go for a hike, do some community farming, get married (!), do an internship that focuses on sustainable agriculture, or take your dog for a run! ...Wow, this is a versatile place! :) The staff here is incredibly friendly and great at working with children. My daughter LOVED getting to pet the sheep, calf, pigs, and chickens. (Did you know that pig hair is totally hard and wiry? I did not!) They take the kids on a great "tasting" tour through the gardens where they got to nibble on some of the delicious organic stuff growing around there, and introduced us to the idea of community farming which happens there. They introduce the kids to composting, and take them on a "wilderness adventure" / mini-hike on a bunny trail. There's even a little blacksmith shop where the kids got to see tools that are used to make horseshoes, etc. When the "field day" started, we learned that the entire area was *donated* by a family, that could have sold it and made a ton of money but instead decided to give it to the community for future generations of kids to be able to enjoy. Wow! A super huge thank-you to their generous spirits!!! read more

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Situated in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and stretching out at a massive 1,600 acres of open space, Hidden Villa (HV) is a farm park with a fascinating past. HV has served a myriad of purposes over the years like being the first Pacific Coast Hostel, to even helping shelter Nazi refugees and providing assistance to Japanese-American families returning from internment camps. HV is also the site of the first multiracial summer camp in the country (1945) and provided a safe place for César Chávez to organize California's first farm workers strike. HV's current incarnation is non-profit that seeks to educate the next generation about nature, organic farming and the environment through summer camps and other programs throughout the year. For those who are too old, or too young, to participate in said programs, HV is still open to the general public to explore it's farm, organic garden and hike it's surrounding trails. Parking- There's a $5/vehicle fee to park, but there's no charge to access the grounds. Hours- The farm is open Tue - Sun from 9 a.m. to dusk all year, but be sure to check the calendar (http://www.hiddenvilla.org/visit) during the summer because it is closed during certain weeks (usually mid-June to late August) due to summer camps. Amenities- There are picnic tables and benches located throughout the park, and a few port-o-potties around the main farm/garden area. Features: -Organic farm, with all the plants clearly labeled. -Barnyard with your typical menagerie of farm animals (e.g., cows, chickens, pigs, goats, etc) that the kids love. -A couple of really neat, old farm houses remain on the property and are used as offices and classrooms for the camps. I'm not sure if these are open to the general public, or not? -There are Bee Hives just west of the main farm! The bees are pretty docile and let me get pretty close to snap a few pics, but --obviously-- don't take my word for it. I'm a maniac... -South of the farm is a series of eight miles of creek trails. My 4-year-old son and I hiked about 3 miles on the Bunny Loop Trail, and it was a lot of fun. The trails themselves are mostly shaded, dirt, and in fairly decent shape but they can get really narrow--especially for a big galoot like me! There's a pretty decent ±500' ascent on the trail, so make sure your kid(s) are up for it. HV is similar in many ways to my other favorite farm park, Deer Hollow, but I give the slight edge to HV because the parking here is way less of a kerfuffle. Overall, HV is a terrific place to bring the family for some quality time with Mother Nature. HV has a rich history, a strong moral compass that guides kids towards a brighter future and is highly recommended by yours truly. Happy Hikes! read more

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There have been scores of reviews describing Hidden Villa and it's attributes: The farm, the hostel, the gardens, the education center, and the summer camps, to name a few. My family and I enjoyed many wonderful visits here when the kids were younger, mainly to see the farm and gardens. I won't try to repeat what has already been said by other reviewers, other than this: If you love farms or have young kids, it's hard to find a better spot to spend a few hours on a nice day. That said, there hasn't been a lot of details about Hidden Villa as a hiking venue. For those who want to hit the trails, it turns out this is an excellent spot to complete some short loops and catch some views; and it's one of the easier hiking venues to access from the South Bay. Here are two loops I've completed here: -- Long Bunny Loop: (1.75 mi) A uphill stroll uphill through a forested, stream-cut canyon, followed by a mild, uphill traverse out to a forested ridge with views through the trees; then the trail takes switchbacks downhill, ending back at the farm. A good choice for hikers with kids; it's mostly shady, plus there's a shorter version (the Short Bunny) that cuts off some of the steeper parts. -- Ewing Hill Loop (3.75 mi) This is a loop I made up on my last visit. To start: across from the gardens, take the Hostel Trail uphill steeply, with eventual views back toward the farm; then crossing the low, exposed peak of Elephant Mtn; continuing on rolling, ridge-line terrain with fantastic views both north and south. The sometimes narrow trail will eventually "T" with the Black Mtn Trail at the back side of Rancho San Antonio. A right turn will take you to the Ewing Hill Trail in 0.5 mi; then a gorgeous hilltop meadow (my favorite spot on the hike). The Ewing Hill Trail then proceeds steadily downhill through shady side canyons before connecting to the Creek Trail, which is a mostly flat, shady stroll back to the farm. On a recent glorious spring day, this hike made an ideal short getaway; and decent workout too, with a combined 800 ft (600 + 200) climb before descending. And since both these loops start and end at the farm, they could also be combined to make a very nice 6 mile hike. The trails at Hidden Villa are reasonably maintained, but not quite up-to-par with those at nearby open spaces. The wooden trail signs are old and faded, and at at least one trail crossing, there were no signs at all. So take a trail map with you (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hidden-villa-los-altos-hills?select=yELwZ4aRFu8MoUdYxOcoRw) The flora here is also a bit one dimensional for my taste - Most of the trees in the Park are bay trees, but there is the occasional appearance of Coast Live oak, California Buckeye, and Madrone to break up the monotony. In spring, the meadow at the top of Ewing Hill is an ideal place to spot wildflowers. (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hidden-villa-los-altos-hills?select=Iyazj2SgrFvZLZRYlTQS_w) Looking at both the trail map and online maps, it appears that the property owned by Hidden Villa is huge, and at least twice as big as the portion covered by farm or trails. Perhaps the plan is to leave these areas untouched, but I hold out hope more trails will be added someday. 3 stars for the hiking; and 4 stars for the whole package. Dan's Hiking Spot Checklist: -- Parking: Yes, A large lot inside the main entrance. $8 Entrance fee -- Bathrooms: Yes, flush toilets -- Potable water: Yes -- Maps provided: Yes -- Highlights: A lot to see besides hiking; kid friendly My Peninsula Hike Collection is here: (https://www.yelp.com/collection/qBI6U6Lz9LJQjnGjFW6ubg) read more

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No longer "hidden" thanks to the likes of Yelp and other web resources for the ever challenged parent wondering where to take the kids next. The hike is great up here for those loving to backpack it and bring up the camera gear. Hidden Villa is way up in the hills near the west side off of 280 and Moody road. Exit El Monte from the north and once you pass Foothill College the road immediately turns to slopey one laners, allowing you to cruise at not more than 25 mph. 2 ish miles later, look for a sign that says Hidden Villa on the left. Slow down afterwards, because the roads from here on are not paved. As of yesterday, the produce stands seem to be just sitting there collecting dust (apparently the farm no longer sells produce except to subscription clubs and Los Altos Farmer's Market, which apparently they are organic certified). You'll pass a parking toll booth, which $5 will let you park your car in an unpaved lot. Beyond that it is up to you and your feet to explore the rest of the grounds. The free map they provide is not bit accurate, and there are some off the beaten paths and areas of where the animals are located that you could potentially miss. Either make reservations for a weekend farm tour well in advance, or just go about it on your own. This will be the best $5 you can spend for yourself and family and/or kids. There's an organic garden just north of the parking lot (possibly open only to group tours), and animals behind fences ranging from little sheep, cows, various free range chickens (the only animals you can get really close to) and their hen house for laying eggs, pigs, goats, and of course other random wildlife residents of the mountains and environs. A few things: - This is definitely an organic farm. Of course it goes without saying that it can also be an organic stinkfest when near the playpens and fenced areas. Lots of flies and flying insects too. Luckily I walked out with no bites. - The mother goat by the barn on the northern side of the map, was due to give birth some days ago. If you are lucky for your next visit, you may be able to see the newborn(s). - Near the section of the farm where the free range chickens roam, is a separate barn that has one humongous mother black pig, and upwards of 10 piglets, including one really cute tiny runt. It is so much fun seeing the little piglets play with each other (some can get very rough and fast), but I hear the best is when they go to mom to feed (didn't get the chance this visit). Again I held back as much as I could and not think of all the great Iron Chef style secret ingredient Asian dishes one could drum up with (kurobuta in Japanese cooking, ramen, Taiwanese indian native tribe style grilled mountain pork belly, Shanghainese braised pork clay pots, tonkotsu soups, kurobuta xiao long bao, sausages and cured meats, as well as Western preps like Oliveto and Incanto Head to Toe Whole Hog type Italian swinefest dinners etc). - the chicken collection is impressive, with hens of varying color of feathers, sizes. You can be within half a foot of them, but try to pet them, and they run away from you, like trying to use a pickup line with the ladies ranging from "Do you have any Italian in you? Would you like some?" or "is your daddy a thief? Because he must have stolen the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes" (the ladies will run away faster from you than the chickens, or maybe not). - Bring your own bag to carry your trash around. The only noted trashbins are in the restrooms right past the parking lot. Go now before it starts to get really really hot. If you are lucky you may encounter a docent or volunteer who can help you answer questions or just some tips/directions to what is available to see on the farm grounds. EDIT: If you think I'm bad, at the way I look at those black pigs you should see me at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Sometimes I wonder why I don't bring my own shoyu, pair of chopsticks, fresh wasabi root and grater along, along with a "Got Sushi?" t-shirt. read more

Cow Wow! Two of my sons and I attended a cow milking class here two weeks ago. I know to many people in the world this must sound ridiculous, but in our Bay Area world it's not very often we get this close to cows. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say that my youngest son asked if the milk we get at the store "still" comes from cows a few days before our class. Well, now he knows. The class was small, with just nine total people including several other kids. We all got to know the cow, take a few turns milking her by hand, and then see how a medium-modern machine is used to help her get milked much more efficiently. We also got to participate in preparing the cow and milk before and afterwards. I believe they run these little clinics most Saturday mornings, so look out for one if you or your youngster might also wonder where the milk comes from... read more

Hidden Villa - Cow Wow class - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Altos Hills, California

Note the following!!! We will be visiting later this summer on an open weekend and report back. We came today and it was closed. Saw another family pull up behind us and we all had to leave as the gate entrance was closed. Visit Us at Hidden Villa Summer Hours We will be closed to public visitation during Summer Camp June 18 - August 20 . We will be OPEN on the following weekend dates: June 30; July 1, 14-15, 21-22; and August 4-5. read more

I love taking my friends/family here. I absolutely love hiking here. It's beautiful. One star off as they need a sign to restrict children from touching the chickens. I often see families with their kids who like to take them to play with the chickens. I've seen their kids pull on their tail/feathers, kick, chase after them, tumble over them and sit/stomp on the chickens on their attempt to pick them up. I have no idea why their parents let them do this, not only is it disrespectful to the farm, but to life as well. I took my family here to show them a good day and they left feeling icky about the abuse they saw with the chickens. Chickens and live animals are not play things or toys. I saw some parents have to tell their children "don't do what the other children are doing (what their parents are letting them do)... its not right" Me and a few other friends advised the parent to not let their child do this and all the mother said was "No its okay... they said we can touch them and pick them up." and I said "but your kids aren't just picking them up, they're running after them, stomping on them, and pulling their feathers, if they can't follow safety then they should be restricted from playing with them at all." After this, the kids continued terrorizing the chickens. Please don't be that parent. It really taints the experience for others and don't we want to give our children the message that all life is to be valued? read more

This is a hidden gem with lots of cute and friendly animals. You'll hear the goats and sheep welcoming you with their loud and clear 'mehhhhhh' :D read more

Nice gardens to explore for children. Some funny creative decorations. Good trails around to explore and good workout up and down with beautiful views. read more

So this Sunday was family day with the kids and we took a drive up moody rd in los altos hills and came up too this place for a great walk and hike not bad for 8$ too park and you can view the Beauty of this place they have lil pigs goats and chickens and a place to camp like a hostel. Right now is a good time too go one of the momma pigs had babies there like 3 weeks old really cute the trails are cool my kids had fun but wear shoes chanclas (sandals) ain't the bizness there lol but really cool just to enjoy the day. read more

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