Mt. Madonna County Park
Mt. Madonna County Park guide map
Welcome to Mt. Madonna County Park, one of Santa Clara County's most majestic regional park and recreation areas. The redwood forest dominates this 4,605-acre park, characteristic of the Santa Cruz Mountain range. To the east, the park overlooks the Santa Clara Valley, and to the west, Monterey Bay. As the slopes of Mt. Madonna descend toward the valley, the landscape changes from redwood forest to oak woodland, dense chaparral and grassy meadows. Park visitors may learn about areas where Ohlone Indians hunted and harvested and will understand why cattle baron Henry Miller spent his summers here. Enjoy your visit today and return often to the pristine redwood forest of Mt. Madonna County Park. Mt. Madonna Stables offers horseback trail rides, which are a wonderful way to explore the beauty of this park.
Mt. Madonna has multiple entrances - Park Entrances
Park office: (408) 842-2341
Hours and fees
For up-to-date trail closures, please call the trail hotline at (408) 355-2200 and press 3.
The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. until sunset, and the trails open at sunrise. Vehicle entry fees are collected year-round.
Fees are required for group picnic sites, camping, and group camping areas. The fees are posted at the entrance kiosk.
Access fee information here: Park fees
Learn about our park
Hikers and equestrians have access to an extensive 14-mile trail system. Mt. Madonna Stables offers horseback trail rides, it is a wonderful way to explore the beauty of this park. A one-mile self-guided nature trail winds around the ruins of cattle baron Henry Miller's summer home.
Bowmen may practice archery skills at the beautiful archery range.
The park's amphitheater is available by reservation for weddings and other special functions. It also features a visitor center that highlights the park's natural history, geology, and cultural history.
Visitors may choose from 116 drive-in and walk-in reservable campsites spread throughout four campgrounds. Each site has a barbecue pit, food locker, and picnic table. Showers are also available (no coins needed) for campers (a camping fee is required for the use of showers), as well as 29 partial hook-up RV sites. Yurts are also available for reservation. These domed-tent-like structures come in three sizes—16', 20', and 24'—and offer bunk beds with mattresses, fold-out futons, and a wrap-around deck.
Overnight camping is one of the most popular activities at Mt. Madonna. View here for more information about tents, yurts, and RV camping. There are no longer first-come, first-served camping sites.
Shaded picnic areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Group picnic, group camping, and youth camping areas are available by reservation.
Mt. Madonna County Park has created the Pathways of Wildlife hiking trails. Hikers can choose from four trails depending on their interests and hiking skill level. You can follow the path of the Banana Slug, California Newt, Gray Fox, or Mountain Lion! The family-friendly California Newt trail is tied to the Agents of Discovery activity for mobile devices. There are colored markers at each intersection to help guide hikers along the trails. You can find the start of the hikes uphill from the Visitor Center/Ranger Station near the entrance to the Henry Miller Site.
Agents of Discovery is a free educational mobile game you can play while hiking along the Pathways of Wildlife "CA Newt Trail." It is a 1.5-mile loop and may take about 1hr – 1 hr 15 min to complete. You can start near the Visitor Center/Ranger Station. Along the trail, you will use your smartphone or tablet to answer questions about the natural, cultural, and historical resources within the Redwood forest ecosystem at Mount Madonna County Park. We recommend you download the Agents of Discovery app from Google Play or App Store, as well as the Mt. Madonna mission within the app, before you head out to the park. A prize is available if you complete the mission - further details on how to receive your prize are listed within the app, once you complete all the questions. It is available to play in English and Spanish. Questions? Email [email protected].
In compliance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ('ADA'), the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its programs, services, or activities. The Department will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disability have an equal opportunity to enjoy our programs, services, facilities, and activities. If you need assistance with an ADA request, please contact our ADA Coordinator at [email protected].
Upcoming events
There are no upcoming events.
