El Sereno translates from Spanish to English as night watchman. Why would the term be attached to such a hot, dry, primitive, and steep south bay mountain? It stand a short distance from San Jose's ever reaching urban sprawl, although whomever named El Sereno could never have predicted such south bay growth. I suppose a night watchman keeps an eye on things, and guards the neighborhood. Regardless, the protector has become the protected, as El Sereno is now public parkland, destined to stand forever, austere and naked, patient and watchful.
      As of this writing the preserve is a bit underdeveloped, with parking for only two or three cars, and no maps, restrooms, or trail signs. Be sure to bring plenty of water and a map. El Sereno is well-suited to horseback and bicycle riding, as the trails are steep, and there are no possible loop trips. It'll probably take an average hiker several visits to explore El Sereno, which has one long trail and several spur trails, all extending out to dead-ends. However, you don't need to hike far into the preserve; from El Sereno's boundary at the open space gate, on non-smoggy days you'll be treated to spectacular views to the south and east. 
     El Sereno is not a good choice on a hot day. On one January hike the temperature on the south-facing shadeless slopes soared to nearly 70 degrees. Spring is probably the best time to visit, particularly if the weather is cool, for that's when you'll find wildflowers in the meadow and throughout the chaparral. If by luck or good planning you hike when chaparral pea is in bloom (generally May, around the same time chamise blooms), you'll witness a riotous display of hot pink blossoms on the thorny-looking shrubs. Manzanitas and a variety of ceanothus blossom in winter, when the views are usually as clear as they get in the south bay.
      From the pullout at the end of Montevina Road, walk uphill about 200 feet to the open space gate. As you start climbing on the wide fire road open to hikers, equestrians, and cyclists, look back over your shoulder for fantastic views south and west. On clear days you should be able to see the ocean and the Monterey peninsula. Trailside vegetation is an eclectic mix of chaparral plants, including a variety of ceanothus, as well as manzanita, silk-tassel, yerba santa, poison oak, California coffeeberry, coyote brush, pitcher sage, shrubby oaks, and toyon, but chamise is the dominant plant. After 0.29 mile of easy climbing, you'll reach an unsigned junction. The trail to the left ends 0.4 mile further at Bohlman Road. Bear right.
      While adopting just a slight uphill grade, Aquinas Trail, a wide dirt fire road, cuts through dense chaparral, then crests and drops down to a viewpoint. The spot is marked with a metal state marker sunk into the ground. From here, there are views of Lexington Reservoir, Mount Umunhum, and Mount Hamilton. Sit still for a few moments, and you might get a good look at the small shy birds skittering about in the low branches of chamise shrubs. When you're ready to start the descent, continue down the fire road on a short steep grade. The trail ascends and then levels out. If you stand near the edge of the brush on the right and look downhill, you can see the trail's continuing course, and the meadow at this hike's turnaround point. (If the elevation drop seems too much for you, best to turnaround now.) The trail curves left, and crosses over to the mountain's northern face. California bays, tanoak, and madrones provide some unexpected and welcome shade. You might also notice a few young California nutmeg. When I hiked here in February 2002, a full week after a snow storm, there were still large patches of icy snow on the trail. The trail turns back on itself at a switchback, and you'll recross the hill at a lower elevation, and then reemerge into sunny chaparral. At a moderate grade, the trail descends, taking a sharp turn at another switchback, and continuing to lose elevation. Heavy bicycle usage is evident; you may notice that tires have cut tracks into the sides of the hill in some spots. A few live oaks and madrone provide sporadic shade, but chamise and other chaparral plants continue to reign over the dry hillsides. Traffic noise from CA 17 and views of newly built mansions remind you of the explosive south bay growth. (Note: thanks to an easement, you can continue through a short stretch of private property and back into the preserve. There are no signs along the trail.) At 2.13 miles, you'll reach an unsigned junction. The trail to the left deadends. Continue straight.
     There's a brief nearly level stretch, then the rocky trail continues downhill at a moderately steep grade. Look for black sage and broom mixed through chamise, buckbrush, blueblossom ceanothus, manzanita, silk-tassel, sticky monkeyflower, chaparral pea, and California sagebrush. At 2.63 miles, you'll reach another junction, this one partly signed with a generic "trail" marker pointing left. Bear left.
     The descent eases up as the trail winds through chaparral and brief shaded stretches under California bay. Look to the left for a handful of currant shrubs, typically blooming in February. There's a luxuriant swath of chaparral pea on the left as well. Abruptly, the trail curves right at 2.98 miles and emerges in a pretty, level meadow. Grass stretches toward the chaparral on both sides of the trail. A stately blue oak stands on the left. This is the turnaround point of the hike, and a great place for lunch. Although traffic noise from surrounding highways is still audible, it most resembles a faint roar, like the ocean. You can continue downhill on the trail, but according to the map you'll reach a dead end in less than a mile. When you're ready, retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

Total distance: 5.96 miles
Last hiked: Wednesday, February 6, 2002

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