McClellan Ranch Preserve

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McClellan Ranch Preserve

McClellan Ranch Preserve is an 18-acre natural preserve, nestled in the foothills of Cupertino. This 23-acre nature preserve is located in Cupertino, CA.

This historic site is now home to the Environmental Education Center (EEC), Baer Blacksmith Shop, community gardens, and walking trails. Originally established as a horse ranch in the 1930's, the ranch is now home to the Environmental Education Center, Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, 4-H Rolling Hills Club and a community garden. Still on-site are the original ranch house, milk barn, livestock b

arn, the old water tower from Parish Ranch and a replica of Baer's Blacksmith Shop. The park is open and free to the public from dawn - dusk. The Environmental Education Center is open Saturdays 11:00am-3:00pm. Family and youth programs are offered year round. For more information about the programs and how to register visit www.cupertino.gov/recreation or call (408) 777-3120

07/16/2026

A closer look at one of the hands-on learning experiences we’re proud to offer at McClellan Ranch Preserve.

07/07/2026

Ranger Austin recently observed monarch butterflies active in the restoration area, including monarchs laying eggs on milkweed. While milkweed may not sound like much, it plays an important role in the monarch life cycle as the only food source for monarch caterpillars.

As you enjoy the Preserve, please stay on established trails to help protect the plants, pollinators, and wildlife that depend on these restored habitats.

06/29/2026

Still looking for a summer camp for your 6–8-year-old? Summer Science Fun at McClellan Ranch Preserve still has open spaces. Campers will explore nature, try hands-on experiments, create art, play games, and see science in action with the Stevens Creek Corridor as their backdrop!

Register at cupertino.gov/summerscience.

06/26/2026

Summer camps at McClellan Ranch Preserve are in full swing! Over the past two weeks, campers have explored the nature trail, visited the Rolling Hills 4-H barn, learned about caring for native plants with Grassroots Ecology, and met Libby and Cardi, two of our resident box turtles.

A huge thank you to our Leaders in Training, Recreation Leaders, and community partners for helping make camp such a success.

06/18/2026

McClellan Ranch Preserve is offering two hands-on blacksmithing classes on Sunday, June 28. The beginner class is perfect for someone with no blacksmithing experience, while the project-based class is best for someone with some experience.

Space is limited. Register at cupertino.gov/blacksmith.

05/27/2026

This spring, more than 600 third-grade scientists-in-training from Cupertino Union School District explored McClellan Ranch Preserve during the annual Creek Tour field trips.

Students from seven local elementary schools hit the nature trail for a day of hands-on environmental learning and a close-up look at some of Stevens Creek’s smallest, and most important, residents.

At the Macroinvertebrate ID Station, students observed and identified aquatic macroinvertebrates. They spotted creek critters such as predacious diving beetles, planaria, freshwater clams, caddisfly larvae, and damselfly, dragonfly, stonefly, and mayfly nymphs.

These tiny creatures may be small, but they tell a big story. Finding a wide variety of macroinvertebrates is an encouraging sign for the health of the Stevens Creek Watershed and the threatened California Central Coast Steelhead trout that depend on this habitat. Students also used the Biological Monitoring Index to calculate the creek’s Pollution Tolerance Index, getting a real-world look at how scientists study aquatic ecosystems.

A big thank you to the students, teachers, chaperones, and staff who helped make this year’s Creek Tours a success. We loved seeing so much curiosity, excitement, and future environmental stewardship in action!

05/14/2026

Meet the Environmental Education Center’s newest resident, Eight-Ball!

Eight-Ball, or “Eight,” is a shy but curious Brooks Kingsnake, a non-venomous subspecies of the common kingsnake. Eight loves relaxing in a rock lair, so if you do not see Eight right away, ask one of our knowledgeable staff members for help.

Stop by the Environmental Education Center Open House on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a chance to meet Eight!

04/28/2026

Love nature and working with kids? Join the McClellan Ranch Preserve summer team as a Senior Recreation Leader and help bring hands-on nature and science adventures to life for campers.

$21.20–$23.20/hr
Apply 👉 cupertino.gov/jobs

04/15/2026

Cupertino Parks and Recreation is now on Instagram.

Follow for updates on events, camps, activities, and more happening throughout the community.

👉 instagram.com/CupertinoParksandRec

04/13/2026

Something new is coming…

Cupertino Parks and Recreation is launching a dedicated Instagram account for events, activities, camps, and more happening throughout the community.

Address

22221 McClellan Road
Cupertino, CA
95014

Telephone

+14087773149

Website

http://www.cupertino.org/mcclellanranch

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