This virtual is located at Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve, a beautiful new preserve that opened to the public in 2023.
From their website: Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve connects over 1 million acres of important habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. Comprised of rare, sensitive serpentine grasslands, this unique landscape is a biodiversity hotspot for endangered plants and animals.
There are some important things to know about this preserve:
- Most of the trails are in a Habitat Protection Area that requires a free Butterfly Pass. It only takes about 5 minutes to get online. (You can show it on your phone or bring a printed copy.)
- Visitors must stay on the trail at all times, pack out all trash, and not disturb any plants or animals.
- Dogs are not allowed, but bicycles are.
- The Habitat Protection Area is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and often during rainy weather. Check the website before you go.
- From March - May, hiking in the Habitat Protection Area on weekends is available only if you are with a docent-led group. You can make a reservation for free to join a tour and learn about the native wildflowers and rare butterflies! (Or just come on a weekday.)
- Physical geocaches are not allowed in this preserve.
Now about the virtual!
- To hike the loop requires a ~5 mile round-trip hike with approximately 1,000 feet of elevation gain. However, because the trails in the Habitat Protection Area are often closed, you do not have to hike the loop to log this virtual.
- Logging requirements: This virtual will take you the Máyyan Wáayi Overlook Trail, an accessible loop trail which is open at all times during preserve hours. To log this virtual, you must answer a simple question at each of the two waypoints. Send me the answers to the first two questions via messaging or email.
- Overlook -- The posted coordinates take you to the overlook area where you can enjoy the view of the Coyote Valley and learn about the local plants and and animals. Look at the metal signs along the ground here. What type of lichen is mentioned?
- Benches -- This waypoint takes you to an area with two benches where you can enjoy the view of the hills. What word is cut out of the base of each bench?
- (Optional) Post a photo of yourself, the view, or something you enjoyed in the preserve.
This virtual cache was placed with permission from the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.
Preserve hours:
- 10:00am - 4:00pm daily November - May
- 8:00am - 6:00pm daily June - October
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Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.