Blue Oak Ranch Reserve, Ecological reserve in Santa Clara County, California.
Blue Oak Ranch Reserve is a protected property covering 1.319 hectares of oak woodlands and grasslands on Mount Hamilton slopes within the Diablo Range. Multiple waterways run through the site, and several distinct plant communities thrive across these natural areas.
The land was originally part of Rancho Cañada de Pala during the Mexican period before being transferred to the University of California through the Blue Oak Ranch Trust in 2007. This transfer established its current role as a research-focused protected area.
The place functions as a field research hub where students and scientists conduct ecological studies across multiple disciplines. You can sense the working atmosphere in the laboratory facilities and classroom spaces where learning happens directly connected to the surrounding nature.
The property has four heated cabins available year-round and eight seasonal cabins, along with shared kitchen, classroom, and laboratory spaces designed for overnight research stays. Access is primarily intended for academic and scientific groups rather than casual day visitors.
The reserve is home to 41 mammal species and roughly 130 bird species, making it a rich habitat for animal diversity. This array of wildlife results from the variety of woodland and grassland environments that exist side by side across the landscape.
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