El Toro (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids El Toro |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,427 ft (435 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 1,077 ft (328 m) |
| Geography | |
 El Toro
Location in California
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| Location | Morgan Hill, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Santa Cruz Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS El Toro |
El Toro is a well-known hill located in Santa Clara County, California. It sits near the Santa Cruz Mountains. This famous landmark is partly owned by the city of Morgan Hill. You can even see its unique shape in the city's official logo!
The Story of El Toro
The name "El Toro" means "The Bull" in Spanish.
There's a cool local story about how the hill got its name. Back in the 1800s, a famous American poet named Bret Harte supposedly climbed the hill. The legend says he found two bulls fighting near the very top! They even chased him back down the hill. That's how El Toro got its name.
Hiking and Public Access
Even though part of El Toro is public land, getting to the very top means crossing private property. For a few years, from 2008 to 2011, the Morgan Hill Historical Society organized special hikes to the summit each spring. However, these public hikes stopped after 2011.
The city of Morgan Hill wants to create a public trail so everyone can enjoy hiking to the top of El Toro.
Planning for a New Trail
In 2012, the Morgan Hill Parks and Recreation Commission started looking into creating a public trail again. They had actually started studying this idea ten years earlier. You can find their plans and ideas on the Commission's website.
In 2013, the Commission held meetings where people could share their thoughts about the proposed trail. They also discussed ideas for facilities nearby, like parking areas.
By 2015, the Commission developed a plan to figure out the best places for the trail to start. The City Council then approved this plan.
In 2016, the Commission planned another public meeting. This meeting was to discuss creating a dirt trail on the eastern side of El Toro. They also wanted to talk about important things like safety, parking, keeping the area clean, and how the trail might affect local wildlife. The city is working hard to make sure a new trail is safe and good for everyone, including nature.
