Its 3,137 acres (1,269 ha) and 10.4 miles (16.7 km) of trails are managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Poppies and lupines are the primary flowers that dominate the green, lush rolling meadows in the spring to early summer, but in the late summer the hills turn gold and are covered with flowers such as the cluster-lily, gumweed, mule's ear, and farewell to spring.

Several animals can be found on the preserve including coyote, bobcat, bats, California newts and birds such as the American kestrel and northern harrier.

The district acquired the land starting in 1978 from later owners who had plans to develop it into subdivisions.

[2] Parking for the preserve can be found in two parking lots — one lot as roadside parking on the northbound direction of Skyline Boulevard, the other, the Audrey C. Rust Commemorative Site, named after the former president of the Peninsula Open Space Trust, is located just off Alpine Road near the Alpine Road and Skyline Boulevard intersection.