El Toro

The iconic mountain overlooking Morgan Hill has been known by several names. Early settlers called it Murphy's Peak, after the Murphy family, who owned much of the surrounding land. Later it became El Toro, Spanish for "The Bull." Local tradition says the name was inspired by two fighting bulls witnessed by author Bret Harte, while others believe it reflects the mountain's bull-like profile.

Rising 1,420 feet above the Santa Clara Valley, El Toro is visible from nearly every part of Morgan Hill and has become the city's defining landmark, even appearing in the city logo. Its oak woodlands, grasslands, and seasonal wildflowers provide habitat for deer, bobcats, hawks, and many native species.

The mountain also inspired the name of Villa Mira Monte ("mountain view"), the estate of Diana and Hiram Morgan Hill.

In the 1970s, residents successfully fought a proposal to build homes and a restaurant on the mountain, winning a landmark California Supreme Court decision that helped preserve its natural character. Although the summit remains inaccessible through private property, community efforts continue to explore future public access.

Today, El Toro stands as both a treasured natural landmark and a lasting symbol of Morgan Hill's history, landscape, and identity.