Guides
3-day hike showcases best of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Campers flock to the forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco; most are content to pitch a tent plucked from the trunk of their car, but hardy hikers prefer roughing it with all they need strapped on their backs. Two of the Bay Area's most popular hiking locales -- Castle Rock and Big Basin Redwoods state parks -- promise one of...
Long hike through old-growth redwoods to shimmering waterfalls is a Bay Area favorite.
Redwoods and waterfalls make this the best hike in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you're up for 11 miles and a thousand feet of elevation gain spread out over a half-day, you'll be amazed to see the strain melt away in this land of the giants. Veteran Berry Creek Falls hikers recommend a counter-clockwise loop starting on the Sunset Trail,...
All-day trek takes the best trails at two great parks along Skyline Boulevard southwest of Silicon Valley.
This is a great route for expert hikers -- it starts out in the lush redwoods of Sanborn Skyline County Park southwest of San Jose, climbs to Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) and crosses over to Castle Rock State Park, where it takes the popular Saratoga Gap Trail and returns to Sanborn Skyline. Note this is very strenuous outing -- 16 miles with...
Great views, challenging hiking in the hills southwest of Silicon Valley.
With lush woods, gorgeous vistas, challenging trails and remarkable stone formations, Castle Rock State Park is a highlight reel for hiking in the San Francisco Bay Area. You'll find a fascinating mix to trees -- gnarled oaks, towering Douglas firs, bark-shedding madrones -- but the rocks steal the show. Large formations called "tafoni" (which look...
2.6 mile trail near Cupertino, California
Seven Springs Trail is about 2.6 miles long and located near Cupertino, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. The trail-head starts at end of Prospect Road and there is plenty of shaded parking spaces. This route follows the seven springs trail up and the woodhills loop trail down to rance road and back to the...
Excellent hike through the redwoods just west of Saratoga and south of San Jose, California
Sanborn Skyline County Park gets pretty busy on many weekends with family reunions, wedding receptions and other assorted gatherings -- if you end up at one and find yourself craving a hike instead of all that company, this is the loop to take. It starts on the San Andreas Trail and takes a vigorous march up the hillside west of the park. The trail...
Hiking above the reservoir at Stevens Creek Park
The Tony Look trail starts just upstream of the Stevens Creek Reservoir and continues downstream as it climbs the adjoining bluffs. It starts in a heavily forested area but opens up to chaparral and grassy hillside with increasing elevation. I've marked the trail as Moderation, but the climbing is not to difficult and the views are very nice. On...
One of the best scenic workouts in the Sierra Azul OSP around Los Gatos/San Jose!
The Open Space Preserve characterizes Sierra Azul as being rugged with steep terrain in the largest OSP in the San Jose/Los Gatos Area. This particular hike from the Limekiln trail head past the Lexington dam parking lot starts off gradually and continues uphill to the junction of Limekiln with Priest Rock. After the left on Priest Rock the real...
Escape the crowds and take in the sights on this loop at the popular park west of Cupertino.
This route at Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Reserve ventures beyond the popular sections of the park to offer a diverse introduction to the terrain on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Rancho, as the locals call it, draws big crowds with its abundance of flat trails and attractions at Deer Park Farm, but few visitors...
Easy hike to a barnyard full of cows, chickens and other critters is a favorite spot at the park west of Mountain View
An easy walk to a working farm makes Deer Hollow a prized family outing in the South Bay. Cows moo, hens cackle, roosters crow -- all on a farm maintained by the city of Mountain View. The farm also features sheep, pigs, gardens, farm implements and a chance to look into the bedroom window of a 19th century farmhouse. Kid-centric events are staged...
A ramble along Peters Creek past Wallace Stegner's bench.
This hike wanders through a little valley to the headwaters of Peters Creek and then out onto a ridge with striking views almost to the coast. It opens with a dangerous dash across Highway 35 (often busy on weekends) but soon leaves that behind as you descend into the valley of seasonal Peters Creek and follow it upstream. As you move up towards the...
Get out of the office and see the Heritage Rose Garden and other downtown San Jose attractions
A paved trail along the Guadalupe River in downtown San Jose, California, might be just what you need to work off some stress or even ride your bike to work. The Guadalupe River Park starts near the Children's Discovery Museum at the south end of Downtown San Jose and runs northward for 2.5 miles to Interstate 880. It's easily accessible via...
Great hike from Los Altos Hills, towering 2812' over Silicon Valley.
Towering over Silicon Valley, waaaay back to the rear of Rancho San Antonio, lies 2812' Black Mountain. Starting at the little-known Rhus Ridge parking lot, you can enjoy a healthy workout and a grand panoramic view of Silicon Valley! The unusual snow picture was taken in December 2008. Your hike is much more likely to be sunny and dry! Other...
This 15-mile loop passes through five parks that promise some of the best hiking in the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you've got the legs for 15 miles of ups and downs along the fabulous terrain near California Highway 35, aka Skyline Boulevard, then this hike deserves a spot on your to-do list. The route passes a bucolic pond, forests of oak and Douglas fir, and wonderful vistas overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains west of San Jose and south of San Francisco....
1.4 mile trail near Vista Verde, California
One of the top easy hikes in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and perfect for just about anyone, no matter their size or ability. And it's got a lake, which always adds to the pleasure of a hike. The trail tread up to the dam is easily wheelchair accessible, and beyond that is a little more difficult, including a hillside traverse - not recommended for strollers...
A family-friendly audio guide to a wildlife mecca in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
MROSD docent program manager Renee Fitzsimons and docent Sharon Thomas lead a 0.3-mile-long hike around Alpine Pond. Along the way, they explain where to look for brush rabbits, cormorants, crayfish, banana slugs, and pond turtles. They even make the shrubbery interesting, with stories about age-old human uses of cattails, willow, and oaks.
Get your nature fix and add a short hike at this bucolic pond in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco.
Alpine Pond is one of the prettiest places in the string of open-space preserves along Highway 35, also known as Skyline Boulevard. That's saying something, given the abundant beauty in this stretch of the Santa Cruz Mountains between Santa Cruz and San Francisco. A nature center looks out over the lake. While it's possible to hike more than...
A moderate 5.3 mile loop with a 900-foot climb. A great springtime wildflower hike!
Spring in the Silicon Valley is an amazing time! The hillsides turn vibrant green and wildflowers sprout up everywhere! Only 20 minutes off Interstate 280, Monte Verde Open Space Preserve is a great place to view wildflowers! Directly from the parking lot, we started on the Stevens Creek Nature Trail, expecting to meet up with the White Oak Trail...
Multiple viewpoint loop hike along Skyline
This hike passes through 4 different Midpenninsula open space preserves. Monte Bello, Skyline Ridge, Russian Ridge, and Coal Creek. Along the way you will get some of the best long range views available on the penninsula, weather permitting. Begining in Monte Bello, you hike the easy route to the summit of Black Mountain via the Canyon and Bella Vista...
The San Andreas Fault runs nearly the length of the state. See it up close and personal.
Most Bay Area residents have felt the earth move—quite literally. You probably know that the San Andreas Fault runs nearly the length of the state. But did you know that you can see the fault for yourself? As you follow the lines of posts that mark the various fault breaks in the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve, you can find out what's happening...
A family-friendly audio guide to a wildlife mecca in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
MROSD docent program manager Renee Fitzsimons and docent Sharon Thomas lead a 0.3-mile-long hike around Alpine Pond. Along the way, they explain where to look for brush rabbits, cormorants, crayfish, banana slugs, and pond turtles. They even make the shrubbery interesting, with stories about age-old human uses of cattails, willow, and oaks. The audio...
Woods Rd to Barlow Rd to Mt Umunhum Rd
This 7.9 mile / 1554 ft hike goes to Bald Mountain.The trail head is located at the intersection of Hicks road and Mt Umunhum road. Toilet facilities are available and there are usually maps available for the Sierra Azul Open Space.We started out on Woods road. The wide trail/road is a pleasant easy shaded hike for 2.8 miles. You do see some nice...
All-day hike to grove of ancient redwoods in Portola Redwoods State Park is a must if you can do the distance
Delayed gratification is the story of this hike at Portola Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Silicon Valley. The first six miles are nice enough -- lots of ups and downs in second-growth redwoods -- but the real payoff is at the midpoint: Peters Creek Loop tracks through one of the last remaining stands of old-growth redwoods...
Vigorous and diverse six-mile hike takes samples the best of Portola Redwoods State Park west of Silicon Valley.
This is the essential loop at Portola Redwoods State Park. In just over six miles it ascends two ridges and stops in on the most impressive old-growth redwood in the park. It starts out near the park headquarters, climbs up Coyote Ridge, descends to Peters Creek, climbs again up the Slate Creek Trail, then descends via the Summit Trail, and takes...
Beautiful redwood hike to Slate Creek Trail Camp at Portola Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
This is an excellent moderate hike through the second-growth redwood forest at Portola Redwoods State Park. It ends at Slate Creek Trail Camp, a popular overnight camping destination. The park is in the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Highway 35 in one of the best hiking regions in the San Francisco Bay Area. While ancient redwoods are scarce because...
Great mix of redwoods and Santa Cruz Mountains terrain on this hike near Portola Redwoods State Park.
This is one of the better redwood hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area -- which is nice because not so long there was no forest left here: almost all of it had been clear-cut. The second-growth redwoods at Pescadero Creek County Park demonstrate a forest's uncanny ability to regenerate itself, if people give it the chance. Several groves of skinny...
Remnants of San Jose's mercury mining history lie in the hills of Almaden Quicksilver Park.
This hike from Almaden Quicksilver County Park in southern San Jose tours the rusting remains of what once was one of the largest mercury-mining operations in the world. The Mine Hill region of the park includes English Camp, San Cristobal mine, a short section of mineshaft and the hulk of a large processing plant. Starting from the park's Mockingbird...
Explore 4 plant communities—riparian, forest, chaparral, grassland—in a short, scenic hike in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
A lively, sound-rich introduction to Skyline Ridge, one of the most beautiful and intriguing preserves in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. The adventure starts at the David C. Daniels Nature Center. Then you move to the watery world of cattails and willows at Alpine Pond, climb up through a mixed evergreen forest, weave through some scented...
3.7 mile trail around Almaden Quicksilver County Park
Quicksilver Mockingbird Loop - Hacienda - Randol - New Almaden is about 3.7 miles long and located near English Town, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. The upper part of the the Day Tunnel trail is washed out with lots of exposed rock, but it's passable. Once back on the New Almaden trail, the vegetation becomes...
A family-friendly audio guide to a wildlife mecca in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
MROSD docent program manager Renee Fitzsimons and docent Sharon Thomas lead a 0.3-mile-long hike around Alpine Pond. Along the way, they explain where to look for brush rabbits, cormorants, crayfish, banana slugs, and pond turtles. They even make the shrubbery interesting, with stories about age-old human uses of cattails, willow, and oaks. The audio...
Nice 1.4 mile trail for a quick hike with kids. Also suitable as an extension to other trails in Arastradero.
Arastradero Park offers nice trails for hiking, mountain biking and horse back riding. This guide describes the Redtail Loop Trail, which is the only trail on this site of Arastradero Road. The majority of trails is at the other site of the road. The Redtail loop is a short, 1.4 mile trail that provides an achievable goal for little kids. It has...
The nation's first urban National Wildlife Refuge is a jewel on the San Francisco Bay.
The nation's first urban National Wildlife Refuge is a jewel on the San Francisco Bay. Its 30,000 acres of open bay, salt pond, salt marsh, mudflat, upland, and vernal pool habitats are constantly changing. It's a great place to hike or watch birds. It's also a great place to see up close how a salt pond is turned back into wetlands. Look around...
A scenic 4-mile loop on steep, paved trails with great views on Stanford University and the San Francisco Bay.
The Stanford Dish loop is a popular route for Stanford University students as well as Silicon Valley professionals. Its steep paved trail is suitable for running, walking, and hiking. Bicycles are not allowed. Opening hours vary depending on the month of the year: January 6:30 AM-5:30 PM February 6:30 AM-6 PM March 6 AM-6:30 PM April 6 AM-8 PM May...
One of the best wildflower hikes in San Jose, California, is on this twisty trail at the southern edge of the city
Stile Ranch Trail comes up often in any discussion of the best places to see wildflowers in the hills rimming Silicon Valley. The trail zigzags up the southern edge of Santa Teresa County Park, a hilly slice of the south end of San Jose, California. The trail's steep terrain and southern exposure make it a prime habitat for the California poppy,...
See some of the world's tallest trees along this easy, well-maintained hiking trail. A great hike for young kids.
The Redwood Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park loop offers easy access to some of the tallest and oldest Redwoods anywhere. The fact that the trail is flat and well-maintained, combined with the well-marked attractions along the way make this a perfect hike for families with young children. The main attractions along this trail are Father of...
This loop allows you to experience the majesty of ancient redwoods minus the crowds on more popular trails
Meteor Trail isn't on the way to any spectacular waterfalls, so it's a great place to wander among the giants at Big Basin Redwoods State Park without the crowds on the more popular trails. The Meteor Trail tracks Rodgers Creek up to Middle Ridge Road. In winter and early spring the creek burbles to life, making this one of the best riparian hikes...
Bay Area's best place to see California's giant redwoods
You'll find countless options for exploring California's signature redwood forests, but few equal the grandeur of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Jose. Coast Redwoods, the world's tallest trees, thrive along a narrow, 450-mile strip of the Pacific Coast from Monterey, CA, to southern Oregon. The tallest are...
Great moderate hike to high point overlooking Big Basin and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
This is one of the favorite Big Basin hikes: It starts on the legendary Redwood Trail near the park headquarters, heads over to Blooms Creek Campground and zigags up the Pine Mountain Trail -- leaving the redwood forest completely for awhile -- then culminating with a steep scramble to a rocky overlook. All in just over two miles one way. You can...
Skyline to the Sunset Trail-Dool Trail-Creeping Forest Trail Loop
Skyline to the Sea Trail-Dool Trail-Creeping Forest Trail Loop The park is about 65 miles south of San Francisco. From Santa Cruz travel approx 25 miles northwest via Highways 9 and 236 to reach Park Headquarters. Park Headquarters is 9 miles north of the town of Boulder Creek on State Hwy 236. All roads into Big Basin are curvy. This guide is...
