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    Hidden Canyon Park

    3.8 (12 reviews)

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    Ellen L.

    this park has a beautiful set of trails that really speak for its namesake. i've now hiked these trails twice and can fully understand why they call it "hidden canyon!" many of the trails have some hidden turnoffs to other trails and if you're not looking carefully, you will miss them! i felt like every major crossing had multiple trails to choose, but many of the paths that appeared to be straight, one-way also had a couple of choices. i realized the slower i went, the more options i saw, and more options = more views of the surrounding areas. speaking of which, at the peak of this trail, john brooks trail, i could see all the way up to sf, the san mateo-hayward bridge, and belmont/san carlos neighborhoods. truly a beautiful view worth pausing for. as far as amenities are concerned, there are no water fountains or restrooms on these trails, however, there is a fair amount of shade, perfect for the warmer spring/summer months. i would highly recommend trail/hiking shoes since the paths are somewhat rugged, most of them were quite bumpy. the hidden canyon parking lot has about 10-12 free parking spaces, but overflow parking can be made along carlmont drive. the parking lot has 1 porta-potty, but no water fountains, so come prepared! highly recommend coming here for a moderately difficult hike as you will be rewarded with the gorgeous views of the bay!

    View of downtown San Francisco.
    Fanny Y.

    We parked on Lake Road and entered the park from the trailhead near there. We started on Lake Road Trail and then to Berry Trail, which was quite an incline. At the intersection of Berry Trail and John Brooks Trail, there were a lot of bees. Once at the top of John Brooks Trail, we saw a great view that spanned San Bruno Mountain, downtown San Francisco, and the San Mateo Bridge. The start of the Elevator Trail was when the trail started to descend - it wasn't bad (as in, I didn't trip over anything or lose my balance). Overall, our route was a little over 2 miles. We encountered a couple of mountain bikers. Some parts of the trails were shaded while others weren't. Four stars because I wish the map had trail distances between junctions to better understand how long each portion is.

    Sara W.

    This is a nice enough little residential park, but it's not worth traveling to if you're considering that. In an attempt to get away from the smoke in the South Bay, we made a trip up here. A lot of the trails take you right around a neighborhood and sometimes in what feels like people's backyards. I saw a note that the trail signs were getting a makeover, but the signs that were currently there were very unhelpful. Some trail signs were pushed over and we didn't realize until we passed them. Luckily the whole park is pretty small so if you miss a trail, you'll probably still find where you're going. There were two active bee hives while we were there. One was roped off but the other was right in a trail. I enjoyed seeing the hives! Some of the trails are pretty strenuous and straight up hill, so you can get a pretty good workout here. The views are so-so.

    Jennifer W.

    This is a real hidden gem in Belmont. There is a parking lot, as others have described, but I typically enter through the residential area, on Somerset. I was walking around that nice neighborhood (the flat, new part of Belmont) and discovered the trails by accident. A great review below spells out all of the trails for you. The Good: Beautiful, scenic, low-trafficked trails, very convenient for Belmont residents to enjoy nature right in their backyards (the trails do back up to people's homes). The trails go a good distance, about a 4 mile loop, which is a nice walk. There are steep parts but not too bad. It's not completely flat, but not very strenuous either (even for the elderly). The trails connect to Water Dog Lake, and while Water Dog can be fairly crowded on the weekends, it's pretty empty on these trails all the time. And, unlike Water Dog, you probably won't see any kids. The Bad: My dog has come home with 2 ticks. He's very short-haired, so if you have a longer haired dog, it's probably not a great idea. Some parts of the trails are extremely narrow such that you have to walk single file. While you hardly see other hikers here, there are a good amount of bikers. It's harder to move aside in certain very narrow parts, especially when you have a dog on a leash, but not a big deal if you're not hiking with dogs.

    Great view of San Mateo bridge and mt Diablo
    John H.

    I had lived here for several months before realizing Hidden Canyon and really it's own separate space, connected by the John Brooks Trail to adjacent Water Dog Lake Park. In a nutshell, Water Dog is for dogs and families, while Hidden Canyon is more geared towards Mountain Bikers, Trail Runners, and hikers looking for something short and sweet in the 2-6 mile range. The park consists of 4 main trails: Chaparral Trail - 1.5 mile rolling up and down trail that connects Hidden Canyon to Water Dog, where it merges with the John Brooks trail. There are two tight switchbacks that dip in to small creeks. Can be ridden either direction but I like it going toward Water Dog. Finch Trail - Best mountain bike trail in the park. Flat at the top with some nice little jobs, and a series of tight switchbacks at the bottom that are challenging to make it down. Rambler Trail - Starts at the top of the hill and makes a wide swing near the houses, then ends by splashing in to Canyon Creek. I like it going counter-clockwise, since there's a steep spot near the Brooks / Elevator trails that's about impossible to climb. Canyon Creek / Upper Creek Trails - half-mile trails that run parallel to the creek. Canyon Creek is a very narrow, rough trail that runs inches from the creek and is takes concentration when coming down. Upper Creek is a wider smoother trail good for a cruise down or a challenging ascent. Tip #1 - There's several ways to get to Hidden Canyon other than the Parking lot at the end of Carlmont. I like to start at Lake & Lyall, climb the Lake Road Trail through Water Dog, cross over Hallmark Drive, then take a left Saint James Road and work my way to Somerset court. Follow down the alley and you're on the John Brooks Trail near the start of Rambler. You can also access the Rambler trail near the end of Hallmark drive, or drop in to the Upper Creek / Canyon Creek trails at the end of Hastings drive. Tip #2: Between Hastings Drive and Carlmont High School, there's a separate series of trails on private land. This is the primo spot for downhill riders, and on a good day you'll see them out there and get treated to your own private X-Games show.

    From the parking lot

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    Twin Pines Park - Looking down from the larger playset

    Twin Pines Park

    4.0(42 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Twin Pines Park is a small local neighborhood park in Belmont that is getting a very big upgrade as…read moreof this review (2025/2026). There is so much work being done, the parks is unrecognizable since my first visit in a good way. They added benches and changed the landscape. There is a creek that flows through the middle, it's go running water since CA is officially no longer in a drought as of this review. Reservations a re available. Hours are form sunrise to sunset. "A lovely, intimate park located in a ravine alongside Ralston Ave north of El Camino in hilly Belmont. The park follows a babbling brook and includes lots of picnic areas and shady places to rest. Located just down Ralston before El Camino Real, Twin Pines is a 19-acre park owned by the city of Belmont, which houses the Belmont Historical Society Museum, Belmont Parks and Recreation, and the Senior and Community Center. The park is frequented by visitors picnicking and people attending various events throughout the year, including free afternoon concerts each Sunday in the summer - Hungarian Heritage Foundation The beautiful Twin Pines Park is home to Belmont City Hall and the Parks & Recreation Department. It is truly a treasure hidden in the middle of the city, where you will find a combination of rental facilities, parks, picnic areas, and short trails. Come explore the creek or simply enjoy a nice day outside with the fresh scents of nature! There is plenty of parking available. Open sunrise to sunset. See the expanded map here or here. Reservations: You can reserve picnic areas such as Buckeye, Redwood, or Meadow. Facility rentals accommodate 25-250 people and include the Cottage, Lodge, Manor, and Senior & Community Center. For the future of the park, check out the Twin Pines Park Master Plan and the Twin Pines Park Tree Succession Plan, a recommendation of the Master Plan. Organized activities (parties, professional photo shoots, meetings, retreats, etc) must make a reservation with the Belmont Parks & Recreation Department. Individual, drop-in use is available when there are no scheduled reservations." - https://www.belmont.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/208/509 Park description and information from the official website.

    Cute park! Great for kids (playground), picnicking (lots of benches available, tree stumps), and…read moreshort walks. Parking lot is easily accessible. It was fun to see students playing here after school. Not a place I would take dogs or if you're looking to walk several miles. But if you're wanting a brief getaway from the everyday scenery, it's a refreshing nook right next to the bustle of Ralston Ave!

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    Twin Pines Park - 07/31/2025

    07/31/2025

    Twin Pines Park
    Twin Pines Park

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    Laureola Park

    Laureola Park

    4.1(20 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    a review from amom2kidsandapark.com…read more A beautiful park in a quiet neighborhood of San Carlos! This place feels so secretive. The entrance is barely noticeable from the road and the two back ways in are tucked in a neighborhood or behind a business' parking lot. Along with the two gated playgrounds, Laureola Park has open grassy space, a ball field, a basketball court, a handball wall, picnic areas, a community center with a lovely mural on it's double doors and a splash pad. The taller of the two playgrounds has a two-story structure with steps, ladders, two slides (a long sidewinder and a short bumpy), an angled climbing wall, and activities. The taller slide is only accessible via ladder. There is a small picnic bench inside the gate and very close to the structure. This gated area also has a swing set with standard and chair swings. The flooring was super squishy and I loved the little silhouettes of woodland creatures and acorns found throughout. The other gated playground is adjacent to the first and there is an entryway from the first. The second is geared more towards smaller kids, but the different balancing and climbing elements makes it fun for all! There is a small boudler with an attached slide, a hut, a balance beam, and a play structure. The play structure has a double slide, arch ladder, angled rock wall, a disc ladder, and activities. The style balance beam at this playground is so unique! I've never seen another like it. It's called a Ripple and when you walk on it it feels like you're walking on ripples of water! There is a swing set with bucket-only swings and a picnic bench. Exiting via the big playground or through a separate gate will get you to the picnic area with bbq. There is a restroom with a water bottle fill station! Easy street parking on Bayport Ct or Bayport Ave. In the parking lot off of Old Country Rd behind Heating Supply Company. If you come hungry there's a Mexican spot nearby called El Maguey and although we didn't eat there it smelled so good and looked pretty busy! Added fun! Get here by Caltrain. The San Carlos stop is steps away!

    A lovely little green space near downtown San Carlos. We grabbed coffee from Starbucks and spent…read moresome time walking around the park. It's a simple but welcome escape from the busier streets, with plenty of greenery and a relaxed atmosphere.

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    Laureola Park - Lots of shade on play structures and from canopies

    Lots of shade on play structures and from canopies

    Laureola Park - A polymer log play area

    A polymer log play area

    Laureola Park - Pretty fun two story slide

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    Pretty fun two story slide

    Pulgas Water Temple

    Pulgas Water Temple

    4.2(174 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Directions here were very easy to find, parking was very open with handicap spaces on an early…read moreMonday afternoon! I noticed they had outhouse style restrooms which were cleaned, stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. The path down is slightly downhill, and is dirt paved. Wear shoes you definitely do not mind being covered in dirt. Maybe a three minute walk. There were people picnicking quietly for an afternoon date on the lawn with a blanket, that's a great idea. There is a large grass area for many families to enjoy together. Seeing it in person was really nice. Brought some teenage girls here who really enjoyed it. We enjoyed taking some pictures together. I definitely see why this area is used as a professional photography spot!! Will I come here again: if in the area and cooler weather absolutely for a gorgeous family style picnic!!

    Pulgas Water Temple is definitely a unique little spot and the fact that it's completely free to…read morevisit is a huge plus. I can absolutely see why people stop here for photos and the dome and pool make for a very pretty setting. That being said, I spent maybe 10 minutes here before feeling like I had seen it all. There's not a lot to explore and my visit was made particularly less enjoyable by how crowded it was. There were at least three people doing elaborate professional photo shoots and dozens of what I can only describe as full-on Instagram productions happening around the area. It was noisy and there wasn't much room to move around and it really took away from what I imagine is a normally peaceful experience. I was here on a weekday afternoon as well so I'm not sure when a slower time might be to visit. I feel like I should preface this review with the fact that I stopped here immediately after spending the morning and early afternoon at Filoli, so in comparison it probably isn't helping me have a hugely favorable opinion of my experience here. There are also signs advising that no dogs are allowed, which I think is pretty ridiculous. This is definitely worth a quick stop if you're in the area, especially because parking is free and there's no admission fee. However, unless you are one of the people who are spread out on a blanket or carrying boxes of props for a full-on production, this is definitely not a place that you would spend very much time. For me it was an interesting, very quick, one time stop.

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    Pulgas Water Temple - Long view of the reflecting pool. No swimming but you can enjoy the ambience

    Long view of the reflecting pool. No swimming but you can enjoy the ambience

    Pulgas Water Temple
    Pulgas Water Temple

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    Hidden Canyon Park - parks - Updated September 2026

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