Underbear Newish…read more±1,400-acre Open Space Preserve that's located only three-mikes south of Los Gatos, and is one of the few places in the area left to see Old-growth Redwoods. The Good: *Free! *One of the newer OSPs, as it officially opened in ±2019 *Fairly large paved parking lot that holds ±30 vehicles, including three ADA parking spots. There's a separate parking lot at the stables, but you need a permit. *Over ten miles of hiking trails *ADA Compliant trail around the pond in the parking lot. *Horses OK (check trail signage) *Picnic tables in the parking lot *As mentioned above, one of the few places in the South Bay that you can view old-growth Redwoods that doesn't require you to drive down to Felton (Henry Cowell) or Big Basin. *If you're looking for a challenge, the Upper Peter Siemens Trail-Madrone Knoll Trail has an elevation gain of ±1,500' over ±3.5 miles The Meh: *No dogs/pets The Ugly: *Restrooms in the parking lot, but I believe they were vault toilets--don't look down! 0_o Conclusion: Great place to get your hike on if you're in the South Bay and don't feel like a terribly long drive.

The 6.2-mile 1000 feet of elevation is now my new favorite local trail, especially having recently…read morewatched Hamnet, the scenery felt strangely cinematic, as if certain moments--especially the cave entrance--had been lifted directly from the film. In Hamnet, the cave stands as a symbol of that mysterious realm of death, the void from which we come and to which we ultimately return. Yet on this beautiful sunny afternoon, as life breathes through every tree, every leaf, and every small flower, and as I feel the gentle care and encouragement of those beside me, I realized, not in a limbo zone way, that the world, exactly as it is, is beautiful enough. Heaven must be even better. https://youtube.com/shorts/xiQGHA3WKrY?si=womdxeGsiEBLsH0W

This is a short but steep hike with a nice view of the Almaden Valley along the way!…read more This trail spreads out and connects with other trails which makes it easier to turn this into a larger hike/mountain bike ride. There is plenty of shade along the way, so it can be traversed on hot days without heatstroke. Parking at the trailhead has never been a problem.

Cute little park and playground with moderate hiking trails. The trail is very uneven and steep in…read moresome parts. Overall a pleasant short hike. It does lead to the Santa Rosa Open Space trail which is a longer and more strenuous hike.

Limited parking spot in Mt. Baldy parking area…read more Paths are well maintained Brought 32 oz H2O for 8 mile round trip on a partly cloudy day and it was all gone! Great path to walk with kids, but just be weary of bicyclists Nice views of San Jose Thanks!

Have not been up here since I was a kid and wanted to check to see how it has changed. Well now…read moreit's a park and the military left, so it's been 45 years..... but the view is still gorgeous and a must see. Bay Area icon. Plus the drive is worth it.

A great spot where locals hang out by the water, fish, bike & hike the trails…read more You can get up in the mountains or walk as far as you want to from the trailheads.

I have come here countless times over the years. It's one of my favorite spots. It's peaceful, not…read moreoverly crowded, and has a really calming, almost zen feel to it. The views of the water and surrounding hills make it a great place to reset for a bit. Perfect for a quiet walk, light hike, or just getting away from the noise for a while.

One of my go-to hiking trails that I have been going to for years. I guess I never reviewed it…read morebecause I wanted it to stay a secret. Oh well, the world must know what a great spot this is. This is a well-hidden trail and there is no parking. I very rarely see people on the trail. The views are incredible and it is wonderful to be able to spend some time in the woods and get away from the hustle and bustle.

I was here late in the afternoon and had a wonderful visit. Initially, I was incredulous that this…read moreis even called a park given that there's nothing here but once you make it to the top of the hill and get on the trail, it's beautiful. I did not see one other person on the visit and had a very serene run with great views of the Bay Area.

"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb."--Nelson…read moreMandela Foothill Park (FP) is a rather unusual park located at the base of the Santa Teresa Foothills. It's essentially a trail (actually SCVWD access road) that follows the Coyote-Alamitos Canal (CAC)--which protects against hill runoff, and conveys water between Coyote Creek and Los Alamitos Creek. FP might be known more for what it doesn't have, than what it *does* have. What it does have are great views of Santa Teresa/Blossom Valley, and a fun adventure if you have young kids; if those two things intrigue you, then read on. The official beginning of the park begins at the south end of Cahalan Ave at Foothill Dr. There you'll have to hike up a decomposed granite trail for ±150' elevation gain on a series of switchbacks until you get to the top. Then you will be faced with a perilous decision: left or right? Left (Southeast): This is the less interesting direction; it just essentially follows the CAC as it parallels Colleen Dr until you reach the end of the line at Snell Ave. Right (Northwest): This the more compelling of the two options, as it provides an interesting shortcut to Almaden Lake Park. It starts out much the same way as the left side, following the CAC and paralleling Foothill Dr until you reach the official "end" of the trail about one mile in. However, if you're feeling adventurous, near the end is an unofficial, well-used dirt bike trail, that will take you up another small foothill (with even better views!) and towards Almaden Lake. I believe the master plan is to eventually have the trail officially take you there, but until funding is available it's nice to know it's still a viable option. Parking- Plenty of street parking is available on Cahalan Ave and Foothill Dr. Amenities- No restrooms, no playground, no nothing--this is a no frills park that's just dirt, trails, trees and rocks. Although, there was one lone picnic table and garbage can halfway up the hill, but that's about it. Ordinarily, I don't give parks with such few amenities anything above 2-stars, but there's something about FP that's alluring to me. It's peculiar, and peculiar is welcome in my book. Plus, it's a great place to take your kids hiking, and that's always a good thing. Now grab your hiking stick, some granola and come check it out!

A lovely and peaceful county park in the foothills of Saratoga. Getting here is a pretty easy shot…read moreup highway 9 before it gets too windy, though there are still many curves. Since it's a County Park, there is a $6 entry fee, though you can also park outside of the park and still enjoy the trials. The outside parking is quite far from the actual entrance, so I wouldn't park there if you're trying to enjoy the picnic or main grounds. There are a couple of easier short trails, and then some longer steep trails, but not a ton in between. Parts of the park are ADA accessible, including the deck in the circle of trees. There are a good number of picnic tables and picnic areas, with many of the picnic tables having charcoal grills at them. I was here on a warm winter day and some were in use, but most were open. One of the parking lots was closed when we were there, but there was still plenty of parking since it was winter.

Pine in the Ass…read more +3,400-acre park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains that's just a short--but windy--drive from Downtown Saratoga along scenic Hwy 9. The Good: * It seems like they've upgraded their parking situation quite a bit, as they have several large lots. * Restrooms in aforementioned parking lots * RV camping year-round (check website) * Hike-in Campsites (check website) * Open picnic tables and reservable areas * Leashed dogs okay on certain trails (check signage) * Equestrian trails okay (check map) * Biking (check maps) * Good place to see salamanders thanks to the lake * 22 miles of trails The Meh: * $6 entrance fee * We did a nearly five-mile loop (look up San Andrea & Madrone Loop on AllTrails), and I just found the trails to be pretty mundane and not nearly as exciting as other parks we've visited recently. The Ugly: * Why do they have to have the parking machine at the entrance of the park? This just causes traffic to back up unnecessarily as everyone has to stop, get out, pay, get back in their car, and then drive off. Seems like a silly place to put them, but what do I know? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Conclusion: Not a bad park overall (probably 3.5*) but just didn't have that "can't wait to come back" feeling that I usually get after a nice hike.

Great trail - leads to several other networks of trails through LG and SJ. We liked the horses and…read morethe deer and even a coyote! Beware of Ticks!!! Trail moderate in difficulty winds between houses and pastures. It's a nice mix of rural and suburban. Trail holds up well after a rain until the bridge...after that it was a bit messy with sticky mud that makes your shoes weigh 3 times as much as normal! But it was fine - it was a risk I take when I decide to take my dog out after three days of rain! Only drawback is that you really do have to take this trail back to Shannon/Hicks because if not you are stuck walking down Shannon Road which isn't all that safe really. My dog and I took a trail that lead to some others and it was all good except we were tired and I didn't want to walk back up large hill of the cul-du-sac to take this trail back...totally my bad. I underestimated the distance I'd have to walk down Shannon. Shannon has no shoulder on that stretch and is windy and I found myself having to cross back and forth on the road so that on-coming vehicles could see us before it was the last minute. But, like I said, that was my bad...nothing to do with the trail.

One of the hardest and rockiest trails in the area for mountain biking. Not too crowded. very…read moresteep hills, lots of loose gravels and narrow. After the a good 3 Miles of straight uphill climbs, you will be rewarded with beautiful views and a nice 2 miles down. Highly recommended for mountain bikers and hikers.