Pretty nice day hike with many views. Unless you want extra challenge, I'd recommend just turning…read morearound at the top of the pg and e trail, the extra 2 miles doesn't add much.

This trail is challenging. Proceed only if you can handle elevation of uphill all the way for the…read morefirst appro. 1 mile. We started off at rhus ridge trailhead. Trail was steep and mostly in shade. Nice valley view along the way to look at and you can see the bay afar. Very quiet and unpopular trail. At many points, you'd feel there's only you and your companion in the whole mountain. There's a warning sign of mountain lion but we didn't see any, not that I wanted to. :) Recommend to use hiking stick. It'd take about 4 hours to complete the whole trail. If you walk slower it'd be longer.

It's a beautiful park with trail heading to a reservoir. Parking $6…read more We walked through Tony Look trail to the dam. It's mostly flat except for a short road towards the dam. Too bad you can't walk around the dam, the trail makes a loop halfway around the dam.

This place was actually so unexpected. I've never really heard of Stevens Creek but decided to come…read moreby and walk around the reservoir and was very happy about the experience. Here are some highlights: - There are multiple different places to park, which were all free. - The place is actually beautiful especially as it is nested around a couple of mountains. The water itself was also so clear which was unexpected. - The walk itself is pretty easy although heads up, you cannot complete the loop so you do have to go back to where you started. I will say though that there are definitely some bugs on the trail but nothing that will bite you, haha. Overall, highly recommend especially if you have about 30 minutes to 1 hour to kill. There's also not many people so it is very relaxed.

Loved the trail, but FYI there are a ton of ticks. We're lucky our dog is on Simparica Trio, but we…read morestill found one biting and stuck on her belly. Make sure to check your pups carefully after!

First time hiking this trail. Heard about it via friend. The entrance we used was tucked in behind…read morea residential area. Once we walked through the gates you see the steep slopes you are about to engage, there is no gradual beginning. Put your big kid undies on and get er done. Once you get up the initial incline, the trail is pretty consistent. There are a few more hurdles, nothing too difficult. However, it was quite muddy due to the recent rain. That added a minor level of difficulty with attempting not to fall. Beautiful views of snow capped Mount Hamilton... there are different trails to choose from. Nonetheless all views are breath taking. I will definitely go back.

Trail was well maintained and covered with lots of leaves which provided cushiony landing. However…read moresign was unclear and it was easy to get lost if you weren't paying attention. There were mild ascents here and there, overall it was an easy hike. Beware of the rattlesnake sign posted at the farther entry, we stopped proceeding because of it. It was a nice hike. We enjoyed what the nature offers.

Hidden gem of a trail! Easy to get to, ample & free parking, mostly shaded, very lush with a cute…read morepond and eventually leading to Stevens Creek. It's out & back and most of the out is downhill, so coming back uphill is a bit challenging but definitely doable (probably moderate level difficulty). There is some poison oak but it wasn't overgrown. Unpaved trail but well maintained. There's some picnic tables and a restroom at the end of the trail (if you walk 2 more minutes on creek trail at the end of zinfandel). The part I look forward to trying the most next time is the winery right next to the trail (Pichetti Winery).

"Beautiful Mountain" Yes, indeed!…read more PSA: No dogs allowed - I had to leave mine at home. It's ok, you can enjoy this one alone! Take the drive! Yes, the road is windy and please slow for cyclists on your way up. Come along, sing a song. Dancing feet, magical retreat. Bring a friend or brave alone, it'll be worthwhile - 2, 4, or 7 miles! Our small group hiked the 7 mile loop, and had many photos stops along the way. Our leisure hike took approximately 4.5 hours. We spotted a tarantula early on the trail, other hiking groups, a backpacking group, bikers in groups and a few solo peeps. Shaded Hike & Open Space Sunny Hike: If you're wanting a shaded hike, start on the White Oak Trail located to the right of the Monte Bello parking. If you begin your hike on Bella Vista Trail, it's more of an open space with direct sunlight. Start early and enjoy! =)

Monte Bello is a hidden treasure for the Mid-Peninsula area…read more Funny thing, though. For being hidden, it's sure well known. To get there, you drive seven miles up a narrow, windy road. You're wondering if there's anything here besides big houses on tree-filled hills. Make a sharp left at Foothills Park - oops, never mind, you don't live in PA, you can't drive in here. More driving, more driving . . . and you finally get there, only to find a spacious parking lot crammed with cars. Here's why I gave it five stars: At first, it looks like typical landscape on this part of the Peninsula. But then I went down the narrow Stevens Creek Nature Trail. And ended up in a deep, dark forest with a babbling brook, pretty wildflowers, romantic bridges, and interpretive signs to explain what you're gazing at. If you felt like you got away from it all by driving up Page Mill Road, now you *really* feel like you're away from it all. Monte Bello also has a few peaks to climb up, and a backpacking camp. I'm itching to come back to try these out. I was not here long enough to really appreciate Monte Bello, but I saw enough to appreciate it a LOT. I had written about Russian Ridge that it's part of a conglomerate of Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserves that gives you a few days of outback hiking. Monte Bello is part of that conglomerate, which combines with Los Trancos (and Foothills Park, but don't tell anyone, shhhh) to give you even more wandering. And bring a lunch, because you'll be so mesmerized that you may forget to leave and get food.

Space Case 308-acre…read morepreserve located not too far from the Saratoga-Cupertino border that's quite the hidden gem. The Good: *Free! *Fairly large paved parking lot *Restroom at the beginning of the trail near the winery *And speaking of winery, historic Picchetti Winery is right there so you can do a hike and schedule a wine tasting on the same day. Great spot for dates (hint hint). *Great place for wildlife and wildflowers! *If you have a kid that's obsessed with lizards, bring them here. So many salamanders! But please, don't let your kids harass them. *Equestrian trails (only certain ones) *Lots of options for small loops *Trails are in pretty good shape and mostly shaded. The Meh: *No dogs The Ugly: *The actual park only features a paltry 3.7 miles of trails, but their trails do connect to Stevens Creek County Park to extend your hike, if you wish. Conclusion: Great park for visitors of all ages, but especially if you're a wino.

I had no idea this place existed and in Cupertino no less, but so glad to have found it! There was…read moreplenty of parking at 9am on a Saturday and even when we left close to noon, there was still lots of spots. There are multiple trails you can do, I did the Zinfandel trail which is an out and back. It's not incredibly difficult but does have some uphill portions to keep it fun and majority of the trail is shaded with just a few patches of direct sun that you can just walk quickly through. Saw some deer and lots of lizards running around. Be mindful of poison oak. Overall it was a really great hike and it wasn't packed with people so it was really enjoyable and I for sure got a good workout in.

This was a great trail for my run on a Monday evening. The parking lot on Monroe Street near San…read moreTomas Expressway allows for convenience. And I'm glad I was able to check out this part of the trail, as I'm usually near Alviso (keep in mind that part of the trail, near Great America and Levi's Stadium, is closed on stadium event days). This trail was ideal for me because I normally don't want a big challenge, and the terrain here is pretty much flat the whole way except for brief dips at each underpass. I like how simple this trail is, but what really caught my attention was the beautiful plant life and artwork charming pedestrians and cyclists along the pathway, especially for those who take the time to appreciate it. Near the Monroe parking lot, if you start your way down the trail toward Alviso, you'll find a wall of colorful flowers and greenery, brief but lovely, especially on a pleasant day in July. Further down, another portion of the trail features lovely artwork by designer Linda Patterson, who researched the surrounding wildlife to create, as she describes, a "story wall interpreting the natural environment". Her 15 site-cast concrete sculpted murals exhibit various species in the natural world, including trees, grasslands, birds, turtles, even rabbits! It's definitely unique and is just one of the many reasons I'll be returning to this trail more often.

The San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail is a wonderful surprise! We are used to traversing the Bay Trail,…read moreStevens Creek Trail and other trails (favorable for biking) in the Bay Area. The San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail intersects with the Bay Trail. Recently, we decided to bike from Palo Alto to Levi's Stadium. So, we began on the Bay Trail. We passed our usual haunts (e.g., Baylands Nature Preserve, Shoreline Lake, NASA Ames Research Center, etc.). We pressed onward until we reached Hwy 237. Here, we eventually intersected with the San Tomas Aquino Trail. Like the Stevens Creek Trail, the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail is filled with wonderfully surprising sites and sounds. It feels much more remote than most "urban" trails (especially those located in large population centers). Moreover, it's a clean and friendly place. It takes you right up to Levi's Stadium. It has an entry ramp next to the stadium that takes you between the parking lot and stadium itself. On days when both Levi's Stadium and California's Great America are closed, you can also wander around the parking lots -- right up to the entrances of both the stadium and amusement park. Best of all, you can continue your journey through Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and even San Jose. You'll pass along some major tech offices too -- such as Nvidia's new campus. Overall, it's a fantastic way to journey through the Silicon Valley and South Bay! When I go to games as Levi's Stadium, I usually take the Light Rail. Next season, I might just take my bike to an afternoon game. It would be a fantastic and serene experience to enjoy both before and after the game.

Trailhead with street parking. Little gem in the Parker Ranch neighborhood. Easy to medium hike,…read morestairs to the top with a lonely tree (vista point), the view is spectacular with lot of greenery (steep grass hill). We hike further to Saratoga head trail and star ridge loop trail, overlooking the Saratoga country club.