Incredible hike! However go early because parking is sort of difficult to find later in the day…read more The best time I find to go is early morning since it's cooler and the parking will be easier to find. Around 7-9 am. Super clear trails, beautiful plants and livestock that occasionally walk by. Fantastic hike and I will continue referring majority of my friends here!

If you make sure the weather is good, spot is good enough to stop by. Little cold sometimes:)read more

Easy paved trail with not much of steep uphill/downhill sections, ideal for anyone with elderly…read morefolks in their group. Along the creek and some beautiful green areas. Our kids enjoyed the various exercise stations along the trail, though some of them are in need of repair. Trail ended in Campbell Park, where they have a nice playground for kids under 8 years old to enjoy. Happy trailing!

I'm so lucky this trail is so close to home, I can walk to it as the warmup to my run. Yes, some…read moreparts don't feel as safe as others, I always recommend walking/running toward Campbell and not the other way. I love that it's a trail long enough for me to do whatever workout I want whether it's a long run or short run, I have yet to run out of pavement. It can get kind of hectic on the weekends with lots of people and dogs out but for the most part people stick to the rules and stay to the right so that you can easily pass by.

Berry Creek Falls is absolutely stunning! If you're coming to Big Basin Redwoods State Park and…read moreyou've never hiked to the falls, you MUST do it. Don't come all the way out here and miss out on this gorgeous waterfall. We did an 8 mile out and back hike to the falls via the Skyline to Sea Trail. The hike is moderate and begins on a downhill slope into the forest. Going down is always the easiest part for me, especially when a trail starts off descending. The real challenge is going back up once you reach the falls. It's nothing too strenuous but I'd definitely bring plenty of water and bug spray because there are lots of bugs on the trail. The trail itself is mostly shaded and features an abundance of beautiful redwoods, vibrantly green foliage, and scenic viewpoints. The waterfall is definitely the highlight of the hike! The falls were still flourishing in mid-July which worked out for us because we were able to take full advantage of the scene. When you make it up to the falls, there's a small deck area with two benches where you can sit and enjoy the picturesque views of the falls. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded on a Saturday afternoon in mid July. You may have to wait your turn to take a picture next to the falls. People were really courteous and didn't spend too much time which allowed for others to capture the moment. Bring your lunch and take a break here before continuing on your hike back. The scenery is so amazing here. Definitely recommend a hike to Berry Creek Falls is you're visiting Big Basin Redwood State Park.

AMAZING PLACE…read more Beautiful views and scenery. We did the Redwood Trail to the Skyline to the Sea to the Berry Creek Falls to the Sunset back to the parking lot. There are so many beautiful waterfalls along the trail. Some parts of the trail near the falls are muddy so wear good hiking shoes Note: This is a long trail (11 miles). Pack water and lunch and stay on the trail. You pay for parking with the rangers (10$ cash or card). Bathrooms at the park entrance are nice!

My first time visiting here…read more Absolutely gorgeous. If you're into quiet drives surrounded by nature, and/or love hiking, this is the place for you and your family and friends. Bicycling, jogging or just walking, this is the place for you.

One of the most interesting hikes I've been on in the South Bay!…read more We took a random hike on a Sunday afternoon, and it actually wasn't too crowded in the lot or on the trail. There's a number of different types of trails you can go on. It fascinated me how it alternated between a regular trail, to smoother hills, to a bit of a rocky climb. I would definitely recommend stopping by, especially for the gorgeous views!

Went on early foggy morning hike. Hiked to Inspiration Point and then to Eagle Rock…read more It was a cold morning but much more enjoyable than the Summer heat. The trail to Inspiration Point had gradual climb that's not too long. Lush greens all around. Encountered a group of deer. Ground was not too soft so it was not too slippery or difficult that I felt comfortable with just trail runners on. Restroom at the start of the trail but none for at least another 5 miles. There were buildings that looked like restroom but were closed. Multiple parking lots at the main entrance to a few more inside the park. The trail to Eagle Rock had longer climb but not too bad. Nice view all around.

Rock the Block Alum…read moreRock Park is what many, myself included, consider to be *the* crown jewel of CSJ parks, and it's easy to see why. From the vast 730-acres of green space includes thirteen miles of trails that run the gamet of flat sojourns, to steep hikes to Eagle Rock. It's also California's oldest Muni park (1872) but has always served as land since 1777 when the Pueblo was established. The Good: *Variety of trails, as mentioned above, and they're mostly shaded. *Lots of history here as there's remnants of an old train trestle that used to run visitors up to a health spa of sorts. There's still remnants of the spa as you can see--and smell thanks to the sulfur springs. *Trails also connect to adjoining Sierra Vista OSP, and is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. *Sand volleyball courts *Playground *Reservable and non-reservable picnic tables *Restrooms *Six miles of Horse trails *Three miles of Bikes trails *Home to the YSi (Youth Science Institute), which I highly recommend to parents. They have a bunch of summer camps that are great ways to get kids to love nature. The Meh: *No dogs allowed *Lots of poison oak *Parking costs $6 *Cell service is spotty, at best. The Ugly: *Budget cuts, budget cuts, budget cuts... Thanks to the lack of caring by our leaders for our parks, this place is not as great as it once was. As there's several entrances that have been closed off for nearly thirty years! *I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. As the (unofficial) Mr San José I find it very shameful and shall self-flagellate immediately. Conclusion: Not as great as it used to be, but still pretty damn amazing.

Spring is here at Quicksilver! On a Friday morning around 9 am, the Mockingbird Hill entrance was…read morequiet and there was plenty of parking. We did the Hacienda trail from this parking lot and it was mostly at an incline which made for a great workout. It took us a little over 1 hour to do the loop back to the parking lot. The restrooms in the parking lot were very clean and there is a map you can take a photo of to help guide you around the park. There were a few benches scattered throughout and there are views of downtown San Jose on a clear day.

I had always heard about this trail but never had a chance to come and finally did for my Sunday…read morehike. So many different trails and options that you can take. It's very picturesque and lots of wildlife. And honestly you could spend the whole day. Just walking around the trails. Parking is on the street but not too hard to find. So I definitely recommend it.

Honestly? Alviso Marina County Park isn't really bad after all. The first time I went was a few…read moreyears ago when I visited after a rainy day and that the trails are very muddy. Rarely any people came here. However from this visit, I came in the right time. It was sunny during the day and many people came here for a reason. Keep in mind that it's not a regional park but rather a wetland. When you look at the water, it's colored slightly red from its edges. Also, the trails are light since there is no elevation here. It's really good for jogging and biking. I've seen people do that here. The trails are very long which is why I selected a stop so I can turn back to where I started. Ideally, you want to come here in earlier in the morning so that you can hike longer and end sometime in the early afternoon. It was hot outside and I prefer not to hike longer. Basically, I powered walk from halfway. It's not necessary to bring hiking shoes due to light trails but you should use them if it's muddy. Perhaps, I should come here way earlier so that I can maybe hike longer.

Great place to watch sunset. Can get cold so bring a jacket or blanket. Parking is a bit hard but…read morethere is street parking as well.

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.

This place is a stunner. I mean just wow, so serene, makes you exercise, has incense and is run by…read moreamazing folks. They do not accept donations, just water which is so cute and sweet. They also have free lunch on Sundays at 11:30 am and incense sticks to pray to the different Buddha's. Also tons of information on the different types of Buddhas for your learning pleasure.

The most beautiful temple on top of a mountain! It'll make you forget you were in California…read more Parking lot is small, but the wait isn't long. At the entrance, there's a sign that said Stairway to Heaven, so you already know what you're getting yourself into. There are stairs and paths everywhere to explore. Come prepared with water and cover yourself up, since some parts may not have shade. After the initial ascent of stairs, the main area is lush with trees, succulents, and covered with fake lawn. There are statues of gods, demi-gods, and important figures lined up along the edge of the mountain. Jesus Christ also had its own praying areas. I loved that this temple was all-inclusive to believers. The paths are beautifully landscaped and felt so zen with the sounds of windchimes and coolness of the mountain breeze. Everywhere you go was a path to explore. There's incense and a lighter at each statue, but you can also get a bundle from the main house to the right. They don't take any donations, which is so generous. All they ask for donation is water for those who forgot to bring water. You can also light your incense with the candle, but remember to blow it out when you're done to not waste it. To the back right there are bathrooms also - 3 stalls for the women's. Not sure about the men's and I don't think I should know anyway haha. If you continue up the steep mountain, you can make it to various overlooks and to the final house with all the Buddhas on a platform held up by poles. Along the paths, you can see tons of birds, lizards, and squirrels. Looks like they are still building more paths and platforms. It would be interesting to come back and see the progress. Considering no donations, the entire place has really good upkeep. We were able to relax and have lunch at one of their many cute stone tables. We left feeling refreshed and cleansed of the daily stresses of daily life.

This park is so small and cute! Came here for a dusky walk before dinner. The boardwalk weaves…read morethrough a grove of redwoods, hovering over what likely fills to be a nice creek during wetter seasons. There are a lot of birds hanging up in the upper parts of the trees. We couldn't see them but could hear wingbeats every so often. The park connects very conveniently to another one with playgrounds, fields, rec center, and restrooms.

This is a nice little 6-acre open space area in a residential neighborhood. I like it because you…read moredon't have to go far into the hills to see the redwoods, it's close to town. A short boardwalk trail goes around the trees. The preserve has a trail to Shoup Park, it's about a mile there and back with the preserve loop trail. I think this place would be much better in the wintertime when the streams are full of water. In the summer it was dry and hot even in the shade. This would be a good place for a birder; I heard many birds throughout and saw a few woodpeckers.