Novitiate Park

(457 reviews)

1.6 mi

A very popular park for picnics, biking and walking…read more I've been going to this park ever since I was a child. The playgrounds were great when I was a kid and they still are today. Always great to see birdlife here: geese, coots, ducks, grebes, herons and an occasional hawk. Very popular with dog walkers on a leash (the dogs, not the people ). Recommendation: The park officials would be praised if they organized a separate trail track for humans and bicyclists. It would make both walkers and bicyclists so very happy. This park's popularity makes it crowded at times. Especially weekends.

Is it just me or did this place go down hill? The grass area does not seem to be maintained at…read moreall. It's not leveled, tree trimmings and dead grass everywhere. Paid the $6 parking fee to enter and left 10 mins later. Went to a local park in Saratoga that had beautiful grass. Didn't pay parking. Laid out a picnic blanket to have lunch.

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Oak Meadow Park

4.5

(131 reviews)

1.5 mi

Went on a trail walk and ended up at this park to eat the snacks and e brought with us. It was a…read moreMonday afternoon, so it was pretty quiet. We sat closer to the bathrooms, so far enough away from the playground. If you're going to sit on the grass just be careful about not sitting in geese poop. They have several areas where they keep picnic tables. You might just want to bring a wet rag or something to clean off the space. If you're looking for entertainment for the kids, you can take a mini train ride throughout the park. On weekends they have the snack bar open. They sell candy, soda pop, hamburgers and hot dogs. Never had anything there but in case you came to the park and decided to stay a little longer, then there's food available. They keep the park relatively clean. Plenty of garbage cans so no littering. There's a beautiful creek that is close to the park.

Parking is free Walking to food is close…read more Green as can be. Peaceful trail and fog can find yourself at the lake after 10 minutes I love this park and have run through it back to Campbell 500 times! Run

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St Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve

(61 reviews)

1.0 mi

Parking is limited. Park at the street. The trail is middle to easy, a bit steep, very noisy with…read moretraffic next to the trail. The peak is nothing but grassland and not shaded. We finished the trail quickly and headed back to Los Gatos downtown, lot of nice shops and restaurants.

This is my go-to local hike!…read more I love that this trail is near to many things and I can go for a nice long (or short) hike within half an hour from where I'm at. While parking can be tough if you go a bit later on the weekends, it's pretty easy to find parking on the weekdays - just make sure you don't park in the employee spots near downtown LG! I love that I can vary the length of the hike just by choosing different trails to take. On days that I have more time and the weather is nice - I take the long trail and soak in the beauty. On days where I'm a bit more rushed or the weather isn't as good - I can do a quick up and back down then head on my way. Afterwards, a short walk takes you to downtown LG with lots of options for shopping and eating! A very nice place to hang out with friends/a date after a good jaunt into nature. And if you're here on Sunday - there's the farmers market to enjoy as well!

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Bachman Park

(18 reviews)

1.0 mi

A nice neighborhood family park, really quiet & relaxing…read more Easy parking in the street, several picnic tables more benches, half court basketball, & a nice playground for little kids plus a good sized sand pit for sand toys.

My friend recommended we meet at Bachman Park, which I hadn't heard of before. It's tucked away in…read morea beautiful residential area and it's very peaceful and quiet. It's only a few minutes drive (or 10 minute walk) from downtown LG. There are 2 playgrounds and a large sandpit with plenty of toys for children to use. There are some picnic benches and a water fountain, but as others noted, there are no bathrooms. I love the huge oak trees and walking path. I've only been here twice but it's already become one of my favorite local parks. Street parking is easy and convenient. There were lots of locals walking their dogs but I didn't see that many children/families at the playground area.

Peaceful & serene. Lots of grass to picnic on if you want to chill.

Half court basketball

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Lots of trees

Lexington Reservoir County Park

(63 reviews)

1.1 mi

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.

Who Gives a Dam?…read more Man-made reservoir in the Santa Cruz Mountains that spans a solid 338-acres and is the third-largest in Santa Clara County. It is situated inside a ±950-acre County Park that has a variety of activities for all manner of outdoor lovers. The Good: *The southerly "beginning" to the Los Gatos Creek Trail which runs for ±10miles to the north. *Rowing, paddling, and fishing are all allowed (after proper inspections and licensing ofc) *Picnic tables near the reservoir *Limekiln trail was mostly shaded, which is good because this are can get very warm in the summer. *Park trails connect to Sierra Azul OSP and St Joseph's Hill OSP *Mountain bikes (NOT electric!) are OK *Leashed dogs are permitted. *Fairly decent cell phone signal (at least where we were) The Meh: *Parking is $6 if you park inside the lot, but free if you use the "street" parking (pay attention to signs!) or small dirt lots near the trailheads. *In regards to the parking, you don't need to park in the lot unless you're going to use/visit the reservoir itself. Otherwise, just find where your trail is and park there. *No swimming The Ugly: *We did the Limekiln Trail and that was a little rough-&-ready in some areas, as the years of water damage and infrequent maintenance are starting to take their toll.

Lexington Reservoir County Park

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Lexington Reservoir County Park

Wildwood Park

(46 reviews)

4.1 mi

Such a pretty little park. There's a small creek running through it and a nice little bridge…read more I have to tell you, if you like the idea of a fall stroll this is your park. When it's a little foggy, overcast, or even a tad on the rainy side, this is the best park for a quick ramble. Trust me.

This is a small but beautiful park with plenty of appealing features including a bridge at the…read moreentrance with the Saratoga Creek running underneath, picnic tables and seating, a grassy field, a volleyball net set up, a playground for the kids with swings and climbing structures, and a woodsy area in the back which is gorgeous in autumn with all the fallen leaves from the various trees and the colors of the season creating lovely scenery. The trail on the border was not the sturdiest path, with large rocks protruding from the dirt and warning signs posted to "enter at your own risk". But I was still able to get a good run in while exploring the park, extending to the neighborhood since, again, the park is small. There were several porta potties on site, as well as a parking lot for convenience. Such a carefree and relaxing atmosphere, with the adorable shops and eateries of Big Basin Way just around the corner.

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Jack Fischer Park

4.6

(49 reviews)

3.6 mi

Nice park but we came for the water feature and it was really underwhelming. It can really use some…read moremaintenance. Not every sprayer works and there's lots of sand in the splash pad area. We'd like to come back but hopefully it'll have been serviced.

Huge park with space to run around with your dog, or let your kids play on the playground. The play…read morearea for smaller children is shaded and relatively cool. There's also a sandpit. And there's a great water feature for the hot summer days for kids to splash around in. There's a great place structure for older kids as well. Lovely and clean park that we are adding to the rotation!

Water feature

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Big kid playground

Houge Park

4.7

(49 reviews)

3.6 mi

Very sweet little playground, basketball court, area to ride bikes, and grassy field! Love this…read morespot!

Awesome park! There are separate big kid and little kid play structures. In the little kid section…read morethere is even a structure for even littler kids! Appropriate even for crawling babies I think! (See photo) There are ton of benches and picnic tables around the play structures. Intermittent shade. Easy street parking around the park and also looks like its own dedicated lot but I couldn't figure out how to get to the parking lot

06/28/2025

Big kid play structure

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Baby structure

La Rinconada Park

(8 reviews)

3.1 mi

Little plat area out of the way. Not far from the larger parks which were overpacked with kids and…read morefamilies on a nice day. Great find! No bathrooms!

Always such a chill and quiet park! 10/10…read more Always come here all the time Not the biggest park but very nature filled Great for picnics but not parties Nears the hills so great for skating ------ Lesley Berenice Instagram: WestCoastBrujita

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Payne Avenue Friendship Park

4.5

(15 reviews)

6.2 mi

Needed to rest, so I looked up a nice park. Lots of kid playground and lots of places benches along…read morethe park for parents to sit down and relaxe. I'm neither a parent or a kid. I'm just an adult who needed to wait had time to kill but with a fun twist in my life. I needed a short burst exercise so I did some steps on the step Benches. Had so much fun. Waking up. 10/10 awesome park

This Playground is amazing, full of shade, many toys for different ages, the structure is really…read moregood. The only thing is that it doesn't have any restrooms.

Playground

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Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve

(32 reviews)

2.5 mi

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

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.

Bridge

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Vasona Lake County Park

(457 reviews)

1.6 mi

A very popular park for picnics, biking and walking…read more I've been going to this park ever since I was a child. The playgrounds were great when I was a kid and they still are today. Always great to see birdlife here: geese, coots, ducks, grebes, herons and an occasional hawk. Very popular with dog walkers on a leash (the dogs, not the people ). Recommendation: The park officials would be praised if they organized a separate trail track for humans and bicyclists. It would make both walkers and bicyclists so very happy. This park's popularity makes it crowded at times. Especially weekends.

Is it just me or did this place go down hill? The grass area does not seem to be maintained at…read moreall. It's not leveled, tree trimmings and dead grass everywhere. Paid the $6 parking fee to enter and left 10 mins later. Went to a local park in Saratoga that had beautiful grass. Didn't pay parking. Laid out a picnic blanket to have lunch.

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Saratoga Swimming Club

4.7

(12 reviews)

3.4 mi

Huge fan of this place. We joined 2 years ago, and used it every single weekend in the summer that…read morefirst year (2019). My son had some fantastic swim lessons from Heidi the first year, too, and was swimming like a little fish the rest of the summer! Because of COVID, we didn't use the pool at all this past summer (2020), but that was a matter of personal choice. I simply wasn't comfortable with being around other people any more than was absolutely necessary. The management did a great job of instituting a reservation system and keeping things as safe as possible for those that were a little less risk-averse, though. Fingers crossed vaccines get here in time for us to swim this year!!

Have been members since 1980. Love this family oriented club. Our kids grew up using this pool and…read morenow they are members bringing our grandchildren. We would always stay and barbecue. Amenities are clean and large grassy area for games etc. would definitely recommend! We did use the pool during covid using reservation system. This setup worked great

Large grass field (kids love to play whiffle ball or soccer)

Bring a summer BBQ!

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San Jose Skate Lessons

5.0

(6 reviews)

7.6 mi

Took my first lesson with Henry today and it was a blast. I'm comfortable cruising on a board, but…read moreI wanted to be more focused on learning ollies and more technical skating at a faster pace than I could do on my own. With my limited time, Henry quickly evaluated my ability and he catered the lesson to where I was at, while keeping things challenging for me. We progressed through a bunch of exercises and obstacles to keep the session fresh. Henry was very attentive the entire lesson (not checking his phone the entire time) and he also recorded a ton of video that he used to explain on the spot how I could improve. Very helpful. I'd highly recommend Henry to anyone looking for a lesson. He's friendly and a fun guy to have a session with!

Henry has been such a great instructor! He was incredibly patient and it was my first time riding a…read moreskateboard. He assessed my level of comfort and taught at an appropriate speed. He provided me lots of exercises and most importantly taught me how to fall safely! Before moving forward through each of the exercises, he made sure I had the correct idea of technique and form. I can tell he understands the small parts of skating you learn through experience so having a long term skater tell me certain tips made me feel more assured. He also helped me with my purchase of my first board! I can tell he has a passion for skating and working with new skaters! I am so pleased with Henry for helping me start this new hobby! Highly recommend!!

Me and one of my students

Coaches and our student

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Novitiate Park - hiking - Updated July 2026

People who viewed Novitiate Park also viewed

Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve

(32 reviews)

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

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.

St Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve

(61 reviews)

Parking is limited. Park at the street. The trail is middle to easy, a bit steep, very noisy with…read moretraffic next to the trail. The peak is nothing but grassland and not shaded. We finished the trail quickly and headed back to Los Gatos downtown, lot of nice shops and restaurants.

This is my go-to local hike!…read more I love that this trail is near to many things and I can go for a nice long (or short) hike within half an hour from where I'm at. While parking can be tough if you go a bit later on the weekends, it's pretty easy to find parking on the weekdays - just make sure you don't park in the employee spots near downtown LG! I love that I can vary the length of the hike just by choosing different trails to take. On days that I have more time and the weather is nice - I take the long trail and soak in the beauty. On days where I'm a bit more rushed or the weather isn't as good - I can do a quick up and back down then head on my way. Afterwards, a short walk takes you to downtown LG with lots of options for shopping and eating! A very nice place to hang out with friends/a date after a good jaunt into nature. And if you're here on Sunday - there's the farmers market to enjoy as well!

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve

3.9

(38 reviews)

Came here for a hike on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend! Arrived at the Bald Mountain parking…read morelot around 8:30am and there were lots of spots still available. I went on the Mount Umunhum out and back trail. Still pretty green with some wildflowers! There were a decent amount of hikers, and lots of bicyclists. Seems like a very popular spot for mountain bikers! Had to watch out for cyclists most of the hike. Along the trail, there were some informational posts about the mountain's history and at the summit, there was a neat informational site, Native American pow wow example, and good balcony for pictures. Learned that Umunhum has that name because the Natives thought it sounded like a hummingbird! Partially shaded but I still recommend going in the morning. There were lots of switchbacks so the hike felt long - took me around 3 hours and 15 minutes including breaks to complete. When I came back around 11:45am, the parking lot was full and some people were parked on the side of the road. Overall, I would classify the Mount Umunhum trail as moderately difficult. Because of the switchbacks, the incline is very gradual but the hike feels longer. Good views and trails were well-maintained with markers. The constant cyclists slightly detracted from the hiking experience, but I would still recommend!

Did the Mt Umunhum trail. Mostly shaded. Free parking. Great views. Some historical stuff (WW2…read moreradar builing and Native American religious site) at the top which is a nice reward making it to the top. Can drive all the way to the top if mobility is an issue.

Belgatos Park