A lovely and peaceful county park in the foothills of Saratoga. Getting here is a pretty easy shot up 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. read more

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Pine in the Ass +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. read more

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It's a beautiful park to come visit. The hike we went on was nice. Some would it a nature walk but let's be real, anything is a nature trail when your outdoors, walking, on a path whether it's big or small. We saw turkeys, geese, ducks, ladybugs, and more. The California poppies were starting to make their appearance. The weather was perfect as well. The only thing that could have made it better was a pitcher outdoor toilet or two. read more

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This park is very pretty. They need to put some lights in the restrooms. They should of made kiosk parking ticket at every parking lot. The out door nature is so nice but part of the park is under construction. The Sequoia Peterson Grove is a nice place to have a party or maybe a wedding too. read more

Sanborn County Park - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

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I went on a ride along with one of the Park Rangers, very knowledgeable, very professional. Made me want to apply for Santa Clara County ,Park Ranger. And I did. read more

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This is a beautiful park hidden away from the business of the city. Nice and quiet place to spend a beautiful day at.

Gorgeous park popular with maintain bikers. I hiked while my sister biked and it was a beautiful hike. Loved the shady trails with redwoods, a rambling creek and all the pretty wildflowers. The first 2 miles in were easy then the trail became more steep and windy. It was a great workout. Very quiet and peaceful in the morning but it gets busy with more mountain bikers in the afternoon. Definitely a trail I'd hike again! read more

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Beautiful park with plenty of shady trails. Big, tall redwoods, wildlife (saw plenty of deer and their fawns) , a stream, even campsites for those who want the full outdoor experience. Several restrooms near the main parking lots. Parking costs $6. Only downside was the confusing trail map...lots of numbers noted but nowhere on the trails that I saw (aside from the numbered nature trail). We got lost but still had a lovely hike. Likely some user error involved too! I'd definitely come back, though for nearby parks with paid parking I'm more partial to Huddart. read more

Sanborn County Park - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

Just recently went on an oddly challenging, yet relaxing hike at Sanborn County Park! We had a couple hours to mosey around and get some steps in out in the sunshine, and we were really treated for an awesome time in nature in Saratoga. There's plenty of room for parking, hiking, and even camping! The overlooks are gorgeous, and definitely friendly enough that if you're with more of beginners, there's plenty of spots to stop off, have a drink, and even take a break! Definitely do recommend! read more

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"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." [Troilus & Cressida, Act III] This is a well headed hidden county park, which is worth the effort to get to. From Saratoga, it's a few miles down a windy road. Be careful driving to the park, as there are sometimes bikers along the new road. They charge for parking, which is currently $6 per car. If you are permanently disabled, it is free. There are multiple parking lots, including a large parking lot for campers. There are plentiful, free park maps right at the entrance. They're also bathrooms at multiple locations. The Sanborn trail at the top portion of the park is still closed. Regulars tell me it has been that way for several weeks. This is the trail that takes you out to Skyline boulevard. I was disappointed, since that's exactly where I wanted to go. There are several main trails, which are in good shape. It's a pleasant hike or run through the forest. The signs on the trail are not as well maintained as other parks. At several points during my hike, I came across a junction that was not marked, and confused me. On the other hand, I am easily confused. So overall, I think this is a very good park. It's tough to get to, and I don't like for the parking fee, but it's still worth a visit read more

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"walk in" more like HIKE IN. Would not recommend reserving a campsite above #18 unless you're ready to carry all your stuff straight uphill, not very convenient if you're camping with kids, not to mention how campsites are TINY. I've never been to a campsite so small, I could literally hear all of my neighbors' conversations. The area is beautiful, but I wouldn't recommend it if you or your group are beginners. Parking is a hit or miss; you might get a spot close to the sites, or you might have to park in the lower lots if they're full. The park ranger at the gate was not very informative or helpful, had to wait 25 minutes for him to come back from break, mind you, this was camp check-in time. read more

I love nature and want to come here and do a small hike with my sister and friend. Had a map and follow some of the trails. However, I did get lost and went uphill instead of downhill. Definitely got my workout though. Other than that it is a beautiful park to hike and get your steps in. read more

Highly recommended place to do an easy/moderate hike in South Bay! Parking has a fee ($6) but there are a decent number of spots if you go early enough (maybe before 10am). The redwoods and trees are beautiful and provide lots of shade. Some of the trails can have steep inclines so do some research before you go (learned the hard way). I recommend the Peterson Trail -- relatively short but steep so you get a workout and nice view. It also takes you back to the parking lot. read more

Sanborn County Park - Wild turkeys - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

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Awesome county park. They have walk-in tent campsites and about 20 rv campsites with water and power. There is a dump station on the way out. RV sites are small but have a cement picnic table and grill pit. One drawback is that the campground is built on a slope. You'll need to drive up on blocks to get even. There is a camp host should you need help with anything. Bathroom has two showers with nice hot water. You can get verizon cell reception by walking over to the firewood shed but no bars at the rv sites. There is a pay phone in case you remember how to use one. It does have good guest wifi at the rv sites though so lack of cell is no big deal. Overall nice and quiet. Awesome hiking and mt biking trails all around. Beautiful area close to town. read more

Sanborn County Park - Hiking from campsite - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

With over 22 miles of trails through redwood-forested terrain, elevation and flats, camping, as well as connections to other parks, there really is something for everybody at Sanborn County Park. Plus, it being slightly further from South Bay compared to some other parks means that it sees smaller crowds. AMENITIES: ----------------------- The main part of the park is right off Sanborn Rd and there are many amenities packed into this area. There's a ton of parking spread over several lots, and there's a fee to park there. There are pockets of free roadside parking as you come down Sanborn Rd, but it may be hard to get a spot there during peak hours. Near the parking lots is a huge grassy area with some picnic tables and BBQ pits; note that this area is on an incline, so it might not be the best place to kick around a ball. RV camping is in an adjacent lot, and hike-in campsites are a short trek uphill along a paved path, with some wheelbarrows provided for hauling your stuff. Campsites include a table, storage locker and firepit, and restrooms with running water are close by. Many trails are accessible from the main area, including the Nature Trail and San Andreas Trail which are relatively flat. A favorite spot of mine is Walden Pond, a pond that's completely covered in algae and appears otherworldly still, on the northwest edge of the park. CONNECTIONS: ----------------------- There's no shortage of elevation as you head away from the main part of the park. The trails on the north side of Sanborn Rd connect with pockets of roadside parking and are worth exploring. Going further out, the Stuart Ridge Trail and Saratoga to the Skyline Trail bring you all the way to Quarry Park. On the south side of the park, the Sanborn Trail takes you to up to the Skyline Trail, where you then have the option of going west to Indian Rock (some rock climbing options there) and Castle Rock State Park, or east to the John Nicholas Trail and the Lake Ranch Reservoir. There are pockets of roadside parking off the Skyline Trail along Skyline Blvd, and these don't seem to get as full as the spots along Sanborn Rd. OVERALL: ----------------------- The amenities at Sanborn are excellent and there's no shortage of trails to explore, and the trails are almost completely shaded under redwood cover. On the flip side, I haven't found any spots here with wide, sweeping vistas. Both times I've been here, I've run into a fair number of people but not a ton of people. If you're able, hiking/running up to the Skyline Trail makes for a decent workout in relative solitude, and from there you can visit the areas around the south edge of the park. The John Nicholas Trail and Lake Ranch Reservoir are the only places in the park where I haven't been yet, but the pictures look beautiful and the elevation looks comfortably challenging. Someday. read more

Sanborn County Park - Walden Pond, completely covered in algae - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

Did a nice little trail walk at one of the parts of this park. Like that it's heavily shaded though not much of a breeze. Parking can be tricky since there's no dedicated lot in the spot I went to, but able to find side street parking. It was unfortunate as the end of the road was closed for construction when we were leaving so had to go up the hill and through the mountains to connect to 17 which was a bit scary! However, would come back to the park again for a leisure walk. read more

Hidden gem! We started a bit late - left home around 9am to hike Castle Rock, but we couldn't find parking. Yelped and found this trail nearby (within a few miles drive)...so glad things panned out as they did else we would never have discovered this gem. We hiked the skyline trail for about 3ish miles and connected to castle rock. Loved it...we ended up hiking 9 miles or so - a little more than we wanted to, but was great. Had a good time overall! Castle Rock is great too, but over crowded and hard to find parking. I highly recommend this trail as an alternative to Castle Rock...less crowded and easy to find parking either in the parking lot or parallel parking on the street. Plus you can choose to stick with this trail or connect to CR. Must try! read more

Sanborn County Park - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

I went on a really fun and enjoyable hike this morning to Sanborn. A slice of heaven so close to rest of Silicon Valley. The trees, the crisp air, and streams were food for the soul. I wish their main gates are open earlier than 8, we had to park further up the street and walk around a half a mile to the entrance. read more

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Love the trails in this park. Park is very clean with beautiful woodsy trails. There are many trails to choose from. The trails are easy to walk on without hiking shoes. The uphill slope is just right to get a good workout. Restrooms are available near the parking area. read more

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Three stars because no phone access. We lost contact with friends and can't get hold of them. This park is huge if you didn't specify the meet up location, then you can't contact each others. read more

Sanborn County Park - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

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Why have I never been here before? Discovering places like this make me realize how much I need to get out there and explore! I was surprised that there was such a lush redwood forest just like a 10 minute drive past downtown Saratoga! There is usually a $6 fee to enter the park, but they currently aren't collecting it. Once you enter, there are multiple parking lots. There are also areas to park along highway 9 before the park entrance where you can jump on the trails as well. Restrooms are open currently during shelter-in-place. There's a huge open field by the parking lots which is great for picnics or just hanging. You really don't have to walk anywhere at all just to enjoy the surrounding forest. In the front there is also an icky looking pond that was full of tadpoles in various stages which was great for toddlers. So awesome to see! There's miles and miles of trails that are so lush and very well shaded, so it's even great for a hot sunny day. Most of the trails allow dogs on leash. The 'Nature trail' we went on was code for rugged and bumpy with rocks, but very lovely. Can't wait to go back and explore! read more

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Loving this park and trail. Met with a few friends for some outdoor fresh air. We met and parked at the Sanborn pay station as there's plenty of parking after the pay booth if you drive in a bit more after the first parking area. The start was a nicely paved area where there's a pretty park and paved area for a good 3/4 mile. Then it is a marked trail with dirt but very easy to see and walk. We did a full 2 miles up and 2 miles back. Beautiful scenery the whole time on both sides. Get there early so you are not bumping into ppl. We started at 8am and only bumped into ppl on the end of our way down. It's a bit uphill on the way up but not as bad as Mission Peak. Enjoyable hike/walk. Will return! read more

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Great park You can hiking, picnic or event at the park...! My friends and I visited there on January 31. So, the nature trail had little creek. read more

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I came here last week (Thursday morning) on a recommendation from some hikers I met at Bear Creek in Los Gatos. This place usually charges $6 but they were not charging the day we went. I met up a friend and since it was our first time we luckily both parked at the first lot because there isn't any cell service in most areas. They had several parking lots including one specifically for RV's & overnight cars (camping is $18/night). What I didn't like about this park is that there are very few signs and we couldn't find the trails from the parking lot even with a map. Once we started hiking, the signs on the trails were few and confusing. We took a wrong turn once and luckily found some hikers who told us we were going up to the Skyline Trail instead of back down. I hike pretty regularly and rarely does this happen so I had to take one star away. Otherwise, they have a grove of redwoods and there are plenty of trees so it is a mostly shady place to get a good 5-8 miles in or more depending on the route. They had very clean and well stocked restrooms at the parking lot and lots of picnic tables for future visits once this pandemic is over. read more

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This is a beautiful park located within the Santa Cruz mountains that's filled with a plethora of hiking trails and charming foliage. It's way less crowded than Castle Rock State Park just down the road, but it's a great way to connect to the park without having to struggle to secure parking. This park spans overs 3,400 acres of mountainous terrain to connect Saratoga to Los Gatos. After hiking through Castle Rock State Park, I connected to Sanborn Park from the Skyline Trail. What's great about connecting from Castle Rock is that many of the trails will take you to different parking lots. If you've ever been to Castle Rock, you know that the parking is extremely limited. Sanborn has a few different parking lots that can be reached from several different trailheads within the park. The hiking trails range from easy to difficult. You can take a light stroll through the forest or you can challenge yourself by hiking up one of the many steep ridges within the park. There's also a waterfall trail here, but unfortunately I didn't hike this trail. What's nice about the park is that most of the trails are lined by really pretty trees. The trees are tall which makes for nice shady paths. There's also a nice stream that runs throughout the park. I would still wear sunscreen for the few areas that are exposed. I would also recommend that you bring bug spray and thick hiking shoes because the water from the stream makes a few of the pathways muddy. Most of the trails are clearly marked, but there are a few stretches that will make you go "huh?" I got a bit lost at one point, but luckily some locals guided me back in the right direction. I tend to veer off and explore other paths, but I may think twice about doing that here again. Just make sure that you can retrace your steps because there are some spots that are easy to get lost in. There are a few entrances into the park and the main entrance charges a $6 fee for parking. I parked in the Summit Parking lot and didn't see any signs for parking fees (I'd double check on that though). And nope, I didn't pay! It's also only about 1.5 miles from Castle Rock. Overall, it's a great park with versatile hiking trails that's void of the big crowds that you'll see at Castle Rock. read more

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I really love this park. It's shady and lush and there are so many hiking trails to choose from. There's a $6 parking fee but I feel that it's worth it since the parking and trails are well maintained and they have flush bathrooms. read more

Sanborn County Park is the perfect place for a weekend hike. The trails are not too difficult for kids, with reasonable but not too challenging elevation gain. Fully shaded with tons of trees so little to none sunblock is needed - this is very different from the mission peak. Admission is like $6 and effectively controls the traffic inside the park - definitely not as high as some other parks nearby. We've been there quite a few times and plan on going again in the coming weeks. read more

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I enjoy hiking and came here a few times with my sister and some friends. My family hosted a birthday party here twice, and we drove from Sunnyvale to here. There are some trails of varying difficulty, plus many picnic benches to eat at. This was a huge park, and we enjoyed playing around and eating cake. I recommend coming here, whether you are by yourself coming to take a hike, or with friends having a fun time. One of the best parks I have been to. read more

We had our wedding at Peterson Grove on June 2. I booked the venue about 10 months ahead of time for just under $500. If you want a Saturday event, you'll need to call and book as soon as the booking for your date opens since Saturdays are more popular. The weather was perfect all day, as expected for the first half of June, between mid 60s to mid 80's, but I was told that any dates between July to September would be really hot, so keep that in mind. Ranger Bick walked the venue with me a few weeks ahead of time and reviewed all of the paperwork and park regulations, and on the day of, he showed up again and gave us a few trash bags and wished us well. I would recommend this venue to anyone looking for something cost efficient and beautiful. We had our ceremony in the grove then headed down to the park area for the reception. Such a beautiful venue, I can't get over how perfect my day was and I hope whoever decides to celebrate here has a great time as well. read more

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Nice place for a hike! There's a $6 entrance fee if you enter the main parking lots. If you're there before 9AM on a weekend, it's not very crowded. After that, more hikers start to show up. The steepest part of the trail (from the main entrance all the way to Skyline Blvd) is probably right at the entrance, where all the campsites are. The Todd Creek Redwoods gave a lot of cool shade, which was great after breaking a sweat. The redwoods are beautiful. I've hiked here a handful of times and will definitely go again. read more

Sanborn County Park - Mountain and clouds, lots of green trees in mid-summer. - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

Sanborn is a well maintained county park. I started to come here the summer of 2020, because many of the trails are shaded. San Andreas trail, for example, is a 4-5 mile round trip and had a decent elevation that gives a good work out. Plus almost every time I visited the park, I saw deer, turkey, or some other lovely animals. There is plenty of parking in the park. read more

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**Wedding Event Review for Peterson Grove** I coordinated a wedding here this summer and was incredibly disappointed with the experience. The wedding and reception was held in Peterson Grove and the area does make a beautiful backdrop for a special day. However the requirements from the park were unclear and changed a few times during the planning. We were originally told that the park would move the heavy picnic tables into the needed configuration, but then 2-weeks before the wedding we were told that wasn't true, that we'd need to move the tables ourselves before and after the wedding, and that if we weren't able to there would be a large fee to put the tables back after the event. With such little time to arrange someone, we were only able to get the tables set up before the wedding and planned to pay the fee to the park to have them moved back after the guests left. On the day of the wedding, neither the wedding nor reception area had been cleaned up at all when I arrived to set up (we were told that a leaf blower would be used to get rid of the branches and leaves on the ground, to the best of their ability). I asked for someone to come take care of it and the park ranger offered me a broom to sweep it myself (while I was trying to coordinate the vendors and get the decorations set up) and then insisted that I sweep immediately while they were watching because they needed the broom back and wouldn't leave it with me. When I informed the park rangers that we weren't going to be able to move the tables back after the wedding, they told me that we should have the guests take care of it (the wedding guests! in their lovely wedding clothes!) and when I said that wasn't an option and that we would pay the fee to have it moved, they continued to return multiple times with what I would describe as a bullying tone/approach and said that paying a fee wasn't actually an option and that I wouldn't be allowed to rent the space in the future if we didn't move the tables back ourselves. By that point I would never have returned to bring a wedding or any other event in the future due to the poor experience, bad communication, and additional unnecessary stress created by the park rangers. Overall, it's a lovely area for a picnic or a walk, but I would not recommend it as an event space. read more

This place is beyond beautiful, I mean, I have been to many forests, but this one is nostalgic. Going here reminds me of Walden West when I was a kid. The nature and trees screams peace! I love the way the park is maintained. The trails and everything look clean. The park is very clean and fresh. I hate to visit it in drought season but I hope water comes back one day. The creek was pretty dry, not much water. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it here. I wana go back. The peaceful atmosphere is amazing and I really do want to come back. Just a great place for nature. You do have to pay $6 parking fee. But it's well worth it. It's not a far drive up from San Jose. The roads are easy to drive too. Just a great time being out there. read more

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Such a nice park that's only a short drive away from the heart of Silicon Valley. There is a $6 entrance fee that can be manually paid to the ranger if there is one on duty or there is a payment machine in the same area. You display the ticket on your dash. There is a lot of parking - I saw 3 different parking areas in total. We came here primarily to hike so we were surprised that there was so much else to do at the park. There are multiple restrooms that were very clean! They were also spider free which I was pleased to see. I know I'm at the park for the nature but it is a little intimidating when there's an 8-legged friend in the corner watching you go. There are a ton of picnic and BBQ pits there for you to use and huge wide open park spaces that are perfect for a game of frisbee. There are some sheltered picnic areas as well. There is actually wifi in some areas of the park which is pretty useful for navigating out of the park on Google Maps. I was able to get better connection closer to where the amphitheater was. Since we couldn't rely on cell service, we asked the ranger on the best trails to take. She provided us with a map that was very helpful on the trail. The trails kind of cross each other a lot so you'll see signs that point in both directions for the same trail name which can get confusing. The map makes it a lot better. We took a combination of the Sanborn and San Andreas loop counter-clockwise from the trail head. This definitely increased the difficulty of the hike as it started off basically as an uphill climb with no switchbacks. We probably should have taken the hint after we saw lots of people coming the other way. The trails are pretty well maintained. There were some fallen trees that you had to walk over and some that you could limbo/duck under. We did happen to see a California Newt on the trail! It did not offer to save us 15% or more on car insurance but it was still really cool to see. read more

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Nice and serene county park. It is perfect for a stroll in nature or a picnic. Trail is beautiful and the walk through the campsites is joyful. We saw deers and wild turkey on our trail. read more

Sanborn County Park - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

TL/DR Great place to hang out with Mother Nature, have picnics and barbecues without the crowd (5/5), but not that great of a hiking area for those who are looking for more intense and longer hikes (3/5). PARKING Parking is $6 and if no one is at the booth, you need to use the machine by the booth to get a paper to display on your dashboard. I would get that paper before you actually park so that you don't have to run back and forth. PICNICS/BBQS There are plenty of available benches that are spaced pretty far apart from one another. Because this place does not get very crowded, you don't have to fight for a parking space or come extra early to get a bench, which is really nice. They have a grill and even a water fountain right next to the bench! What more could you ask for? I even saw a deer just wandering around the picnic area. HIKING There are not too many trails around here, but there are a couple hours of exploration to be done. The entire trail is pretty shaded, so this is a great hike on a hot, summer day. Immerse yourself in the giant, tall trees because there's not really a view in this area. The trails didn't seem to be too well maintained; there were lots of branches and whatnot that either blocked some parts of the trail or were next to the trails. But overall, it's still a nice hike. read more

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This is a beautiful park. I was here for a short hike and I totally enjoyed it. It has camping spots, kids play area, hiking trails, beautiful locations for photography and loads of parking. Although you may not have phone signal but that's also a plus point so that you can spend some time away from Social media. Also, there is a $6 parking fee but at this time they are not collecting it. Definitely coming back to explore more read more

Sanborn County Park - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

Park is set up for camping. There are some nice trails to walk, but within the camping area it turns dangerous. In the camping area you can camp on the open grass area. ANY open grass area is dangerous for children and adults. The open grass area has deep pits all over within inches. Please read this again. The open grass area has deep pits all over within inches. My 7 year old son was walking in the open grass area only a few feet. He stepped in a hole half chin deep. There are cute deer walking around, but deer will attack if you are close. Look up statistics of how deer are the most violent animal in North America. I have four children, three small girls. In the middle of the night they need to use the restroom.We would have to navigate the huge pits in the grass to find a restroom.... read more

Beautiful park to get married. This park has a gorgeous Sequoia grove and right next to it, there's a large open area to have the reception. I am so glad I reserved this beautiful spot, where I had my dream wedding. I felt like I was in a fairytale! read more

Sanborn County Park - Sequoia Grove - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

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Some pretty awesome trails here for beginning/intermediate hikers. I usually go here with a group of people and we do a good 2 hour hike every once in a while. It looks like there are several areas from which you can enter the trails. The trails here aren't generally too difficult, they're good exercise for all age ranges including reasonably fit older people who are looking for exercise. The views are nice as well, lots of nature! Would recommend. read more

Sanborn County Park - Really nice day - Parks Near Me - Saratoga, California

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