Ah where to begin! This is an amazing park with multiple trailheads that are not too difficult to hike and offer spectacular views of the surrounding hills and even mountains in the distance. We also enjoy going here for birdwatching and always carry binoculars with us. On each trail, we get rewarded with sightings and sounds of a variety of birds. The park's upkeep is great, and the public restroom is well maintained. read more

Santa Teresa County Park - Loved the snow on the mountains. It's a rare sight. - Parks Near Me - San Jose, California

Intended to hike the usual Mission Peak, but was short on time, so found this mini version and am so glad we did! Mission Peak v. Coyote Peak -6 miles (3 miles uphill) v. 4 miles (1 mile uphill) -no shade v. first mile partly shaded -out and back v. loop -limited free parking and ample paid parking v. just ample paid parking -cows v. cows and coyotes and birds -both excellent views Park in the middle of the park off Bernal Road. This is a county park and has a $6 vehicle entrance fee, but I honestly didn't even realize that until I read about it after on the website because there was no signage or pay stations, so not sure if that's still accurate. There are multiple hiking trails. We chose a clockwise loop that included Coyote Peak. -Start at Hidden Springs trail -Transition to Coyote Peak trail -Linger a while at the top (about 1 mile moderately steep constant uphill, 21 minutes) -Continue down Coyote Peak trail to start your gradual 3 mile downhill. -Turn right at the bench to Rocky Ridge trail, where it narrows considerably and almost doesn't look like a path. Watch out for bikes! -Continue on to Mine Hill trail that will put you back where you started. read more

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For the area and its easy parking and neighborhood accessibility, I'm giving 5 stars. For hikes in general it may be more like 3 stars. It's technically a there-and-back hike, but if paired with another trail it's a nice easy loop. I think it was around 30-40 minutes. Some uphill, some nice views. Great little activity. read more

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This is a great wilderness park south of San Jose. There are trails winding through the hills for walkers, bikers, and horses. Dogs are permitted on lease leash. Please note: motorcycles/dirt bikes are prohibited. This is a fee park, and it only accepts cards. I found the machine wonky and it took a long time to successfully pay. It was $6 for a day pass. There are multiple trails, at least one bathroom with handicap parking, a picnic shelter withs remarkable bbq pit that can be reserved, and various benches and tables. There is little to no cell service (good or bad? You decide) out there. Out on the trails, we didn't see benches or water, so consider bringing your own water. There were some small boulders when we wanted a respite. I found it lovely out there, quiet, peaceful, with a rugged beauty. I look forward to seeing it in spring. read more

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Visited Santa Teresa on a Sunday around 7:30am! The park website lists that it opens at 8am but there was no gate and people were entering the park. There is supposed to be a parking fee but the pay machine was not working. We decided to do the Coyote Peak and Ridge trail loop and there was lots of parking available the trailhead. Good views and the trails were well maintained. We saw a rabbit near the trailhead! We went clockwise direction and the initial climb was a little steep but very doable. The last portion of the hike was downhill and rocky. Hiking shoes would potentially help with this part but not necessary. Overall, I would recommend Santa Teresa park! The hike we did was easy-moderate. There could be some more trail markers as we did take a slight detour at one point. I would want to come back during spring time to see the green hills! read more

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A very well maintained park that has a variety of trails for hiking, biking and horses. Depending how high you want to go, the views get better and better. The abundance of trails have routes for all skill levels of health. There's also covered picnic tables with bbq grills and clean restrooms. Great place for every family member to enjoy... read more

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Really nice trail here. I run or walk it all the time. There are multiple paths you can take, the area is huge. The trail itself is pretty rocky and the path I take is pretty inclined. Totally kills me every time. If you're walking or running make sure to stay on the sides of the trails, bikers ride down super fast without a care for anyone else's life. There's also a picnic spot and a parking lot here too. read more

Santa Teresa County Park - Deer - Parks Near Me - San Jose, California

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"Great Hiking if you Love Rocky Trails." I came here for a midday, early morning run. Parking was easy right next to the historic area. The trails are nicely marked and appear to be well maintained. Of course, the big problem is the trails are incredibly rocky. Don't count on running much. When you get to the top of the ridge, it's not so bad. Most of the trails are pretty open to the elements. They're also not terribly interesting. Check out the historic area. They have some old farm buildings and a few chickens in a coop. read more

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Santa Teresa County Park is great for hiking and trail running. There are all sorts of trails to choose from with a variety of lengths and inclines. My husband and I recently did a trail run starting at the Mine Trail that went all the way up to Coyote Peak. Coyote Peak is a small peak with some nice views. There are a few signs with some information about the peak and what you are able to see from the top, which was very interesting. From the peak, we took the rocky ridge trail down the mountain. This trail is definantly named appropriately. The trail is definitely rocky. I had to take it slower here so I would not lose my footing. The entire route was around 4.5 miles with around 900 feet of elevation gain. This park is definitely popular with mountain bikers as I saw quite a few riders along my route. Definantly watch out as they can come up quickly from behind. Santa Teresa is not the best park for the heat of the summer as there is very little shade to be found. It is best to come early to beat the crowds and the heat. Parking is $6 unless you have an annual pass for the county parks. read more

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A park with a little something for everyone. Good trails here if your into technical Mountain Biking or just want to hike here. The park has two loops that go in a figure eight although there are many options to choose from. Good amount of singletrack which I personally love. Whenever I am here I like to start at the main trailhead by the bathrooms and climb up Rocky Ridge which is a pretty gnarly and technical trail. It seems like it's gotten even more chunkier since I been here. This is considered a black diamond because of the the technical descent. Another trail I like to hit is Stiles Ranch. Another rocky and technical trail with some serious switchbacks. Once you hit the end of Stiles you end up at Fortini Trail which you can cross the road to Calero park for a more chill ride if you want to lengthen your ride. Plenty of parking and restroom at the beginning of the trail head. This has always been a huge bonus for me because I have to drive 30 minutes to get here and always need to use the restroom before going on a long ride. The weather here can get pretty brutal. With that being said there is very little shade here. So expect to be out in the sun all day. Make sure to bring that sun block! read more

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If you're looking for a spot with some trails with incline, this is your park. I went here a few weeks ago and we parked in the second parking lot to hike two trails. We did the Hidden Springs & Ridge trails and they definitely had some good incline. There were some breathtaking views at this park. I must be out of shape because I had to take a few breaks. While we were on the trails, people would say hi as we passed by. I felt like most people wore masks at the park. I'll have to come back here again to check out the other trails. read more

If you're looking for trails with decent incline, check this place out! Plenty of parking spaces & trails! To avoid crowds, I suggest that you come early in the morning, like 8. Everyone seems to come around 10/11. Also, there's not a lot of shade. Be aware that there are trails for biking too. People may come from behind you, but they usually let you know. Overall, the hike was beautiful. We did a short 4-mile hike. It was a bit rocky at one point, so shoes with traction are recommended. read more

Santa Teresa County Park - Everything's so green! - Parks Near Me - San Jose, California

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Came here for a hike on Mine Trail. Plenty of parking and bathroom in the parking lot. Tables in the shade which makes for a nice picnic as well. Not likely you'll have much cell phone reception here, but not needed when you're enjoying the outdoors. Not any shade on the trails here, so make sure to wear lots of sunscreen and a hat if possible. The trail is a bit too rocky and gravel-y for me, and the trails can be pretty narrow. Mountain bikers seem to love this place as you'll have to jump to the side for them to ride through. You'll also see some cows and plenty of mud pies along the way. read more

This park is a little tricky in that when you enter there are about four or five different parking lots, so you're not quite sure where to park and if there are different trails/trailheads near each lot. Or at least those were our initial thoughts. But we just drove to the furthest lot at the end, parked, and hopped on the Rocky Ridge Trail. The trail has a steady incline and winds along the [yup, rocky] ridge to a nice viewpoint with a big tree, which is where we turned around to head back. Not sure if the trail is a loop or if there is a way to loop around on another trail, but we just wanted to hike around for an hour. The area seems popular for mountain biking, as we came across a few and saw several more on other trails. We also saw a deer and some wild boars up on another hillside. A great way to spend an early evening. read more

Came on a Saturday morning around 10:30am with the dog! There are multiple parking lots so we were easily able to find a spot even though we arrived a little later in the morning. We started on the Hidden Springs Trail, detoured to Coyote Peak for the great view and then looped back on the Ridge Trail. Very dog friendly but watch out for cow poop! If you're looking for a leisurely stroll, this is not the hike for you. There are a few spots with rather steep inclines and descents, and it's completely unpaved, but overall it's not a hard hike or anything. It's rated as "easy" on AllTrails, but I think that's a bit misleading and I would say it leans closer to "moderate." Tl;dr Love that it wasn't too crowded like a lot of other trails in the area and parking was easy! read more

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If you love to get out and just catch a great view this is the place!! I love taking this mini hike!! Lots of deer, turkeys, even saw a snake but it's peaceful. There are some rocky areas so tennis shoes are appropriate but once up in the hills it's a easy walk!! Definitely for beginners but you can challenge yourself slowing going to the top!! read more

Santa Teresa County Park - Beautiful day - Parks Near Me - San Jose, California

Love this local park. During the pandemic, the $6 park fee is waved. There are various trails, but the main local trail is a steep hike to the top. Approx a mile, but once you reach the top there are beautiful views of Silicon Valley. Two benches reside, perfect to relax or eat lunch. During the spring time, beautiful wild flowers and poppies bloom. The park is well worth it. As far as social distancing .. came across many large groups of people socializing without distancing themselves read more

So if you're absolutely insane like myself, this is a fantastic up hill run! It's so pretty with epic views around every corner! The up hill nearly killed me. If you have a hybrid mountain bike this is a great trail and it's pet friendly. They also have horse back riding lessons here, will definitely be returning for that. Overall, this is a fun strenuous hike. Took me about 6 miles at 1.5hrs to go in a looped trail. Could take longer if you don't stay in a circle. The signs and maps are pretty helpful. The farm was closed when I went but it's all very nice and maintained. read more

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It was the warmest day in a while, so it was a great day to go on a hike. My boyfriend picked this hike since it wasn't too far from the city and only 3 miles, but can be longer depending on the trails. It's situated along the hills behind a residential area. Lot parking has maybe 3-5 slots, but plenty of street parking. The area before the opening of the trail is an adorable place with a garden, a butterfly garden, chicken coop, and a barn showcasing the history of the area. It's cool that they even offer hiking sticks to use at the beginning of the trail. It's open to hikers, bikers, those on horses. It starts off at an incline, but the view once it plateaus is gorgeous. We went on the Joice Trail to Bernal Trail to Vista Loop. The trails were well kept. As always, just be courteous to the land, to animals, and other hikers. read more

THE HIKE TO TAKE IN COOLER WEATHER. As much as we loved this scenery because of its quieter, less busier location, I have to say it was an agony to trek through this hike the day we decided to go. We wanted to take our husky out for a quick hike after the air had been so bad for an entire week, and thought this would be the ideal place. I regret taking him this day because there was absolutely NO shade except for maybe a small tree here or there every mile or so. On top of that, I found the weather to be pretty extreme here as well. It was only supposed to be upper 70s on the day we went, however, it straight up felt like it was 90 degrees. Uhm no. I suppose the only awesome part of this park is the mini creek that is right in the middle of the hike. Our husky absolutely loved being here and he was even able to dip in the creek to cool down for a bit. Again, awesome hike but highly recommend to take it from Fall to Spring - please avoid during Summer unless you want to feel like you're hiking in a desert! read more

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love -- Mother Teresa Here is my final park review for now as I catch up on my parks, and keep Emmalouise L. at least 10 reviews behind me ;) And Mother Teresa never met the motherf%*^ing rocks here at Santa Teresa County Park. I bruised/broke/sprained, who knows because I never saw a doctor, the right side of my right foot on one of the rocks going downhill and it took weeks till the pain went away. But that's not why this park is just A-Ok for me. I mean it is a solid urban hiking park: great views from the top of Coyote Peak, solid trail system for workouts but the shading is inconsistent (or nonexistent) and other than at the top, the views are not that great either. I much prefer Almaden, Alum Rock, Harvey Bear - Mendoza Ranch and Uvas Canyon over Santa Teresa. In fact, with so many other parks to choose from, this one will usually be my last choice. I haven't been back since and no real desire to at this time. It is recommended for the workout and for free parking in the neighborhood by the Bernal Rd entrance. But you really have better options for hiking. read more

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Love hiking these hills. The hike is easy to moderate and can be done by all ages. The trails and surrounding areas are pretty well kept. I usually run into friendly neighbors walking with their families and dogs. Yesterday, I was greeted by the most friendliest park interpreter, Kelsi Ju, she was so sweet and informative, she filled me in on the history and provided me with details for upcoming events. It was refreshing to see how happy and proud she was of her job. I was also able to see both barns and the house was open for viewing. read more

Santa Teresa County Park - Parks Near Me - San Jose, California

We went hiking Easter Sun 4/8/07 here. It's a small park but they have over 14 miles of unpaved trails for equestrian, hiking & bicycle use. The have a self-paying machine that collects the day-use fee of $5, as of May 1, 2007 it'll go up to $6. Bring dollar bills or coins. They have Separate men & women bathrooms (flushed toilets-women's 2 stalls w/ tp & seat covers, 2 sinks, No Soap). Only bathrooms in the park are in the Pueblo Group Picnic Area. Covered picnic tables so very popular with families. We did the Hidden Springs to Ridge trail to Coyote Peak. Coyote Peak is the highest peak at the park at 1,155 and on a nice clear day you have great views of Mt. Hamilton; Mt Umunhum; Almaden & Santa Clara Valleys. We also did the Fortini Mine to Stile Ranch trail. Stile Ranch is known for their wildflowers-it was pretty good, but this yr is not the best for wildflowers. We also did an Unmarked trail not on the map called Nature Trail. There is a small waterfall there. It's not running well this yr, but a regular said Feb. is a good time to see it. Vista Loop-is not worth going. Views are ok on the side not the top. At the top only PG&E Power Line tower. Be afraid of ticks here. This park is loaded with them. Many hiking trails are Unmarked so can be very confusing. Good luck. read more

If you come with people that know this trail, this hike can be scenic, fun, and a constant change in scenery...all in all, one of my favorites in the area. However if you don't know where you are going...Santa Teresa Park can be a little bit of a nightmare with poorly marked trails. My favorite hike here is the Mine Trail to Rocky Ridge to Coyote Creek Peak. You get a varying change of scenery with pretty views, and a good workout, since this is probably one of the longer loops you can do. Hikers need to watch out for mountain bikers careening down the mountain. It's good policy to get out of their way because they're probably having a bit of a rough time navigating, especially on Rocky Ridge, and it'll be less stressful for everyone involved if hikers just wait for mountain bikers to pass. Wear sunscreen and bring lots water in the summer! There isn't much shade on the hills and it gets hot. . If it's your first time here, chances are you'll get a little lost. Some trails aren't marked, and other trails aren't on the map. But it's all in good fun. =) All-in-all one of my favorites because of the scenery and the fact that I favor open air hikes on top of hills (rather than woody/shaded hikes in the woods). read more

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A nice little trail encompasses this park atop the hill. There are several other little areas for this park-trail, I will primarily talk about the tip top! I enjoy the view! It isn't crazy high like Mt. Uhumunum or Mt. Hamilton, but for a 10 minute easy drive up the mountain, you will get treated with a lovely view. At the top, their is also a nice little valley with a field that (as a novice photographer) take advantage of, ESPECIALLY come the golden hour, or sunset! I have taken several pictures atop this hill that I'll post to share :) The parking here is never an issue for me. I enjoy this park very much! Overall; A free lovely landscape at your disposal to ride on a bike, run on, take you pooch for a walk, or to just lay in, and enjoy! read more

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My roommate and I went on this trail for a hike last week, and it proved to be a fun little getaway from our place in Santa Clara. We saw plenty of wildlife including a coyote strolling around at the beginning of the trailhead, a gang of wild turkeys, and many birds of prey circling overhead. The trails were in fantastic shape and you could tell that they were well maintained. Parking was incredibly easy to find and there was no entry fee (yay!) One thing I would say about this park is to save your visit for a cooler day. We went in high 87° degree weather, and there was little to no shade in most parts of the trail. It was also pretty smokey from the wildfires nearby, so the views were not as great as they could have been on a clearer day. However, even though the weather was not ideal and the lookout points were tainted with smoke, it was a great time and a beautiful spot to enjoy nature. We cannot wait to show this place to other friends and be more prepared next time with extra sunscreen, water, etc. read more

Scenic and Nice Park. I hiked up to Coyote Peak. Specutacular view. All of the South Bay! I started at Bernal Gulnac-Joice Ranch trailhead, so it was 600-feet elevation gain. But it was worth doing. Also, Laurel Nature trail was interesting. After I left the peak, I took Rocky Ridge trail. It was really nice and cool trail. It's indeed rocky, and you can hike with the scenery of undulating hills. It's nice because the view was different from other parts of this park. And, I saw deer :) read more

Santa Teresa County Park - From Coyote Peak - Parks Near Me - San Jose, California

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Drive past the golf course! Park in the neighborhood otherwise it's $6 parking. One machine near the picnic tables. Views are worth if on the Coyote Peak Trail. Few fences for cattle but no cattle in sight. read more

My what a hike this is! A definite challenge getting to the top but I'm taking a couple of stars due to the tall weeds and narrow pathway. If you are not careful you can easily slip and fall. My friend and I slipped a few times because of how narrow the path is. We were also trying to avoid the perennials sprouting all over the place. Aside from that, you get a beautiful view of South SJ and the neighboring golf course. There are a few different trails so make sure you check all of them out. And if you're a girl going by yourself try to avoid going late. There was barely anyone on the trail we were on and we went in the middle of the day. read more

Very nice park to do some hiking; there are plenty of trails to choose from. There is a $6 parking fee, however. When you do get to the very top, there are really nice views of San Jose especially on a sunny clear day. There was plenty of deer on the paved roads and throughout some of the trails when going on Thanksgiving Day, especially along the 1-1/2 mile narrow rocky trail. Some trails may be unmarked, so it's important that you obtain a copy of the map (whether on-site or from their website). read more

Not a fan of this one. For anyone who lives locally, this might be a nice place to have for quick walks, hikes and runs, but since we don't live in SJ, it wasn't something we'd drive out of the way to come back for. We took our dogs on one of the trails here in late spring / early summer, and not only was it hot as hell from the trails being very exposed, the trail wasn't all that well maintained and VERY weedy. The views were not bad, but our dogs were stressed by the heat even with frequent water breaks and both came back covered in foxtails. He's a maltese mix so you can imagine that kind of hair attracts seeds and weeds like crazy, but we spent nearly half an hour after our hike undoing foxtails from every part of his legs and undercarriage. I was terrified that some had made it into his paws or legs but fortunately this was over a year ago and unlikely the case. Parking is also for fee but it is cheap. The one upside was that there wasn't all that much traffic on the trails and there was certainly tons of parking as a result. read more

Great views, good work out, close to home. But DOWNSIDE-- TICKS! Our poor puppy came hiking with us today and came home with ticks on his head ! Be careful when walking your dogs in that area, I'm pretty sure their deer ticks! The area should be treated better for the public--deer ticks carry Lyme disease. read more

Great place for an hike! Lots of trail options depending how long you want to stay. Trails are clearly marked and it is easy to navigate. Since COVID started they are waiving the $6 park fee to encourage people to visit. There's always lots of parking and people seem to maintain 6ft while passing. There's not a lot of shade so go early if it's going to be a hot day! read more

Santa Teresa County Park - Parks Near Me - San Jose, California

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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Snakes and ticks abound!! Please don't let your dogs roam loose or into the brush as you walk the trails. This area has TONS of rattlesnakes and ticks. Lime disease sucks, and your dog may not survive a rattlesnake bite. This also applies to kids the same way as dogs. Snakes hide under those rocks your kids are climbing and out in those bushes they're running through! Ok, now that the serious part is over, I can say that this is a great trail to get some good exercise and take in amazing views. I find that this trail is a little hotter and drier than Almaden Quicksilver (which has more foliage and tree cover). Bring a camera, sunscreen, water, a hat and some good shoes and have fun! Last year I saw the biggest rattlesnake of my life sitting right on the trail. I nearly didn't see it. When I did, I let out a scream that the entire south valley must have heard (not joking, a hiker came up behind us five minutes later and said he heard me loud and clear). The snake just sat there and we had to turn around because he wouldn't move on. Hubby sees TONS of them in the spring/summer/fall as he rides his bike throughout the park. You may not see one, but they're there! Pay attention to where you are walking and you should be fine. Outside of snakes and ticks, the trail is often frequented by mountain bikers. I get that peds want priority on the trails, but that doesn't mean you should not be paying attention or be a jerk and roadblock when they come through. Share the trails and everyone will be happy. This also goes for loose dogs. If you just don't care about your pet and opt to let it roam off-leash to get bit by snakes and infested with ticks, realize that it's also a nuisance or hazard to people on their bikes, or people who are hiking but may not be a fan of your loose dog. Be considerate and keep them on a leash - for their safety and for the safety of others. read more

Great view of San Jose from the top of the Coyote Peak in a clear day. Easy access from HWY 101, just get off Bernal and head toward the mountain. Parking is plenty at Pueblo day use area, and there are picnic tables to sit down and enjoy the nature. Nice! I came here to mountain bike but we passed a few hikers on the trail. The trails are exposed and gets really hot during the summer time so make sure to bring water and appropriate shoes for hiking. I am not too experienced with a challenging Mt. biking trails but the Rocky Ridge trail is, just like the name says, pretty rocky and technical. I needed to get off my bike and push some part of it. The county brochure says "helmets are recommended" but I think you should wear helmets at all time whenever you are on a bike. You want to protect your precious brain in case you wipe out at one of those big, shiny, slippery rock =D read more

Beware of ticks! Yay for dog friendly, but we came home covered in ticks. I wish I had known how bad it was before we went. And we were only there for 10-15min because it was pretty hot and the trails are unshaded, so dog wasn't keen on going far. Additionally there was a bobcat on the trail so that scared the crap out of us. Otherwise it was a super pretty park, parking was easy and they had bathrooms. read more

This is my favorite place to spend the day next to the old Club House on top of the Hill were the old #1 Tee Block was located, I'm 56 year's old and I still enjoy coming here,I started bringing my 1st child here 1986 and 2nd child 1988. This Park has a lifetime of memories for myself and family. read more

Santa Teresa County Park - My wife and I have been coming here since 1984 we married in 1985,still together this day,photo was taken upper level the old Club House. - Parks Near Me - San Jose, California

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For everyone driving south on the 101, Coyote Peak with its radio tower stands like a sentinel guarding the southern entrance/exit of the Bay Area. This is a pretty small park and the hiking opportunities basically consist of a loop walk to the summit and back, which is only 3-4 miles depending on how you do it. The primary attractions are the view from the top (keep in mind there are buildings and power lines up here), and, if you come in the spring, the rolling green hills and wildflowers. Also, it seems to be very popular with kids on mountain bikes. Overall, a good park for those in the neighborhood or for Bay Area hiking completists (like me). PS, if you're one of those I recommend combining this hike with something else nearby (like Calero County Park), as this would be a very short and anticlimactic hike to do by itself if you're coming from the city. read more

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Great trails and several fantastic views! Really like the Hidden Springs Trail and the views as I looped around the Wright Ranch. Wish that I had my camera... next time. Great climbs for mountain biking. Enjoyed the narrow single track, that is, until I discovered some people don't believe in picking up after their dogs - a total pet peeve of mine. read more

$6 for a day pass, $95 for a yearly pass. There are many trails in the park, but they are all connected. The level is about medium, there are lots of up and down hills, but not too hard. The trail is mostly paved, there are some uneven spots near the top, but not too bad The view and air is refreshing. Very nice park to walk your dog, or do a day hike or just get some exercise in. read more

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