Came here for a hike on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend! Arrived at the Bald Mountain parking lot 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! read more

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Did the Mt Umunhum trail. Mostly shaded. Free parking. Great views. Some historical stuff (WW2 radar 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. read more

"Please give guided tours to the radar station!" I wanted to check out the new trail to Mount Umunhum. Therefore, I parked at the Bald Mountain parking area. I think I got just about the last space. There are also a few spots outside the official parking area. Be careful driving to this area. Lots of winding roads. Lots of bikers. There is a modern restroom at the parking site. It's a very windy road to get there, so drive carefully. The trail is actually very smooth and easy. I saw a lot of beginner hikers on the way. It's about four miles to the summit. I was impressed with the visitor facilities at the summit. I did not see any drinking fountains or restrooms, but lots of interpretive panels. Overall, I had a wonderful visit. Special thanks to the park district for making this facility possible. Please open up the radar building. I will pay $100 to tour that facility. read more

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Great view, cycling is recomended! No e-Bikes beautiful place to ride your bike restrooms available

Open during Covid-19! After years of having this place bookmarked on yelp, I finally had the chance to experience it today. Came on a Saturday mid-morning (arrived at 10 am) and had to drive around looking for parking. I almost gave up but got lucky when I saw a car was getting ready to leave. That is the only reason why I didn't give this place 5 stars-parking is very limited. You'll see brave people parking on the side but even those are limited because there are signs everywhere that no parking is allowed. During this time the restrooms are locked so I limited our hike to 4.5 miles total. I have a small bladder and not a fan of using the beautiful grounds as a place to urinate. Now about the trails: there are hardly any signs so be sure you take a photo of the map at the start of the trail. It reminded me a lot of Alum Rock Park as well as the Almaden Trail is which is near by. I was surprised to see a small creek and only saw 1 hawk. Although there are shady parts, I would suggest staying away if the weather is more than 80 degrees. Looking forward to doing the entire trail. I think I will come back on a cooler day and earlier on a week day. Perfect for runners, cyclists & even beginners (gradual incline). read more

Do yourself a favor - if you are going to park at Jacques Ridge, keep going and park at the Bald Mountain Lot. Took the Woods Trail to Barlow Road Trail to Mt. Umunhum Trail. Highlight was the Guadalupe Creek Overlook. 11.2 miles total out and back. Woods Trail is a steady incline uphill. Very dry and not much shade. Barlow Road had mountain bikers on it and the ground was mainly gravel. The Mt. Umunhum Trail was by far the best part. Narrow, dirt road, side of mountain. A few creeks on the way which were nice! Bring lots of water and snacks. No restrooms. read more

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I have taken to hiking daily to beat the boredom of SIP and have been to all the trails in the area in the past 2 months. This is one of my favorites! You get beautiful stunning views of the south bay starting early in the hike. Note that parking is a challenge. read more

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Pretty fall hike. We opted to do this hike instead of Mission Peak to avoid the crowds, and it worked out perfectly. We passed only about a dozen people the whole hike. Rumor has it that 1000+ people come here for a Thanksgiving feast though. -No trouble parking along the street of the Kennedy Road trail head. -Took us 1.5 hours to get to the top (4.1 miles) at "Priest Rock", but you can continue for a longer hike as well. There isn't really a destination at the top; this hike is more about the scenery along the way. -Pretty continuous, moderately steep uphill climb. Not gonna lie, I was pretty tired trying to keep up with tall people legs. And I consider myself a pretty good hiker. -Portapotty at the trail head. -Narrow road driving up, lots of deer skipping around. Again, definitely a great alternative to busy Mission Peak. read more

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If want to go on a nice ride with lots of twisty's? the head up Mt. Umunhum "or as I like to call it, Mt. hummingbird" " yes folks that's what Umunhum means" to Sierra Zul open space preserve. The have a big parking lot, restrooms, 2 side by side picnic tables that are covered and keep you in the shade. "Price of admission? Free" Some of the cool things to see: #1 the view of 1/2 the Bay Area, Mt. Hamilton and as far out as Mt. Diablo. #2. The Ceremonial Circle where the Indian descendants still use the original location for ceremonies. " note the ceremonies are not open to the public however the circle is when they are not having one" #3 a big 8 story structure that once was used during the Cold War to hold a large radar dish " to warn us in Advance of intending nuclear attacks from countries such as Russia. #4. Last but not least trails, is you like to hike then bring plenty of water and go for it " you will not be disappointed" read more

What is the purpose of an open space preserve? Preserve flora and fauna, preserve a special feature or view, and/or provide recreation opportunities. Sierra Azul has two out of three; not bad. I'm not surprised that the undeveloped wildland east of Lexington Reservoir is an open space preserve. All my times driving to and from Santa Cruz, I've seen the hills, and although I haven't always thought "It would be cool to find out what's in them thar hills", that thought has occasionally crossed my mind. Well, I found out what's in them thar hills, hence this review. I was part of a guided hike with the Mid-Peninsula Open Space organization, a 10.8 miler on Priest Rock, Kennedy, and Limekiln trails. We parked on Alma Bridge Road. Lots of shrubbery typical of these dry hills, reminds me of Southern California hiking. Occasional forests, especially in the canyons where there are seasonal creeks. The Priest Rock trail is steep, and the top half mile is very steep; bikers, make sure your rear brakes work well. The Sierra Azul preserve is not remote, but because the trailheads *are* quite remote, this preserve doesn't get a lot of use. So it's a good place to get your aerobic exercise, clear your mind, or take the dog for a run without facing the crowds. As for the ridge trail, aka the Kennedy Trail -- well, it has a view of the Santa Clara Valley that made me say "wow". If you're looking for a workout, don't need anything special, and just want to get away from the bustle without driving too far, then Sierra Azul is a good option. read more

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Iconic Santa Cruz Mountains. I hiked 11 miles. It consist of craggy ridges and luch green hills. Trails are very wide (fire road), and there is a creek along the trail in some portions. Vista is great. You can see all the South bay. I also enjoyed rattlesnake, lizard, newt, squarrels. I almost stepped on the rattlesnake! read more

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Do Appreciate the new entrant in bay area open space reserve. It is less crowded, clean facilities, good infrastructure and great views of mountaintop and the valley below. My review is for hike to Mt Umunhum from Bald mountain parking area. Few points: 1. Reserve opens at 7 am (Not at sunrise). Timed gate opens automatically exact on time. 2. NO water anywhere (Bring plenty of water) 3. Easy steep trail good for moderate hike. Mostly shaded , although the views are missing too 4. Views at Mt Umunhum top are breathtaking and so calming. Saving grace from monotonous hike. 5. No Parking Fees read more

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Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Los Gatos Length: 6.5 total miles Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Duration: 3.5 hours Season: Year-round Other Uses: Equestrians and bicycles Local Contacts: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Climbing a winding service road on a ridge between Limekiln and Soda Spring canyons takes you from Lexington Reservoir toward the heights of El Sombroso. read more

Came here in 85 degree weather just as we move into the summer season. Wanted a spot that wasn't too crowded so my dog could roam off leash for a bit. If you like wild flowers and butterflies fluttering around your face, this is the place for you. Not much of a view. Took the Kennedy Trail Round trip 8 miles. 2 hours up hill (mini breaks every half hour) and 1.5 hours back. My lab was pretty exhausted on the way back, looking for shade every few hundred feet (how do you tell your dog you're going for an 8 mile hike?) Bring: -**plenty of water + water for your doge -sunscreen -a towel because you will get shweaty Pros: -butterflies, lizards, and birds of prey spotted -you'll work up a good sweat on the uphill -plenty of parking available across street on Top of the Hill Rd -wide dirt paths -not too many people (outdoorsy feel without it feeling like mission peak crowded with people) Cons: -not too much trees for cover during summer months. (But I enjoyed working on getting a nice glow on my pasty skin) -reaching the peak there wasn't a final destination point where there was a view, but you can catch some glimpses of the city of Los Gatos and Some rolling hills down Hicks road read more

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve - View from top of Kennedy Road after 4 mile hike - Parks Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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At 17000 acres Sierra Azul is the largest Open Space Preserve on the peninsula, and one of the best hiking spots in the foothills south of San Jose, as long as you don't mind hiking on mostly dirt roads. There are actually 3 different trailheads: one at Lexington Reservoir on the west, one at Hicks Rd in the east, and one on Kennedy Road in the north. From Hicks Rd to Lexington Reservoir is about 12 miles one way, so it would make for a pretty good car shuttle day hike. Note that you can't camp in the preserve. Due to its size you can get a large variety of terrain here, from grassy hillsides to chaparral to some amazingly beautiful forested canyons. You might also be interested to know that this is the location of Mt Umunhum, the mountain with the odd-looking rectangle on top (it's the remains of an old Air Force base). It sure does beckon you on, but unfortunately the summit is closed due, I believe, to an asbestos hazard. Maybe someday they'll get around to cleaning the place up so people can go up there. read more

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Pretty average, nothing too special. Lots of trees around and the path is a dirt path, pretty wide. Not very well-labeled with signs, and it's not very shaded either. We parked at the west-most entrance on Alma Bridge Road, and the parking lot there was quite small. Quite a workout climbing up, and going down was quite steep. The path we did was: Priest Rock Trail (1.2 + 1.2 + 1.4 miles) right on Kennedy Trail (1.4 miles) right on Limekiln Trail (2.9 + 1.4 + 0.8 miles) Alma Bridge Road (0.4 miles). Here's a link to the park map: http://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/pr_sierra_azul.pdf and an elevation gain map for the path we took: http://gurmeet.net/hiking/hikes/Priest_Rock_Limekiln_III.html. read more

So I came here with my best friend. We parked on the street near the parking lot (we didn't want to pay). We went on a hike right next to the parking spots. We realized afterwards that we were at the wrong one lol So a heads up to everyone that wants to hike here you need to keep driving downward, pass the parking lot and lake and make a sharp right. Everyone parks on the side of the street. Out of curiosity me and my best friend kept walking and found a second hike which come to find out was Sierra Azule lol This hike is bike friendly, which More power to those strong individual who are going uphill On a bike, it's a challenge enough to walk. I wouldn't say it's as intense as Mission Peaks but it's a beautiful view. We went on a Sunday and there wasn't much of a crowd. read more

We had a great hike here last week, about five miles roundtrip on the Woods trail from the Hicks Road lot. It was a beautiful cool fall day with blue skies, puffy white clouds and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot. Sierra Azul was a notable destination for us, marking the day we finished hiking all the accessible MROSD preserves. The views were good with some valley views, Mt. Umunhum looming over us and beautiful trees all around. Trails were well maintained and not terribly steep. There is a restroom at the Hicks Road entrance. Be aware that car break-ins are known to happen in this lot - there was broken window glass on the ground the day we visited. I look forward to a return trip to explore more of Sierra Azul. read more

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve - Mt. Umunhum and a puffy cloud - Parks Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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The preserve is a very nice, but be prepared for harassment by the Park Rangers who are there to ticket peopel rather than inform or help people. A friend and I went there to hike up Mt. Umunhum Rd., we brought some food and planned to eat once we reach the end of the trail near the no trespassing area of the road where the trail ends. We had a good hike and saw a couple of Rangers, when we got close to the end of the trail there was a small clearing area off of the road, so we sat there and ate our food. We collected our trash and put it in our backpacks. While we were eatting we notice several Ranger trucks driving up and down the road. We didn't think anything of it. We took some pictures of the sillicon valley and the mountain then headed down the road. Once we were near the gate for the area a Ranger drove up beside us and asked to see my friends ID for no reason. He asked why, and the ranger said they just wanted to see it, so he said no unless they had a reason. Once we reached the gate another ranger ask us how far we went up the road, we told him until there was a no trespassing sign on the road. He then started to threaten us saying it's fellony to go passed that area and continued to harass us until we got to our car. As we were leaving down the road we saw the Rangers now harassing a group of boyscouts who where on a trail. They proceeded to ticket the scout leader for bing on the trail that they said he wasn't suppose to be on even though there was no No Trespassing signs on the trail. There is a nice view and wild animals you don't see normally, but the road is hard on your brakes and the Rangers harass you. Not worth it. We've found that open space preserves are really are there for the local people and are more of a means of ticketing area than what an Open Space Preserve is for people to enjoy nature. Epic Fail Open Space. read more

This trail is great in any weather. It can stay warm all the way to the ridge but is going to be cooler than lower hikes.. It tends to be stable and not muddy so that even steep ascents are navigable. It is tough on foot or by cycle. Fast hike/runners can beat the cyclist uphill sometimes.. From Kennedy Road, Los Gatos entrance: The west-facing vista point just north of the Kennedy/PrietsRock trail intersections makes for a nice reward and goal at 4 miles one way. There is level area with a tree in the middle of the trail just past two miles, making another good milestone along the way. Continuing almost 2 more miles past the 4mile vista follows the ridge, ascends some more challenging hills, passes LimeKiln Trail intersection, becomes Woods Trail/road and gets you to the Mt. El Sombroso high point that looks across at Mt.Umunhum. Too bad Sierra Azul does not provide on the east-facing slopes a good loop for foot traffic the loops would be long ( over 12mi distance) and require walking on Hicks Road or Kennedy Road, which are not well spaced for walk/runners. Lexington entrances: Light traffic. The Lime Kiln is nicely shaded much of the way and has a nice steady up. Priest Rock had very steep places making running up or down a challenge for sure. I would go this way except for the drive from the valley. You can get here from Los Gatos' Forbes Mill/Flume Trail/St.Johns but the return can feel like a long trek. Woods Road/Mt Umunhum Road entrance: The Woods Trail route to El Sombroso from the south at Mt.Umunhum Road/Hicks Road is a shorter trek than reaching the peak by Kennedy, though its last mile+ is steep and exposed, most of the route has shade and is not steep. The east-facing trails provide lot of shade later in the day. Take water on a hot day and expect to take longer. I suggest taking water until you become familiar with the trail, regardless. The overall steepness means trail runners will have to walk in many parts... which is great if you don't actually like the running but just the hard work. I have ascended Kennedy Trail from Kennedy Road 48 times so far in the last 18 months (plus a bunch of times from the Lexington side up LimeKiln/PriestRock) and never had trouble with crowds, parking, rangers... iSmoothRunner app tries to estimate amount of up and usually gives about 1800 feet of ascending Kennedy Trail just to the ridge vista (another 1000 feet of ups for El Sombroso), so if you like hills and/or do not like feeling like you have to run, these trails can provide a lot of satisfaction. Fire/Emergency services can drive the roads but you will rarely see them. Do not expect cell service to work. read more

The park consists mainly of Oak and Chaparral type vegetation including Coast Live Oak, Bay Laurel, Coffeeberry, Manzanita, Mountain Mohagany, Toyon, etc. It's got a great climate due to the Los Gatos Creek running through, the Lexington Reservoir providing some humidity and the coastal breeze blowing through Hwy 17 from Santa Cruz. But don't get me wrong... on top of the hill it can get pretty exposed. It's a great hike and killer on the knees. Mountain biking round trip from downtown Los Gatos to the Reservoir, up the Woods Trail to the Kennedy Parking lot is brutal. There are about 15 steep climbs near the top that will knock you out. There are plenty of trail options depending on your skill level. Bring lots of water and some snacks whether you're hiking or biking. When you're done, hit downtown Los Gatos for some grub!! read more

Meh came in through the Almaden Bridge way get a Mtn Bike ride in being from Southern California wasn't aware how serious they take helmet "law". Wasn't doing anything crazy just wanted to get a climb in ended up nearly getting arrested for not having a helmet, apparently you need to travel with your ID now which I was not luckily I had other proof of my identification. If you're used to So Cal trails prepare to feel like you're riding in front of a police officer on these trails. Huge fines, speed limits (wtf). you are not a responsible adult on these trails so.. Would be great if Rangers roamed around watching for Crooks breaking into Cars or Hikers littering (dog droppings) rather than chasing down Mtn Bikers for not wearing helmets very unfortunate but I understand even this is a business. read more

It took us about 6 hours to finish this 10-mile loop hike. Personally, I don't like to hike without shade, and on this hiking trail I was mostly exposed under a very vicious sun (grrr), not to mention the aggressive bugs all the way on the trail. For the first 4 hours, I had to struggle going up all the time, it was like no end of going up. There were a lot of times I did not think that I could have made it, although I did make it eventually.....I would strongly suggest don't go there if you are just a beginner of hiking!!!! Over all, I have to say that this hiking was the most strenous I have ever done since we moved to the Bay Area(we have already done about 30 different hikes). If you think Mission Peak is tough, you should try this hiking trail.(I am sure that you will be more grateful for the gentle hiking in Mission Peak) read more

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve - Beautiful wild flowers - Parks Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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I've been up this fire road a few times on my mt bike over the years, it's pretty much a training ride and really tough. If you start from the Kennedy road entrance, it's about 4 miles to the top, 1800 ft verticle and is a consistent grade of 6-7%. At the top you can make a right which will drop you down to Lexington Res, from there you can take the trail to downtown Los Gatos for a drink. That is a loooong loop. The trail is pretty much open fire road which is not very exciting from a mountain bikers perspective. There are a few places where it does get a little steep, which makes it very challenging on a bike. On the plus side, there is spectacular views of the south bay area and of the Almaden valley. On a clear day, you can see 40+ miles towards SF and Oakland. If your going on a hike here, bring some water and some energy bars or a banana or two. Sunscreen and sun glasses is a plus in the spring / summer. Bring small binoculars to gaze out onto the valley at the many viewing opportunities along the trail If you want to attempt this trail, go in the morning or very late in the afternoon. Other options for hiking that may be better is Almaden Quicksilver park. Not as steep and has tree cover for shade. read more

Sierra Azul Open Space is a huge chunk of land in the hills above Los Gatos. I mainly use this open-space for mt. biking. The "Trails" are only dirt freeways and are usually covered in a thick layer of gravel. It's a good place to go when it's raining and wet, as it holds up well to weather. Other than that, the quality of the trails is low. In terms of location, Sierra Azul and provide a nice get away from cars and crowds. Long climbs are rewarded with some epic views. One day, I hope that more of the Mt. Umunhum area will be opened up and a "Los Gatos to the Sea" route will be opened. But, as with the problem with most Mid-Peninsula Open Space -- the rangers are very strict and access is very limited for the amount of "Open" space there is. They use our tax money to buy up property to keep it from being developed, which I completely support, but they are slow to allow taxpayer access to these places. read more

A map for Sierra Azul can be found at: http://www.openspace.org/preserves/maps/pr_sierra_azul.pdf The direct paved road from Hicks Road to Mount Umunhum has been effectively blocked off by an irate rancher whose private land is along that road, and I wouldn't risk getting shot at by him. I believe the base was part of the nations Distant Early Warning radar system and was operational from 1957 to 1980, made obsolete by improved satellite technology. It was a whole town up there, with several housing complexes for base personnel. Neat pictures of the abandoned base can be found at: http://www.jaber.net/umunhum/ReunionTour/default.htm http://wikimapia.org/43581/ http://www.almadentimes.com/062305/remnants.htm http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/153994/mount-umunhum.html Or heck, just Google "Mount Umunhum Almaden Air Force Station" One wonders why it wasn't turned into affordable housing for an overpriced Silicon Valley. Granted, it's out in the middle of nowhere and a long drive for groceries, but that doesn't stop people from going out to Los Banos or Manteca for housing, does it? read more

I've lived in the area for years and just discovered this place. It's an up and back trail instead of a loop. The hill is a steady climb and the views are great. read more

The drive here took awhile since it was a weekend and HOT, so everyone was on the 17 going to the beaches. When we got here, parking was a cinch! We parked along Alma Bridge Road and starting hiking along Priest Rock Trail then to Limekiln Trail. The trails are beautiful. There's a lot of wildlife here... different birds, plants and butterflies... we saw a herd of wild pigs, lizards, and a black snake with a yellow stripe. Trails are quiet too. We ran into about 5 people during our three hour hike. The one thing I wished for was a canopy of trees to block the intense sun. We were exposed almost the entire way. The original plan was supposed to hike the 10 mile loop, but that changed about 2 hours into the hike since I started to have a blister on my toe (no bueno!) and it was HOT. TIP: I think the perfect time to go here would be in the fall. read more

This area is amazing... Very good hicking/bicking possible. Very quiet. Not many people visit this area... Great parking spot up Umuhum mountain for taking pictures of the valley/SJ. read more

Beautiful views of mountains around. We had a blast hiking on a super hot day lol. Hiking boots are highly recommended cause most of the trails are deep and slippery. We sweat hard however the views and breeze in the mountains are totally worth it! read more

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve - It literately leads you in the very middle of mountains - Parks Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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The Santa Cruz Symphony League provided an afternoon of music preformed by the youth orchestra of Santa Cruz county and light refreshments along with new displays of outdoor art at the gardens of Sierra Azul this Sunday. A beautiful sunny day and a gracious host, Jeff, of Sierra Azul added to the enjoyment of the day. Thank you to all who attended to make this another successful fundraiser for the benefit of the Santa Cruz Symphony. Eileen Sambrailo read more

The "parking lot" only has room for 2 cars, so park along Top of the Hill Rd (right next to the entrance). Most of this trail is uphill and the path is quite rocky. Beware to have sore feet the next day. Great work out though and there's a little trail on the left side after maybe 1/2 way, which provides a great view of the city. Wish this place were open at night, the lights would be beautiful to watch. Glad that dogs are allowed here, my dog enjoyed our adventure. However, I'm hoping other dog owners will start picking up after their dogs. There is way too much dog poop on this trail. Watch out for bikers coming downhill! Everyone is pretty nice and will warn you of their approach. We did not go all the way to the top, but will do it next time! Definitely coming back here. read more

Limited parking, but that's a good thing since it keeps the trails sparse. If you are trail runner this is a fabulous alternative to the overcrowded alternatives such as Rancho San Antonio. Also makes for an excellent family hike with kids. Trail is shared between mountain bikers, hikers and runners. Most of the bikers are very polite and mindful of pedestrians. Occasionally a random one tries to run you off the trail, but that has been a rare thing. read more

Well maintained trail, easy to find and no issues with parking for a Tuesday evening. I never knew this trail was here until yesterday. It didn't get the full five stars because although the views were stunning, it wasn't much different from a lot of other trails in the area. This trail is excellent for a group with varying abilities because it is nearly impossible to get lost if someone decides to head back. Nice wide trail with plenty of room for bikers, but keep an eye out for people riding fast. read more

A huge property where more than half the land is closed to the public This place doesn't have any single-track at all. It's all mostly exposed fire roads that are either poorly maintained or not maintained. Given the vast size of this property and its proximity to San Jose, it has a lot of potential but appears to be very poorly managed. There is no public outreach by this agency and there are no volunteer opportunities to make this land more accessible and usable to the public. read more

As mentioned in other reviews, car "smash and grabs" are still a problem at the Kennedy/Shannon Road lot. My car window was broken into and raided, midweek in the middle of the day, even though the lot was full when I got there and lots of cars/bikes were passing through the area. These crooks will never be caught and will likely continue to target this spot. Recommend parking elsewhere and also not leaving anything of monetary or sentimental value in the car. read more

I've been to this spot once. It was very nice. I went in the fall and the weather was lush, lots of green. A very nice hiking spot.

Nice trail! Pretty steep but worth it once you get on top! The view was amazing! Just be cautious, we saw a baby coyote running around!!!!