The 6.2-mile 1000 feet of elevation is now my new favorite local trail, especially having recently…read morewatched Hamnet, the scenery felt strangely cinematic, as if certain moments--especially the cave entrance--had been lifted directly from the film. In Hamnet, the cave stands as a symbol of that mysterious realm of death, the void from which we come and to which we ultimately return. Yet on this beautiful sunny afternoon, as life breathes through every tree, every leaf, and every small flower, and as I feel the gentle care and encouragement of those beside me, I realized, not in a limbo zone way, that the world, exactly as it is, is beautiful enough. Heaven must be even better. https://youtube.com/shorts/xiQGHA3WKrY?si=womdxeGsiEBLsH0W

Underbear Newish…read more±1,400-acre Open Space Preserve that's located only three-mikes south of Los Gatos, and is one of the few places in the area left to see Old-growth Redwoods. The Good: *Free! *One of the newer OSPs, as it officially opened in ±2019 *Fairly large paved parking lot that holds ±30 vehicles, including three ADA parking spots. There's a separate parking lot at the stables, but you need a permit. *Over ten miles of hiking trails *ADA Compliant trail around the pond in the parking lot. *Horses OK (check trail signage) *Picnic tables in the parking lot *As mentioned above, one of the few places in the South Bay that you can view old-growth Redwoods that doesn't require you to drive down to Felton (Henry Cowell) or Big Basin. *If you're looking for a challenge, the Upper Peter Siemens Trail-Madrone Knoll Trail has an elevation gain of ±1,500' over ±3.5 miles The Meh: *No dogs/pets The Ugly: *Restrooms in the parking lot, but I believe they were vault toilets--don't look down! 0_o Conclusion: Great place to get your hike on if you're in the South Bay and don't feel like a terribly long drive.

The ride is always very nice! You have to pick the right time though. On a gorgeous day on the…read moreweekend, there's a lot of foot traffic so riding a bike may be slow down and go. The serene surroundings of the creek and trees always makes it very nice, though!

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

Have long eyed the Castle Rock State Park and glad we finally went! The park charges a nominal…read moreparking fee ($10 at time of writing); the parking fee is waived if you have one of the supported passes. Check their site for more info: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=538# We really enjoyed our hike here. The space is beautiful, and the trails are well-maintained. The trailhead had plenty restrooms as well. We made it up to Goat Rock Lookout, back down, then detour to the waterfall. It took ~1.5 hours in total, which was perfect for a end-of-day hike before the park closes at sunset. The view up at Goat Rock Lookout was breathtaking!

If you're looking for another place that has breathtaking views surrounding the whole Santa Cruz…read moreMountains (but don't want to go all the way to Portola Valley), Castle Rock State Park is the place for you. This place is usually my go to when the weather is just perfect and you want good views of the mountains viewing the Monterey Bay and the Santa Clara Valley. In addition, the park is even open during the cold winter season, where it occasionally will snow (because of how high the elevation is, the main base is situated at about 3,200 feet above sea level). This place has been my go-to park for hiking for a while, because of its terrain. At the same time, it's also been because of how much snow they get when cold fronts come into effect. They are also open year-round, so definitely swing by this state park when you do get the chance to! It's a decision you'll never regret.

We are so lucky to have such a beautiful place near-by. Since the pandemic, it has become our…read moreweekly routine to hike here multiple times a week in the early mornings. This is a very popular venue for weddings and special events especially on weekends. For early birds like us, we get to enjoy the fresh air, quietness and peacefulness in the gorgeous environment, a real treat to the body and mind. We hope to keep up our weekly activities and very appreciative of the wonderful gift.

One of my favorite spots in the South Bay for a quick hike! The grounds at Montalvo are absolutely…read morebeautiful, as are the forested trails that wind up the hill and down the creek near the villa. Though there are a few different trials to choose from, they all end up crossing at one point or another. Even if you do all of them, they aren't too long and the hike tends to be fairly short. The area is pretty hilly, so most trails have a good elevation gain. Aside from the hiking, you can stroll the garden and picnic in the grass in front of the villa. They have some art installations around the grass and in the garden that are fun to look at. They also have concerts here, there is a stage outside, but I've only ever seen one inside the concert hall. They're usually smaller names and smaller shows.

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

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

One of my go-to hiking trails that I have been going to for years. I guess I never reviewed it…read morebecause I wanted it to stay a secret. Oh well, the world must know what a great spot this is. This is a well-hidden trail and there is no parking. I very rarely see people on the trail. The views are incredible and it is wonderful to be able to spend some time in the woods and get away from the hustle and bustle.

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

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

I have come here countless times over the years. It's one of my favorite spots. It's peaceful, not…read moreoverly crowded, and has a really calming, almost zen feel to it. The views of the water and surrounding hills make it a great place to reset for a bit. Perfect for a quiet walk, light hike, or just getting away from the noise for a while.

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