Small Wunder A…read more940-acre park nestled in the eastern Redwoods and madrone-laden slopes of King Mountain. The name of the park is derived from contractor Martin Wunderlich, who donated the land to San Mateo County. The Good: * Free to visit * Parking lot * Picnic tables available * Restroom in parking lot * Seventeen miles of trails, including several loops. * If you like horses, then this is the place for you! There's a really cool old historic stable and lots of equine action to be found. * Camping available (https://www.smcgov.org/parks/make-reservation) The Meh: * Currently, no recreational horse activities like trail rides and lessons are available. * Crazy elevation gains, as trail elevations run from ±350' to over 4,300'. Be sure to check the trail guides to make sure you don't get in over your head. * No dogs allowed The Ugly: * The restroom has no running water, just hand sanitizer. * I'll admit, I'm not a fan of horses, and having to share trails with horses isn't my idea of a good time. Conclusion: Not the biggest park in this area that's full of fantastic OSPs, but it's certainly worth a visit--especially if you're a hippophile.

Hiked at Wunderlich Park on a sunny Saturday in March! We used AllTrails for directions and we…read morereached around 9am - to our surprise, the parking lot was full by then so definitely recommend coming earlier. There were multiple cars circling around looking for a spot as well. We ended up waiting about 30 minutes before parking. We did the Bear Gulch and Alambique trail clockwise. There are some brief steep sections, but for the most part, the trail was moderate in terms of difficulty. We didn't encounter too many people despite all the cars in the lot. We spotted a small snake on the trail and there was a lot of horse manure on the Alambique portions, so we had to watch our step closely. The trail was mostly shaded which was nice, but there wasn't much of a view. Overall, the trail was well marked and maintained (minus the manure on Alambique). Good hike for a sunny day, but the parking lot situation could be improved.

This is a place I have been visiting since childhood. I grew up nearby and attended Covington…read moreJunior High, and we often biked to this park as kids. As we move beyond our teenage years into our 20s and beyond, we start to cherish vivid memories of our past. If you're looking for a great spot to take a leisurely walk, not far from the preserve, where you can enjoy the laughter and cries of people and children, I highly recommend Shoup Park. It's a peaceful and serene place to escape and unwind.

A small park near Los Altos downtown with playground, shaded grassy picnic area surrounded by big…read moreredwood trees, public restroom, event hall and a short walking trail. It's located next to Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, there is a trail connected both parks. The barbecue grill area is quite new and spacious. The grill, sink and tap water are all well-maintained. Ample of free parking.

Took the kids hiking today after brunch and was only expecting to see banana slugs but there was…read morequite the bloom of fungi everywhere! My daughter loves spotting mushrooms so I've been encouraging her to learn their names and identifying them. I've taught her that all mushrooms are okay to touch but not all are edible. We are nowhere close to being expert foragers. Anyway, here are some of our fungi findings!

Space Case 308-acre…read morepreserve located not too far from the Saratoga-Cupertino border that's quite the hidden gem. The Good: *Free! *Fairly large paved parking lot *Restroom at the beginning of the trail near the winery *And speaking of winery, historic Picchetti Winery is right there so you can do a hike and schedule a wine tasting on the same day. Great spot for dates (hint hint). *Great place for wildlife and wildflowers! *If you have a kid that's obsessed with lizards, bring them here. So many salamanders! But please, don't let your kids harass them. *Equestrian trails (only certain ones) *Lots of options for small loops *Trails are in pretty good shape and mostly shaded. The Meh: *No dogs The Ugly: *The actual park only features a paltry 3.7 miles of trails, but their trails do connect to Stevens Creek County Park to extend your hike, if you wish. Conclusion: Great park for visitors of all ages, but especially if you're a wino.

"Beautiful Mountain" Yes, indeed!…read more PSA: No dogs allowed - I had to leave mine at home. It's ok, you can enjoy this one alone! Take the drive! Yes, the road is windy and please slow for cyclists on your way up. Come along, sing a song. Dancing feet, magical retreat. Bring a friend or brave alone, it'll be worthwhile - 2, 4, or 7 miles! Our small group hiked the 7 mile loop, and had many photos stops along the way. Our leisure hike took approximately 4.5 hours. We spotted a tarantula early on the trail, other hiking groups, a backpacking group, bikers in groups and a few solo peeps. Shaded Hike & Open Space Sunny Hike: If you're wanting a shaded hike, start on the White Oak Trail located to the right of the Monte Bello parking. If you begin your hike on Bella Vista Trail, it's more of an open space with direct sunlight. Start early and enjoy! =)

Monte Bello is a hidden treasure for the Mid-Peninsula area…read more Funny thing, though. For being hidden, it's sure well known. To get there, you drive seven miles up a narrow, windy road. You're wondering if there's anything here besides big houses on tree-filled hills. Make a sharp left at Foothills Park - oops, never mind, you don't live in PA, you can't drive in here. More driving, more driving . . . and you finally get there, only to find a spacious parking lot crammed with cars. Here's why I gave it five stars: At first, it looks like typical landscape on this part of the Peninsula. But then I went down the narrow Stevens Creek Nature Trail. And ended up in a deep, dark forest with a babbling brook, pretty wildflowers, romantic bridges, and interpretive signs to explain what you're gazing at. If you felt like you got away from it all by driving up Page Mill Road, now you *really* feel like you're away from it all. Monte Bello also has a few peaks to climb up, and a backpacking camp. I'm itching to come back to try these out. I was not here long enough to really appreciate Monte Bello, but I saw enough to appreciate it a LOT. I had written about Russian Ridge that it's part of a conglomerate of Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserves that gives you a few days of outback hiking. Monte Bello is part of that conglomerate, which combines with Los Trancos (and Foothills Park, but don't tell anyone, shhhh) to give you even more wandering. And bring a lunch, because you'll be so mesmerized that you may forget to leave and get food.

An underrated gem hiding in plain sight Pearson-Arastradero…read morePreserve genuinely surprised me. The Arastradero Creek + Acorn Loop (~2.5 miles) packs in way more variety than you'd expect from a short trail -- you start in cool, shaded creek corridor that feels completely removed from the suburbs, then the path opens up into sweeping golden grasslands with those big, open Bay Area skies that make you remember why you live here. The difficulty sits right at that sweet spot between "actually a walk in the park" and "satisfying enough to feel like a real hike." Elevation gain is gentle but present, terrain is well-maintained dirt trail, and the whole loop flows naturally without any confusing junctions. Wildlife spotting is a real highlight -- keep your eyes up and you'll likely catch red-tailed hawks riding thermals over the hills. Early morning is magical here. So is sunset. A few practical notes: parking is free, dogs are welcome on leash, and the trailhead is easy to find off Arastradero Road. It never felt overcrowded on my visit, which for the Bay Area is honestly remarkable. If you're in Palo Alto or anywhere on the Peninsula and need a quick mental reset without a long drive, this is the move. One of those places you'll want to keep to yourself -- but can't help telling people about.

Decided to go running here this past weekend and was glad there was no winding road on the drive…read moreover. Appreciated the conveniences I found, including a strong cell phone signal in the area, a parking lot on site, and restrooms at the gateway building just steps away. There was a bit of seating and several nature exhibits educating visitors about the surrounding habitats. Interactive displays included bird calls of the quail, red-shouldered hawk, and meadowlark, and animal tracks of creatures like raccoons, bobcats, deer, and coyotes imprinted with descriptions. Deer, coyote, and rabbit scat too, though I found the accuracy of this display questionable. The only actual poop I saw on the trail was horse manure... piles of it. The place had multiple trails with easy access from the parking lot. I mainly hiked the Redtail Loop which stretched through the grassy hills, with scenic views and a few benches along the way, and of course plenty of clear signs noting the connecting trails and miles on each marker as well as the path to Arastradero Lake. The gateway facility and trails appeared to be well kept, a great setting altogether for getting your steps in or just taking in the fresh air and tranquil environment.

Came here for the Spring Ridge Trail hike on 8/1, which is 2 miles one-way. There is a public…read moreparking lot right where the trail head is, it does get full but there is street parking right outside the lot as well. There is a bathroom outhouse right in front of the trail. This trail isn't too steep, mostly slow incline all the way up except for a few short steeper parts. The path is mostly dirt and lots of small rocks especially on the hilly parts. On the way, we saw some insects like flies, dragonflies, and a warning sign for rattlesnakes. Also saw 1 lizard.

Had my first hike of the year, and it was a beauty! The weather worked in my favor, and hitting…read moregolden hour was a bonus. I should have stayed longer to hit sunset, but that can be for another time. It was definitely windy, so be mindful of that if you decide to trek here. The views were so worth it!

It had been several years since I last visited this park, but I enjoyed my recent run here on a…read moreTuesday afternoon just before sunset. Parking was easy, and there's a restroom near the main lot for convenience. I appreciated the relaxing atmosphere while taking in the beautiful scenery and exploring the various features of the park. Waterbirds in the pond, lovely trees and vegetation, a few benches scattered throughout, and seemingly endless fields of rolling hills, as well as a creative pattern of trails weaving in and around the park, which made it ideal for running. I even revisited one of the most unique trails here, The Great Spirit Path, a collection of stone sculptures with a nature-themed poem by Susan Dunlap broken up into verses displayed throughout the park (see my separate review for more on "The Great Spirit Path"). I was a little disappointed to find that some of the sculptures, mostly near the parking lot, are missing or destroyed (as of December 2025). But further into the grassy hills, I was glad to see that a majority of the artwork still stands, some marred by vandalism, but most intact having withstood the passing of time. This trail makes for an interesting hike, discovering pieces of art that blend in nicely with the surrounding natural environment.

Appreciate the large open space of several pebble and dirt trails. Good to get some air and…read moreexercise. Good therePlenty of parking! Not much of a view. Smells a bit from the marsh It's alright

Visited Skyline on a Saturday in July at 9am! Decided to do the Horseshoe lake, Alpine pond, and…read moreBorel Hill trail counterclockwise and the parking lot was right by the trailhead. Trail was well-maintained and there were markers throughout. Didn't encounter too many other people. Nice views of the Bay Area - the park is high up so it was cool being above the clouds! Took me about 2 hours and 30 min to finish and I would say the hike was easy-moderate! The roads leading up to the park are a bit windy so just be mindful of that. Would recommend to those looking for beginner friendly hikes!

This is a great space for stargazing and panaromic views of the bay area. I wish the drive to get…read morethere wasn't as hard as it is.