I found Wunderlich Park in a book - 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area. I had never heard of it prior to reading about it but it sounded like a great place to hike, so on a warm Saturday afternoon, we headed to the south bay to check it out. We had a fun hike through the forest - I think we did a 5+ mile loop - and enjoyed the views as soon as we reached the beautiful Alambique Flat meadow that overlooks part of the Silicon Valley. What a great place to enjoy a picnic. Pros: free parking, no entrance fees, lots of shade, good for hikers of all skill levels, equestrian friendly, a good place to enjoy nature. Make sure to keep an eye out for the pond! Cons: very muddy after the rains, make sure to avoid the horse poops if you are a runner or hiker, small parking lot. If you are interested in learning more about the park (and how it's related to the Folger family, of coffee fame), visit the County of San Mateo webpage on Wunderlich: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/portal/site/parks/menuitem.f13bead76123ee4482439054d17332a0/?vgnextoid=648bc8909231e110VgnVCM1000001d37230aRCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1 read more

Wow, nice spot on the peninsula to go hiking. Short drive off the highway through Woodside. Small lot parking, with minimal services, a port-o potty and water fountain. Then you are on your own. At the entrance is a large beautiful stable from the old Foldgers estate. Just watch the horse poop on the trails. But whats nice is alot of the trails are shaded and tree lined. Beautiful old redwoods with fern lining the trail. Lots of climbing and you can go up to skyline. There is a nice opening on the meadow trail. The trails are well marked with markers and distances, but take a map at the trailhead because the trails are all interconnected, Be prepared to hike in ascending and hike down coming back. There are benches along the way with spectacular views. The Medows is great place to stop for lunch. One of my favorite places to hike in the peninsula. read more

The Verdict: Great wildlife preserve with paths that offer sun and shade. This is an awesome natural preserve in Woodside. I recently went for a hike and loved the trails which had just the right amount of sun and shade (early August, noon on a Sunday). Some parts of the trail however looked unkept (branches dangling perilously over the trail) so be careful...also watch out for the horse droppings (many horses ride take the path...hold your nose). My favorite part was the hollowed out tree covered with moss. Would I Recommend It? Yes, I love this place! read more

Small ish park, but good elevation change, so good cardio. Parking lot is a bit tight.

Gorgeous park with fun trails. Some open space, but lots of shade too! Some elevation gain, but nothing too crazy. Not too crowded in the weekdays and I got a pretty solid trail run in read more

This is the perfect trail if you don't want to drive all the way up to highway 35 or just pay $5 at Huddart park. My first time here was early January so there were a few creeks and waterfalls here and there. The trails here can make it an easy 3-mile hike or a 5-mile moderate if you take the Skyline trail. I took most of the hiking only trails cause I don't like the smell of horse poop. I highly suggest you avoid the horses trails because you will find yourself trying not to step on poop instead of enjoying view. The really enjoyed the hike and would definitely come back this summer... read more

I just happened upon this place when looking to squeeze in a quick trail run. It is a bit difficult to find, but thankfully there is a somewhat obvious sign at the park entrance. A VERY well-maintained place with park maps, equestrian parking and facilities, and wide trails. I took Bear Gulch trail to start and LOVED it because it was 95% shade. Not a lot of wind movement because of the thick canopy, but so great for a warm day still! I came down on Meadow trail that was probably 50/50 shade/sun. This trail opened up and was big enough for a truck to come through. Great vistas and not as much horse poop as others have mentioned. I felt safe, the maps and trails were clearly marked and it was far away from exhaust and crowds. For as much as this place caters to the equestrian crowd, I never encountered even one horse on my 5-mile loop. This place is a MUST VISIT for outdoor-lovers. read more

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Another great park for conditioning for an (equestrian) endurance ride! Nice fire road type trails with decent footing, and long smooth climbs. Opens out to a nice meadow at the top, from which you can ride along Skyline and down into Huddart or Purisima. This park is more open than Huddart, so generally warmer. There's lots of parking, but it tends to fill up fast. Also lots of poison oak - watch out! read more

Another quiet and peaceful lush forest park in this area. I was able to hike and think to myself at the same time. Good place for comtemplation. read more

Shady tree covered hiking conditions and interesting history. It's better to do some research on the history prior to visiting so you can be on the lookout for the landmarks--such as the green pond looking scene. This also is an active horse trail and with that is the biggest drawback---yep lots of poop--so sometimes it is difficult to enjoy the scenery because you "literally" need to keep focused on not stepping in it and or holding your breath.... Parking is relatively easy and bathroom wise--there is one permanent and large size port-o-potty available--which is also good practice for your exercise in holding your breath! read more

I hiked Wunderlich with a friend last weekend when it was recommended to me by my cousins who grew up on the peninsula. They talked this hike up big time and it did not disappoint!! The drive alone through the tree lined roads made it a worthwhile trip. We arrived at 8:30am on a Saturday and there was ample parking right in the lot at the trailhead. So many options for various trails and mileage, we had a general planned, but decided to extend our mileage by heading up Skyline. We didn't make it to the top due to time and other commitments, but can't wait to go back to make it to the top of the Skyline Trail and checkout what I imagine are even more awesome views. The redwoods are unreal and we found some pretty special photo opps along the way. We'll definitely be planning another trip soon! read more

Wunderlich Park - A huge tree stump along the Amblique Trail! So fun :) - Parks Near Me - Woodside, California

I have a love affair with redwoods. Not sure where it stems from, but I absolutely LOVE thinking about how old those trees are! This trail is a great way to get to see them. It's an easy trail and mostly shaded as well. This is my favorite place to take out of towners to see redwoods as it's nowhere as crowded as Muir and is much closer to where I live (San Mateo). The hike in to the redwoods also isn't too far if you have guests who are not inclined to walk. Definitely more of a "walk" than a "hike". Absolutely beautiful though .Worth a visit. read more

Wunderlich owned me as a first time hiker in 15+ years. I really need to get to the gym more often haha... For what I was led to believe as a beginner trail, the incline is a bit steep for the first 1/2 mile so if you don't pace yourself at the start you might get winded if your a like me. Great park, not too difficult to get to and the portopotty and convenient parking makes it pretty easy to get to. No bikers on the trails, so you don't need to worry about getting run over, but there's a lot of equistrians in the area apparently and the high volume of horse droppings along the trail encouraged me to spend more time looking at the ground than the nice surroundings. The trails are pretty well shaded so it's not too bad if it's sunny, but the elevation isn't too high so it can get a bit warm. read more

Love this park! Great variety in hikes - flat, uphill, meadow, redwood trees - this place is amazing! Kids loved the museum which gave them a free flashing horse pen. Gets crowded on weekends, but don't be deterred, it's a huge park. Kid friendly and great for a first hike for young toddlers. read more

favorite neighborhood trail. FYI the alambique trail currently has a ton of equipment heavy restoration projects going on. for scenic views, stick to the bear gulch side of trails!! read more

Great trails for kids. Not too steep but still ok incline to get a decent work out. Take Gulch Trail to the Meadows to Alambique. About 5.5 miles. Took 2 hours w 10 year old son. Trails are well marked w signs back to the parking lot. read more

Wunderlich Park - Parks Near Me - Woodside, California

Winter is wonderful time to visit Wunderlich. Particularly during an El Nino year, it is one of the Eastside parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains that rewards the stout of heart with one of the area's premier Figure 8 loops: a 10.5 mile trek from the Woodside Road trailheads all the way to the crest of the Skyline, and back again, using the Alambique up and Skyline/Alambique/Bear Gulch down. Along the way, you will pass through virtually all the scenic and natural features that this former Folger estate has to offer: eucalyptus groves with peeling bark and pungent aromas; old oak trees dripping with moss; some the sweetest smelling bay laurels you'll ever meet; small flats and meadows with grasses and manzanita; and deep, dark redwood gulches whose moist embrace and sylvan elegance will leave you enchanted. I'd recommend an early 8 am start - that's when the park opens, and you'll get good parking and quiet trails that way. With a strong and steady pace, you can complete the entire loop in 3 hours or less, although this does mean no idling about to admire the occasional valley-side views looking back to the Bay or along Monte Bello ridge. The loop would also make an excellent trail run - although my preference in that case would be a somewhat longer and harder route in nearby WIndy Hill Open Space Preserve, which has a steady and sometimes steep ascent to the summit and lots of switchback descents to choose from. You can also climb the Skyline twice to make things more interesting (up Spring Ridge, down Razorback, then up again on Hamm's Gulch and down on Spring Ridge at the end). Wunderlich reminds me in some ways of hiking in the Appalachians of WV, VA, and MD. There aren't epic ocean views, it's more misty-covered than fog-drenched, the signs of human habitation and former farming and ranching are very evident, and the park lacks the vast-scale canyons and enormous redwood and Douglas fir forests of the Westside open space preserves and wilderness parks, like Purisima, Long Ridge, Castle Rock, Big Basin, Portola Redwoods, Pescadero Creek, Butano, or El Corte de Madera. But that's part of the reason why a winter's morning hike at Wunderlich is so special; it feels like a place that humans have used, sometimes abused, and now allowed gently to return to a restored state of tender tranquility. It won't ever be the same now that the Folgers and their well-heeled Woodside successors have moved into the mountains. This isn't the time of the Ohlone and Brown bear; it's the time of Jobs and Ellison, Baez and Young, when 60s folk and 00s tech clash and co-mingle and sometimes cause one to wonder what it all can possibly mean. That's why Wunderlich, in its current form, truly matters. You can come here confused, anxious, entangled with the intractable problems of a well-lived life, and suddenly, after an hour, maybe two, of being all alone in the darkened woods, you'll drop the pretenses and simply let the mind stop wandering and worrying. You'll start to focus on the now. You'll inhale scents of laurel, eucalyptus, and wet pine, you'll feel the sun shine on your sweating face through the chilly shadows of a 40-degree morning, and you'll begin once more to breathe in that unreflected form of the child you once were. The body and mind will feel an unrelenting, all-encompassing calm that cannot be sung about, or sold on the Internet, or held in the palm of your smart-phone empowered hand. Here, a walking stick (or set of trekking poles) is all you really need. And, if the magic happens and reality crowds out illusion, you'll wonder no more about why this beautiful public park must continue to exist here, in the gently beating heart of uber-rich Woodside, on the quieter, redwood-cropped section of Silicon Valley. Time well invested, indeed. The morning after a heavy rain, with next to nothing on the trail to impede you, it's nature's beauty in a compact yet still challenging package. Happy winter-time holidays! Hope there will be a little Wunder in store for you and your loved ones real soon. read more

Excellent place for a quiet hike- my only gripe is that parking can be rough on weekends and that if you don't look down you may step in horse droppings- also so hard to walk past these beautiful horses locked up in Paddocks and not be able to pet them- they look so confined and lonely. read more

Wonderful shaded hiking with well marked trails! There are some semi steep grades throughout Alambique and Bear Gulch trails so be prepared. Parking does get crammed on the weekends, but its easy to park on Woodside just outside the entrance. As other reviews have noted, I like the Alambique Trail to Alambique Flat to the Meadows to Bear Gulch route. However, there is a map at the trailhead to follow, so you can easily plan your journey to the distance you prefer. Definitely a great destination to enjoy some quiet alone time or a vigorous hike with friends. read more

Good stuff - tough elevation climb right out of the gates here. They have decent trails for 1.5-3 mile loops, 4.5-6.5 mile loops, and 9.5-11 mile loops. Some draw backs - lots (read as LOTS) of horse manure on the trail. So keep your eyes peeled and watch where you step. Also keep your eyes open, as you will see deer (40% of the time, salamanders (rare), snakes (rare), coyotes (rare), and horses (sure thing!). Well shaded trails, and wide paths so you don't need to worry about poison oak, etc. read more

I grew up on the border of this park and remembered back when we could take our jeep into the park (yes I do date myself)! There is a great history to Wunderlich - this area was once the ranch of the Folger family and was donated to the County by Martin Wunderlich. There are many entrances to the park (some of them undocumented) but the main one is off of Woodside road (84). This is a great place to spend the day and take a great picnic to dine on at the meadows which has some commenorative benches (my mom had the first one in the park!) and picnic tables - complete with some great views of the valley. If you do not want to pack you lunch at home - go to Roberts in woodside. The market I grew up at. They have a great deli section and you can definitely create a gourmet picnic and pick up a bottle of wine to enjoy while dining.You can also take in a great local breakfast at Bucks or the Woodside Bakery across the road before embarking on your trek. If after lunch in the meadow you want to take in a little more of a hike you can go to the crossroads and take the loop up to skyline (it makes for a great day and you can walk off that delish lunch)! Here is the web site: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/department/home/0,,5556687_12313324_12368249,00.html#Activities Have fun!!!! And say hi! to my mom (Luverne Roosli) if you see her bench on the meadow. read more

A nice place to go hiking on the Peninsula in the summer with no parking/admission fees. We went up Alambique Trail and then came down via Bear Gulch Trail (about 5 miles round-trip), and most of the route was shaded. As a result, it never felt too hot even though we were hiking in the middle of the afternoon. The redwood forests are beautiful. Alambique Flat has a bench in a gorgeous grove of redwood trees where you can hear a babbling brook, even in late August. We also saw two deer here. This park definitely felt underrated; we saw very few other people on the trails, and there was still parking available on a Sunday afternoon. The park is a relatively easy drive from 280 through the quaint town of Woodside. A portable bathroom and running water is available in the parking lot. The only con was that there was lots of horse poop on the trail. read more

Beautiful for trail running and hiking, but you've got to keep an eye out for horses and larger groups on sunnier weekends. The views at the top of the trails are inspiring and rewarding and it's nice to head back down into the shade of the Redwoods after your finished with your workout. read more

Such a beautiful place. Peaceful and serene. Wunderlich park is where you can just clear your head and enjoy quiet nature. There is enough trail for every level, and a nice incline if you want a workout. read more

Hands down my favorite South Bay hiking spot in the summer. All the trails are nicely nested within a forest which allows for a nice shady climb. Everytime I come to this park, I hike up to Alice's Restaurant for some classic diner food (e.g. Waffles, brisket sandwich, etc) if you glance at the park maps, you can tell that there are multiple routes to get to the restaurant allowing for a unique journey each time you go. read more

Went to Wunderlich Park with a friend & somehow stumbled upon this park during a Hike The Bay day. We got caught up in their group for a little, but were able to get away after a little. I think that may be why the park was more crowded than I expected? Took the Gulch trail to the Meadows, and it was rather nice! Not super challenging - we went up on the Gulch trail and went down on the Redwoods trail. I think altogether it was just under 6 hours? We completed it in less than 2 hours, which isn't too bad. It's nice to be out in nature and in the redwoods, but be careful for the horse droppings! read more

Very pretty, cool and shady park. Really enjoyed a nice, easy hike here.

What a bummer to return here and find so much pavement. The parking lot is paved and so is the lower Alambique Trail. What are they thinking? One of the Peninsula's gems has been defiled. =============================== Nice trails. Have hiked from the parking lot to Hwy 35 twice. Both times enjoyable. The parking lot can get crowded at times and there is horse dung on the trails where horses are permitted. No bikes though. Sadly, someone broke into my car on the very day I'd invited a friend from the city to go hiking here (Nov 11, 2010). We both got ripped off pretty good. So, don't let the affluent surroundings lull you into a false sense of security. Returned ten days later and backed into a parking spot closest to the picnic tables at the head of the trails. Did five miles and came back at dusk. A suspicious old pickup was parked alone two spaces from me. So I stuffed everything into my pack and walked away as if I'd arrived by foot, then circled back around the path that runs parallel to the parking lot next to the highway. The person in the pickup never did get out of his vehicle, and once I made it obvious I was circling back, they left in a little bit of a hurry. On another note, the parking lot does get crowded at times, but the trails have never seemed overly crowded, especially if hike beyond the crossroads. It's steadily uphill all the way to Hwy 35, and steadily downhill all the way back to the parking lot. Taking the Loop Trail out and/or back helps take some of the bite out of the elevation changes. There is usually a fair amount of horse dung especially on Alambique Trail, however the equestrians have always been polite (they also have the right of way). The equestrians - and what they leave behind - I think are way more preferable than the aggressive bicyclists found elsewhere. read more

I recently visited Wunderlich twith the kids I am watching for the weekend. I hadn't been there in years and wasn't sure how it would be with a six year old. I was pleasantly surprised as there are horses everywhere and the staff at the barns are very welcoming. We were not there for lessons but rather to walk around and see the animals, they told us about each horse as well as it's name and even let us feed each one a carrot! There are two barns, one lower by the area where lessons are held and an upper barn that is less accessible to the public. There is a horse museum which we did not visit as it seemed better for older kids. The trails were nice, lots of lizards, butterfly's and bugs! I would recommend coming, just bring snacks and water and a smile for the barn staff! read more

Great park with runable (is that a word?) trails. You start out under a dark canopy of redwoods. As the trail climbs the vegetation changes to oaks and madrones. Near the top you are rewarded with an open golden hued meadow with sweeping views of the valley. Well traveled, so I feel safe hiking alone. read more

We used to drive for hours to visit Sequoia national park. But walking on the shaded trail of Wunderlich Park and admiring tall redwood, I felt like being in Arcadia, until I heard firetruck sirens nearby. We visited stables and the little museum. I'd love to spend more time in the little museum but my almost 4-yr-old didn't seem too interested. As we left she was given a horsehead pen and this made her day! Strolling along "Chinese wall" that survived multiple earthquakes, we followed the easiest trail hoping to get a glimpse of the Folger's grand house - we didn't. Instead, We reached Salamander pond, which surprisingly was all green - covered by duckweed. I really doubt if any salamanders can live there. Overall, it was fun to meet plenty of horseriders on the easy trail and we didn't mind the horse manure on the ground. Next time we'll try another trail. Hope it doesn't get too crowded. read more

Love this place! One of my favourite place to go for a hike! Its more up hill then some might like but the trails aren't too difficult and the scenery is amazing! If you hike up for about 30 min you will find yourself in a Cathedral of Redwoods! A few different hikes all wonderful! read more

What great trails! There are so many different options of trails to choose from. All of them are beautiful. It's so nice to be able to get away from everything and enjoy the silence under the trees. It's a perfect place to walk around on a warm day. The trees keep the trails nice and cool. I will definitely be back with a picnic! read more

Sections of certain trails were closed off on what would've been a 5.5 mile loop. The trail itself is very scenic and the trees provided great shade for hikers. Slight to moderate incline makes this a very easy and do-able workout. I highly enjoyed my time taking in nature's gift where squirrels and lizards freely roamed on tall redwood trees and then the occasional horses that shared the trail. However, I also spent a great deal of time avoiding horse dung which was consistently all over the trail so hikers beware! read more

Yes, this park is as good as it gets. My very favorite. Tree shaded trails and slight elevation so you don't get tired. We did the 11 mile loop to the summit. The sign at the meadow says 1430 ft. elevation. I'm wondering if the summit is even higher. It took us 6.5 hours but took several breaks along the way. read more

One of my favorite places to hike in the Bay area. Great in the summer when it's hot out, as most of the trails are shaded versus Windy Hill where I've nearly passed out from heat exhaustion. Hikes of all lengths... I've done 14 miles here regularly or quicker 3-5 mile hikes too. The grade is pretty gradual, which is nice going up and coming down. The port-a-potties are stinky like most port-a- potties, but at least there's somewhere to pee when you're done with a long hike. read more

Beautiful trails through trees. Kept up well and an occasional horse on the trail adds to the feeling of being outside. Highly suggested!

Great hike! Park is very shady, there are some nice rest spots with a bench. The maps are very helpful because park is big! My husband and I did almost 5 miles on only 2 trails. Didn't see any place to picnic. But overall a beautiful hike! read more

I just got back from a hike with a friend in Wunderlich. The parking lot is small, but it's free, not that I mind supporting the park system. We did a moderate 5 mile hike up to Skyline Boulevard and back, with a side trip to the Meadows. The trails were well maintained; the only catch is avoiding the plentiful horse poop. The rain has brought out the wonderful smell of eucalyptus at the beginning of the trail system and the redwood trees are just beautiful. There are benches are at perfect intervals for taking breaks, but the lack of a porta potty aside from the one in the parking lot means you need to enjoy the wilderness. Just make sure you don't wipe with the abundant poison oak! read more

This is one of the best hikes I have take in a long time. Depending on the amount of time you have to spare on a nice Sunday this shady hike is a easier stroll through the woods. I would recommend walking to the Skyline Trail which can take from 2-3 hours. Total distance is 8 miles roundtrip. We saw some great wildlife like birds, deers and lizards. There is a parking lot right off the street. Great find in Woodside! read more