Intended to hike the usual Mission Peak, but was short on time, so found this mini version and am…read moreso 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.

This is a great wilderness park south of San Jose. There are trails winding through the hills for…read morewalkers, 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.

if you know YOU KNOW. i still have nightmares about this park. dusty, hot, hilly to the max! you'll…read moreget some days where it's above 90° and this course does a great job making it feel above 100°. drastic uphills followed my STEEP downhills, not the long and gradual hills hype of xc course. one flat back section that's 0.7 miles but otherwise ur in for a treat! bees on occasions and lack of shade. besides that, i miss this course sm now that im graduated. its tough! not for the faint of heart, but no doubt truly rewarding by the end of it all! for reference, my 5k is a 20:18 but my time for the 2.74 mile course is a 19:18. my second mile is ALWAYS 45-60secs slower than my 1st/3rd mile. that should tell u something

Great local place for leisurely hiking. It's sort of like a figure 8 trail on the backside of…read moreEvergreen Community College. But don't be fooled... there's a monster hill to climb if you want something a little tougher. It's about 0.125 miles up from the tree at the bottom to the first lookout point at the top. In other words, 1 miles after 4 up and downs. Probably 0.75 miles if you walk the loops. It can be busy on Saturdays but Sunday mornings are chill.

Fremont Older Preserve is right in the neighborhood and has trails of various lengths, perfect for…read morea short walk or lengthier, leisurely hike. How did I not know about this spot growing up! This natural sanctuary from everyday life is nestled right into Cupertino. No narrow, winding, hilly driving necessary. No need to go too far to get a scenic hike and a view. Just drive a bit into a neighborhood and park by the street near the trailhead. This place is beautifully grassy and lush, with areas that feel surprisingly removed from Silicon Valley life despite being so close by. I'm conflicted about sharing this somewhat hidden gem, but it's such a nice place to be. Looking forward to visiting a few times as the weather gets warmer :)

Loved the trail, but FYI there are a ton of ticks. We're lucky our dog is on Simparica Trio, but we…read morestill found one biting and stuck on her belly. Make sure to check your pups carefully after!

Cane here on 4th of July for a family hike. Found parking inside when we arrived around 9. Took…read moreabout 45m roundtrip to hike the Maisie's peak. We ran into a lot of friendly people. Keep in mind it gets hot with minimal shade. Overall would do again for a nearby hike.

I always love coming here for a hike. There is multiple trails available and a lot of nice views…read more Biking is allowed on the trails too, just stay clear of the people biking. The only downside is if you come in through the prospect road entrance there isn't a lot of parking spots, so it's all about luck and timing. Also, please don't double park because then people can't get out, I saw it first hand happen to someone

This is one of our group's favorite "out and back" mtb spots. Acquinas is challenging, especially…read moreduring the summer. The trail has some pretty rocky and loose spots so it's always fun! When here, we mostly encounter fellow riders and an occasional hiker or two.

El Sereno OSP may be one of the least popular and best-hidden open spaces in the South Bay. I…read morecertainly didn't know about it until a few years ago, and then it took me that long to visit. It's hard to get to - The only parking is far off the beaten path, at the top of the narrow and twisty Montevina Rd. There's room for 5-7 cars...depending on how badly others park. I arrived on a chilly sunday morning in winter and was the first one there. (When i returned to parking later there was only one other car). It's a small preserve, with zero amenities. It contains seven miles of trails, and I was able to explore the majority of those through a series of there-and-back legs, for a total of about 10 miles. (Sadly no loops are possible). On the plus side, visitors have great views and plenty of solitude, apart from the occasional passing mountain biker. All trails are well-maintained fire roads, so there is plenty of room. To me, El Sereno felt a little more like a private park than a public open space, since many of those I encountered - 99% bikers - seemed to be from Los Gatos neighborhoods below (where there is zero street parking). Must be nice. Unless the open space folks make public access easier, I don't see that changing much. Hiking Spot Checklist: -- Parking: Very small pulloff at the top of Montevina Rd. -- Bathrooms: None -- Potable water provided: No -- Maps provided: Not on my visit -- Highlights: Wide trails through mostly open chaparral; nice views

A great little spot to get up out of the city air of San Jose beautiful skies, peaceful quiet not…read moretoo busy if you're looking for a little get away from everybody it's worth the drive. It is a slow steady road going kitten to the top but so worth it.

This was a really great park with endless trails for different ranges of hikers. It's always best…read moreto come early in the morning due to the limited parking. The loop around the lake is pretty great and there's a lot of sights to see. The middle islands have some really cool and rare birds. We were able to run into different people and some were experts in bird spotting, which is always a cool thing. There's so many different types of animals so it was an exciting hike.

A great spot where locals hang out by the water, fish, bike & hike the trails…read more You can get up in the mountains or walk as far as you want to from the trailheads.

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.

Amazing hiking spot with geocaches if you're into that kind of thing. We did the 4 mile loop and…read morewere able to finish it within 2hrs. The drive up to the hike spot is amazing as well but would recommend downloading offline maps as cell coverage is barely there.

Upper Stevens Creek County Park shares nothing with Stevens Creek County Park except the name…read more Nope, they don't even border each other. The Upper park is the slightly larger of the two, with 1,280 acres of protected space. It borders Monte Bello OSP to the north, Saratoga Gap OSP to the southeast, and Long Ridge OSP to the west (if you don't count Skyline Blvd which runs between them). The park runs generally from north to south. The only place to park is at the Grizzly Flat Trail, where there's a dirt shoulder on both sides of Skyline Blvd. This is one of the places where the park connects with Long Ridge OSP; the other is at Charcoal Road (a fire road). Traffic from Skyline Blvd is inaudible once you're in the park. This is better than at Saratoga Gap OSP, where the Saratoga Gap Trail runs mostly within earshot of the road. Most of the trails in Upper Stevens Creek are multi-use; the one exception is the Table Mountain Trail, a single-track trail where bikes are not permitted. This trail is narrow, and two people cannot squeeze past each other without one of them yielding. Trails in this park are all mostly shaded. You lose up to 1,000 feet of elevation as you go further into the park, so be prepared to work those calves going back out! Overall, Upper Stevens Creek is fairly limited. There are no bathrooms and no potable water. No amazing panoramic views. There's no big loop that will take you all around the park, but you can make a bigger loop if you cut into and back out of Long Ridge OSP. The main appeal of this place is its relative proximity to South Bay and its connecting with other preserves in the area.