This park is so small and cute! Came here for a dusky walk before dinner. The boardwalk weaves…read morethrough a grove of redwoods, hovering over what likely fills to be a nice creek during wetter seasons. There are a lot of birds hanging up in the upper parts of the trees. We couldn't see them but could hear wingbeats every so often. The park connects very conveniently to another one with playgrounds, fields, rec center, and restrooms.

This is a nice little 6-acre open space area in a residential neighborhood. I like it because you…read moredon't have to go far into the hills to see the redwoods, it's close to town. A short boardwalk trail goes around the trees. The preserve has a trail to Shoup Park, it's about a mile there and back with the preserve loop trail. I think this place would be much better in the wintertime when the streams are full of water. In the summer it was dry and hot even in the shade. This would be a good place for a birder; I heard many birds throughout and saw a few woodpeckers.

My first time visiting here…read more Absolutely gorgeous. If you're into quiet drives surrounded by nature, and/or love hiking, this is the place for you and your family and friends. Bicycling, jogging or just walking, this is the place for you.

One of the most interesting hikes I've been on in the South Bay!…read more We took a random hike on a Sunday afternoon, and it actually wasn't too crowded in the lot or on the trail. There's a number of different types of trails you can go on. It fascinated me how it alternated between a regular trail, to smoother hills, to a bit of a rocky climb. I would definitely recommend stopping by, especially for the gorgeous views!

I love Rancho San Antonio! It can get pretty busy on weekends, so I usually just walk there from…read morehome. If you drop by on a weekday morning or afternoon, parking is typically a lot easier. The park is beautiful and well-maintained. There are several trails with ranging difficulty levels, so you can choose your adventure. There are flat dirt sections, slightly rocky sections, and some that are paved. You'll often spot deer, squirrels, wild turkeys, and sometimes coyotes wandering around, plus some really pretty birds! You can also drop by the farm to see some livestock.

This is our favorite location to hike. It has trails for every level and all ages of hikers…read more The easy trail leads to a farm. The more difficult one leads to the higher ground for a good view of the Bay Area. On the trails, people can see various wild animals. For example: deers, turkeys, and squirrels. We have not encountered any mountain lions yet. Parking will be easier if one comes: -- early at 6AM for the first wave -- 2nd wave would be 8:15AM

This trail is challenging. Proceed only if you can handle elevation of uphill all the way for the…read morefirst appro. 1 mile. We started off at rhus ridge trailhead. Trail was steep and mostly in shade. Nice valley view along the way to look at and you can see the bay afar. Very quiet and unpopular trail. At many points, you'd feel there's only you and your companion in the whole mountain. There's a warning sign of mountain lion but we didn't see any, not that I wanted to. :) Recommend to use hiking stick. It'd take about 4 hours to complete the whole trail. If you walk slower it'd be longer.

This was my 8th and last Peak in 2024 which I hiked solo in late Dec…read more I was ill prepared for the rain because I did not believe it would happen. I did not bring an umbrella, and I wore a fleece instead of a windbreaker. It was drizzling on and off, I had to take shelter under trees to wait out the heavier rain sections. The good part of today was that I practically had the whole mountain to myself, it's really being alone; I crossed paths with 7 other solo hikers. The bad part was that I am afraid of getting lost by myself. Here are my observations on this hike. Saw some animals up close: deer, rabbit, and a big black loud bird. Climbed over a down tree on the trail. Noticed lots of ferns and moss, so it must be shady and wet here year round. Noticed the dirt near the top is black while the dirt near the bottom is red. Started the trailhead from the Old Quarry at 10:30am, 12 miles round trip. 2.5 hrs up; 1.5 hrs down

Was looking for a simple trail to walk with my parents when I found Stevens Creek on All Trails…read more Went on a Saturday around 10am and it was pretty busy. It's an out and back trail - we started near Cooper Park, walked about 2 miles and then turned back. Trail is well maintained, but it felt a bit crowded at times as with all the pedestrians and cyclists. It was somewhat shaded, but the portion we walked did not have much of a view. The bridges also pass over highways and busy roads so it didn't really feel like we were in nature. Overall, Stevens Creek is an easy and conveniently located trail, but fairly average in terms of scenery. I would consider coming back on a weekday if I am looking for a relaxed stroll

Easy trail with flat paved path. It leads to bridges that go over Central Expressway and 85…read more It's a nice trail to hike even in the Summer as there are a lot of sections with trees that shade the path. Lots of bike and ebike riders.

Fantastic Local Waterfront Spot for Families and Teams…read more This is a wonderful local gem if you are looking for a fun outdoor activity. We have visited a few times with our kids for paddle boating and sailing, and I have also successfully organized corporate team-building events with the paddle boats here. Online booking is very easy (you can also book in person) and the prices are very affordable. While we haven't tried them yet, they also offer sailing lessons and summer camps. Previously, we loved grabbing a bite to eat on the outdoor patio of the adjacent restaurant, which is currently closed for renovations--we are highly anticipating its reopening! Additionally, they recently demolished the old playground boat structure, and while we aren't sure if it will be replaced, there are still plenty of great grassy areas perfect for picnicking or simply watching the boats on the water. I would recommend this as a versatile spot for small group outings. Please note that you have to drive quite a bit in from Shoreline, no dogs are allowed (what a bummer), and parking can be a bit rough if you don't get here early.

The pedal boat was fun and a nice way to spend time out on the water. However, we were informed by…read morethe workers that we could only stay within a certain area because of the wind conditions. It would've been a lot better if we could have gone farther out and explored more of the lake instead of staying in one specific area. Parking is limited, so arrive early to find a spot without hassle.

"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.

Fun spot to come for a hike if you want to see some horses and experience a variety of scenery…read more You start in a pretty big open hilly field, this area is mostly brush, though there is a clear trail. There's a tree at the top of the hill, though no shade other than that. This is the area where we saw the horses. We tried following along with All Trails, but the route on there did a lot of figure 8's and was hard to really comprehend. Luckily with the guidance from other hikers we were able to extend our hike out of this immediate area and make it back to the car. The trail continues out of this fenced in area with multiple different ways to go. There is some signage, though it's rather old and you can tell that some of the directional signs have fallen off. We headed down the hill, out of the gate, next to a house with a vineyard, then down into a tree covered path that went next to the mostly dried up creek. This area was nice and shaded, a little steep in some areas, but not too bad. I liked that you had a number of different routes you could take to make this hike longer or shorter depending on your adventure, but more and better signage would be a welcome addition. We parked at the trail head, it was a pretty big lot with a lot of spots. By the time we got back, it was pretty packed, but there was another area before you enter with some extra parking if this area is full. We were pretty surprised to see so many cars, as the trail didn't feel crowded and we often went long stretches without seeing anyone.

This is a great hidden spot for hiking. It's a 55-acre nature preserve in Los Altos Hills. It's…read morequiet and peaceful with a great change of scenery. If you park in the parking lot on Altamont, you see rolling hills and pasture. Once you walk into the preserve it becomes more of a wooded and shaded area. The paths are well worn and well marked. Please be careful when it rains. The path looks like mostly clay and is really slippery. Look out for horses because it's a horse path. Dogs need to be on leashes for this park.

If you enjoy hiking or taking leisurely walks, you must visit this park nestled in the foothill…read morearea of Palo Alto. We discovered it one afternoon when we wanted to take a stroll after lunch, arriving around 2 pm PST. The park has an entrance fee of $6. It offers a variety of activities such as fishing, picnicking with BBQ areas, walking, biking, and even camping. The park is quite expansive, featuring many flat areas and opportunities to spot wildlife. Although there is plenty of parking available in different sections of the park, finding a spot might be challenging during busy times. This park is a good place if you want be in quite place , me time and enjoy nature. You can also drive around the park to explore its different sections. I plan to visit again in the morning, bring lunch, and walk around to fully enjoy all the areas this park has to offer.

Great outdoor destination that features incredible panoramic views and a beautiful lake right in…read morethe center of the grounds. The trail system is fantastic for a day of exploring and the general atmosphere is incredibly peaceful. The only downside is that you have to pay to enter. The good news is its a per vehicle cost not per person

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!