This is a nice, flat trail that overlooks 101 and parts of the Bay. I love coming here just to take…read morein the sun and scenery. The trail is very spacious so you'll encounter runners, bikes, but mostly people strolling along. Since it's along the freeway, this trail is not shaded so make sure to bring sunglasses or hats. Also, no pets allowed on this trail as some may wander too close to the water.

accessible from bair island in rwc, this is a great little trail measuring 1.75mi long, so you can…read moreget 3.5mi round trip. this is a flat, crushed dirt trail, suitable for cyclists, runners, walkers, strollers and 4-legged animals. there's no shade here so be sure to wear a hat & sunscreen if you're out in the middle of a warm summer day. there's also no restrooms and water fountains so be sure to take care of your business before starting on this trail. beautiful views of bair island, the bay and wildlife in the peninsula. a great place to see the sunset if you're in the peninsula.

Mountain View has many parks, and Fairmont Park seems like one of the smallest…read more The park has modest features: * A sandy area with a small play structure and toddler swings * A couple benches * A shaded grassy area with 3 small picnic tables * A bike rack The entire park is fenced off, with only one opening at the entrance. There is a drinking fountain but no restrooms. The park seems to be upkept well by the city. This is not a destination park, but it's a nice asset to the neighborhood nearby.

What a quaint little neighborhood park that is a small well shaded park that is completely fenced…read moreoff with the exception of the entrance. I would say that this is a nice park to take small children to since it is very well surrounded by a fence, which adds to a level of security that is not always available at many of the other parks I have been to with Mamba (my dog). I spend over an hour at this park this morning with my sister and Mamba. During our visit there were no other visitors. How nice it was to sit under the trees in the picnic area during the early Sunday morning hours and just relax, chat and sip on our ice coffees. Amenities include the following: Picnic tables Benches Preschool aged play structure and sand pit area Nice green lawns Doggie poop bags

Los Trancos is one of several open space preserves in the area. There are similarities to the…read moreothers, and also some differences. The big difference is the ability to walk on the infamous San Andreas Fault. I did not go on the trail dedicated to the study of the Fault. But there are posts in the ground near the parking lot, showing the location of the actual fault. Similar to the Earthquake Trail at Point Reyes. Go down the Franciscan Loop Trail a little ways, and there is a depression several feet deep, an indication of where the plates meet. The Fault is clearer here than anywhere else. Other than that, the geography is similar to other parks on the Peninsula. An alternation between oak forest and open grassland. Several nice spots to put down a blanket and have a picnic. Because it's smaller than the other preserves and across the street from mighty Monte Bello, it may be hard to escape the people. But if you're in shape, you can hike all the way into Palo Alto's exclusive Foothills Park to intersect with its long Los Trancos Trail (which I did). My favorite part was the Lost Creek Trail, looping through a pretty forest to a babbling brook complete with tiny waterfalls. Makes you wonder why they went to the trouble to make an open space park out of this land. I can think of a big reason: potential development. You can see houses from this land, some located on or near Page Mill Road and very close to the trail. Mid-Peninsula OSP, and I, think that if Los Trancos had not been preserved, it would have been filled with McMansions by 1994. Instead, it's now a place to rejuvenate yourself. If you're in the area, you have many days worth of hiking that you could do. And Los Trancos Preserve should be part of that adventure.

Excellent hike for tourists and locals alike. No better place for an interpretive, educational hike…read moreabout the San Andreas Fault. Excellent guide brochure and easy to follow Trail. Numbered guideposts correspond with printed narrative. Before going, read up on the geology and the San Andreas Fault. Even if you're not a geology buff, it's interesting to know that you're standing at the place where the 1906 earthquake had so much effect. Entrance is free of charge. Google Maps takes you to the wrong location. But there is a sign at the wrong location pointing you 1 km down the road to the right location. The parking area and trailheads are well-marked on Page Mill Road.

This is a great park secluded in the neighborhood of a few small courts. It may be a bit weird…read moreparking near other people's homes but there are plenty of spots to consider. The address may be inaccurate so I suggest navigating to one of the houses nearby off of Darwin. The play structures have a great variety of modalities ranging from those for bigger kids and a structure dedicated to younger kids. There's a spinner, two slides, a bridge, monkey bars, a rock wall for climbing, rope climbing structure, swings, and even a table for imaginary play. The flooring is padded and really safe for kids of all ages. I love that there's no tan bark/wood chips like the other parks. There isn't a lot of shade so on sunny days, make sure to bring water and take breaks. Overall, this is a quiet and stimulating park for children of all ages. Will definitely be back!

I discovered this tiny park while looking for a non-crowded entry-point to the Alameda Creek Trail…read more This "park" is really just a nicely connected path snaking its way through the neighborhood around Chaucer Drive to the trail. It's really convenient and easy to find neighborhood street parking. I didn't see facilities or anything but it's a nice starting area for a jog or walk along the Creek.

Not only is there something for everyone at Rancho San Antonio, but it's also very close to South…read moreBay cities, making it perhaps the most popular preserve in South Bay. Good luck trying to park here on weekends. Fortunately, there are a few side entrances that are far less crowded. One of these is the trailhead at the end of Mora Drive. Parking is unavailable here, but there are pockets of street parking half a mile down the road. The trailhead puts you onto the Mora Trail, a 0.9-mile trail connecting to the rest of the preserve. To the southeast, the paved section of the trail runs downhill and connects with the Lower Meadow Trail close to the Deer Hollow Farm, a popular spot for families. Going back uphill on this section of the Mora Trail makes for a short but decent calf workout! Plus, along this section is a lookout point with a sweeping view of South Bay. And to the west of the trailhead, the unpaved section of the Mora Trail terminates at the Ravensbury Trail. From here you can get on either the Chamise Trail or the Rogue Valley Trail - both great hiking options. Personally, I've never started my runs at the Mora Trail due to the lack of nearby parking. But we'll see what happens if Rancho gets even more crowded than it already is!

Big smiles, everybody --Jonathan Mora (Earth-31916)…read more Jim Mora's playoff rant did not seem appropriate here as the lead quote. But as the days shorten, when you get a chance to hit a mid week trail head you take it! DEfinite big smiles! After Glenn G's Bohemian Rhapsody of a review, when we got together for some more Bro time, this was an easy trail to hit. Like Glenn wrote, parking is difficult to find thanks to street signs prohibiting daytime parking but there are a few good spots. This is the back ways trail into the Rancho San Antonio Open Preserve and County Park but I'd like to clear up some confusion you see on the web. A lot of people list the the Open Preserve, including my very intelligent friend, as 165 acres. When I read that number it just seemed instinctively wrong. It seems the Preserve is 3,988-acres but it is the adjoining County Park that is 165 acres. However a lot of people on the Web list the whole Preserve at 165 acres. So correct those links people so that Yelpers can provide the correct info!!! ;) The trails here are quite lovely and except on the return loop we were thankfully devoid of seeing too many humans. Except one douchebag with a pony tail who ran up behind Glenn and I, went fast in the middle between us and then yelled back as the entitled hipster he lives his life as with a :"Hey, the trails are for sharing!". I think I yelled something back like: "Yeah, I'll remember that the next time I grow eyes in the back of my f#^%&ing head you pony haired moron!" I so wanted to run that guy down and headbutt him a few times to show him how I share a trail but Glenn being the cool mediator counseled it wasn't worth it and to let it go. Other than that few minutes of ridiculousness, it was a lovely hike with beautiful views and the requisite deer and wild turkeys. When in the area, I would definitely seek this out as it is far less crowded than the main Rancho San Antonio entrances. Just watch out for the entitled pony haired freaks who think the people ahead of them read minds or have multiple eye sockets. Highly recommended (except for pony haired douches. You types stay away).

OVERALL I have to say Belmont is quite nice with affluent houses on hills, small town feel stores,…read moreand friendly people. I parked in a residential street and a guy watering his front yard pointed out that I had left my lights on. A complete stranger yet looking out for a fellow person. Located next to San Carlos and very near Redwood Shores. DRIVING Be sure to turn your wheels appropriately depending which way you're parked on the hill. Watch out for deer crossing. If you're lucky which I have been lately you will see a whole family of deer crossing the street or grazing alongside the road. 101 and 280 can be used to get to Belmont. WEATHER not as hot as South Bay but definitely not as cold as San Francisco.

Belmont is a beautiful little city tucked away beside San Mateo. I lived here with my grandparents…read morewhile attending community college before transferring to Cal. My favorite thing about Belmont is it's trail system. Throughout Belmont Heights and the surrounding neighborhoods is a sprawling trail system that goes around water dog lake and beyond. it's always a lovely place to hike/stroll or bring friends. Another good hike in Belmont is the watershed. The San Francisco Watershed provides beautiful hikes with views of crystal springs reservoir all on an internationally known cross country course. It's truly magical to go for runs or hikes here, especially in the crisp belmont mornings! Belmont is a fairly affluent city that is mostly quiet and very safe. It has close-knit neighbors and organizations and good eats! I love exploring new little places in the surrounding area. I hope i can afford to live in Belmont myself some day. It really is that great!

I was looking for an outdoor space to enjoy a quick meal while in the area this past Sunday,…read morepreferably with tables and parking and no creepy people around. The Beautiful Way Park seemed to fit the bill. Street parking was available on both The Alameda and Hanchett, directly in front of the park. The place was small, but it was sufficient for my needs during my recent visit. Table games can be found on site, including ping-pong, chess, foosball, and tic-tac-toe. And though some of the picnic tables were dirty and there was a bit of litter in sight, the setting was still fairly clean and inviting with lovely scenery adding a nice touch. Not to mention perfect weather on this summer evening. By the way, there's no restroom here, but Peet's Coffee is just steps away.

This is a tiny tiny Urban park with some benches a lot of fountain and... a couple of Table Tennis…read moretables. It was great to watch some youngsters playing Table Tennis and having a good time.

i recently started a new job working in downtown redwood city. since we get regular breaks during…read morethe day, i'm always looking for new places to walk around and explore. having lived in redwood for over a decade, i've explored pretty much everywhere there is to walk. however, one day, i stumbled upon this short trail just a few blocks from the office and it looked newly paved with a couple of benches along the path. i think not many ppl know about this walking path so it was pretty quiet and non-populated. i strolled back n forth and enjoyed the sunshine then went back to work. a great little hidden spot to take a break if you're working in downtown rwc or the nearby kaiser hospital.

Redwood Creek was discovered and named in 1851 by the settlers. It run off of San Francisco Bay…read moreinland to Red Woods City area and was used by the lumber companies to ship wood and logs from the redwood forests in the peninsula hills to San Francisco. Redwood City and Redwood Creek were originally known back in 1854 as Red Woods - famous for Sequoia sempervirens trees, or Coast Redwoods. In 1851 the first schooner named Redwood was built by G.M. Burnham, starting the shipbuilding industry in Redwood City, which remained active for 32 years. The last wooden ship was launched in 1883 and was called the Perseverance.