Redwoods hike in the rain. We were in a cabin in the area and went out in a short window when the…read morerain wasn't so bad. The good thing about coming in the rain is no one else is around, we were the only ones on the windy roads and the only ones here. We did the bridge trail since the Tarwater trail was closed, wanted the kids to see the natural tar in the water and know why you shouldn't drink too much of the water from this area. The stream is full and alive during the rain and even the drive to here and back was epic. We came for redwoods and water but if you go on certain trails you can see the abandoned cabin and an old industrial water tank. There are amazing views of clouds and trees mixed together during this season. We stopped many times to take pictures of all this. We didn't see any animals because of the rain but the kids enjoyed seeing the different mushrooms, ferns along the creek, and looking for four leaf clovers.

Love this park! So glad San Mateo county parks used Pescadero Creek as part of the 2024 Take a…read morehike challenge. We've been back twice since going for the first time in February or March. Beautiful redwoods throughout the park. We tried the Pomponio trail; unfortunately all bridges over the creek are washed out so we weren't able to complete the loop trail. Regardless, hiking here is wonderful. Lots of banana slugs, a few cool spider webs, but still no elusive newts although I know they're there. We'll try the Pomponio trail again later this year once the creek flow has significantly reduced. Park at Memorial park, use the bathroom before (and after) starting, then walk about 5 minutes to the Old Haul Road trailhead

Great hike on a heatwave kind of day. We went on a weekday, so parking wasn't a problem for the…read moreapprox. 8 mile hike (out and back). Most of the trail is shaded and although the elevation is over 1,000 feet, there weren't any steep sections. There is a restroom at the parking lot, but not one at the top. No water at the top either so plan ahead and bring water! Wildflowers are starting to bloom, which is always a wonderful addition to spring-time hikes. In addition to the view, I appreciated all of the historical signage at the top.

Growing up in Almaden since I was a little kid, everyone always see and can recognize that little…read morebuilding/block on the top of the mountain. You always know how to find home just by looking at Mt. Umunhum. Once I got older, they opened it up at a tourist site where you can drive up, walk around and visit it! Been coming up here since high school and it never disappoints! Driving up, it's a windy 30 min drive for me and you get scenic views the whole way up. There are hiking trails on the way up too and bikers. Upon arrival there is a huge parking lot and stairs to get up to the main area. Enjoy the views at the lookout spot with history on the walls of what the purpose of this block/building was in the past. It was the Almaden Air Force Base! Highly recommend visiting and if its raining in the valley, it might be snowing up here. Came here when I was in highschool to experience it haha.

WILDLIFE TRACKING BASICS WITH PATHWAYS FOR WILDLIFE (PART 1 OF 2)…read more Friday, June 11, 2021 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm Online - virtual event About this Event Wildlife is all around us in the Bay Area. Diverse species of animals filter through our urban landscapes, crossing the boundaries of our homes, cities and the protected lands that surround our region. Whether you are visiting your local parks and preserves on the San Francisco Bay, the coast, the Santa Cruz mountains or the Diablo Range, there's a great chance you'll see wildlife, or at least signs of them. But how many of us can accurately identify these signs of wildlife, or use these signs to paint a picture of what's going on in nature? Join Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA) as we welcome local wildlife researchers Tanya Diamond and Ahiga Snyder of Pathways for Wildlife to share practical wildlife tracking skills with our community. They will share knowledge of how to identify various types of common wildlife tracks and other signs, and deepen your understanding of the wildlife communities living in our local landscapes. Through Pathways for Wildlife, Tanya and Ahiga are conducting groundbreaking wildlife research on the Peninsula, in the South Bay and further afield with a variety of nonprofits and public agency partners, including POST, Midpen and OSA. Using camera traps, wildlife collaring technology and other methods, Pathways for Wildlife is constructing a complex picture of how wildlife move across our landscape, and what we need to do to enhance the health of these animal communities. Wildlife tracking is one of the many skills in Tanya and Ahiga's toolbox as they survey the land and help organizations like ours plan for the health of our local wildlife. These two, 1-hour webinars are a rare chance to learn tracking from two local heroes of wildlife research. Wildlife Tracking Part 1: Friday, June 11 from noon to 1p.m. - Tracking Basics and a story about Badgers We will learn a basic framework for where and when to look for wildlife signs, the different types of signs to look for and some of the basic tracks you might see from a variety of local species. Tanya and Ahiga will also share some stories about how they are successfully tracking and monitoring one of the most elusive creatures in our region: the American badger! Wildlife Tracking Part 2: Friday July 9 from noon to 1p.m. - Advanced Tracking and Wildlife Connectivity We will expand on what we learned in Part 1 with more specifics about how to identify signs from some of the more challenging local species to track, and other tips for how to spot wildlife movement in our area. The Pathways for Wildlife Team will also share some details about the extensive wildlife movement studies they are conducting along major wildlife corridors in the region. You can register at EventBrite . This virtual event is FREE.

I joined several docent led hikes with midpen, I always enjoy the experience. The docents are…read moreusually very knowledgeable, friendly, and informative. Will join again and again

Well maintained hiking spot! We chose this hike because…read moreafter we were headed to Alpine Inn for dinner. We found the last parking spot along the road and headed up to the start of the hike. There are maps available or you can take a picture of the posted map. After hiking a short way we found a door to the entrance to the coal mine trail. Once at the top we found amazing views of Bay Area. We found an amazing tree to eat a snack under. There was a beautiful rose on the tree so this must we a known place to have a romantic picnic at. The weather was perfect so not a problem with the trails. There was a well maintained bridge as well. It was a moderate hike.

I've only been here twice, and only when my daughter attends the birthday party of a classmate who…read morelives in Portola Valley. Maybe I'm not paying attention on other trails, but this is a great place to find interesting mushrooms to photograph. There's shade, nice views of the valley, a few short bridges, and lots of interesting vegetation, from the ferns to the fungi. In the winter it's wet and lush. The trail is quite narrow in places, and it was slightly muddy due to the recent rains, but I was able to avoid getting too dirty. There's a network of trails that's accessible from this trailhead. I don't really have a destination in mind when I come here - usually I just hike for about an hour and turn back. There were a good number of cars parked near the trailhead, but I didn't run into that many people on the trail itself.

A Ridge too Far…read more Máyyan 'Ooyákma ("Coyote Ridge" in the native Chochenyo language) is an 1,800-sq ft Open Space Preserve located in the South San José foothills adjacent to the scenic Hwy 101 freeway. Weekend reservations are required for weekend hikes in March - May (book through Eventbrite), and a Butterfly Pass is required to visit this park. The Good: * Free to visit * Private parking lot (no street parking) * Restroom (pit toilet) in parking lot * One of the few places in the Bay that you can (allegedly) see Tule Elk in their natural habitat, and it's the closest place to home for most of us South Bayers. We visited during a Tule Elk guided hike and didn't see bupkis. According to the guide, later in the day, closer to sunset (after 5 p.m.ish), is the best time of day, as that's when the herds start looking for food. * Access here used to be limited to guided hikes only, but now it's more freely accessible except for certain times of the year (see above). * Guided hikes are still available (see website). * Approx. five miles of trails which are in reasonable shape except for the Serpentine Spring Trail (see below). The Meh: * No running water in the restroom, only hand sanitizer. * Trails have no switchbacks on the uphill and downhill. Just straight up and down for 1,000' of elevation gain. The Ugly: * Absolutely zero shade on the entire property, so definitely avoid this place during hot days and in the summer in general. * Coming downhill on the Serpentine Spring Trail was an absolute nightmare; the entire trail is full of really loose pieces of shale that in and of themselves are no bueno, but combine that with a really steep downhill decline and you have a recipe for disaster. I highly, highly suggest if you're coming here to do the 5 miles of trails, go clockwise from the parking lot: Serpentine-to-Tule Elk-to-Butterfly Trail and then back to the parking lot. Conclusion: I rarely give parks a low rating, but honestly, this place was not our cup of tea. With the lack of shade and steep, dangerously slippery trails, I just don't foresee us ever coming back.

Second time at Coyote Ridge OSP Sat 3/28/21. For Covid19 they have self-guided hike, need to RSVP…read morefor your car pass. One pit toilet that was full already at 9am, why don't they bring 2-3 pit toilets because 1 isn't enough! We started on the Left-hand side which was bit steep but lots of poppies & goldfields on the purple line. Then did the blue line no flowers there, then down the green line, tidy tips, poppies. All 3 trails was only 5.8 miles. There is 1 more Fri-Sun hike scheduled if you want to check it out for Spring.

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

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).

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.

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.