Amazing hiking spot with geocaches if you're into that kind of thing. We did the 4 mile loop and were 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. read more

Upper Stevens Creek County Park shares nothing with Stevens Creek County Park except the name. 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. read more

The park's name is appropriate, since it forms one side of the upper watershed of Stevens Creek. (The other side of the valley is mostly occupied by Monte Bello OSP, which is the true source of the creek.) As most south-bayers know, Stevens Creek eventually hits flatter terrain, then meanders through suburbia on the way to the bay (after having a road and several car dealerships named after it). This particular park is actually part of a larger Stevens Creek County Park system, the majority of which lies at a lower elevation; around a reservoir, and is 3 miles to the northeast. But this upper park is mostly mountainous, and is only accessible from Skyline Drive. It's not clear why these totally separate pieces of land are lumped together like this; they couldn't be more different, but I'm glad others had have had the sense to keep them separate on Yelp. A map for the Stevens Creek park system is at the following link, with this upper park at the bottom left: (https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/documents/stcrkmainfinal.pdf) But enough about maps and city planning (or lack thereof). Upper Stevens Creek County Park is another fairly average park for the area, offering a normal variety of hilly terrain, and featuring a lush creekside trail at the valley bottom. Trees here are predominantly oak, bay, and madrone with a smattering of pines and firs. On the downside, there aren't any spectacular vistas here, nor are there waterfalls, rock formations or old growth woods. Also, most of the trails are fire roads, with only a handful of single-track trails. For loop hikes, there are two main choices: -- Table Mtn loop: (~5 miles) From Skyline, you hike DOWN to Table Mtn (which is odd) on either a single track trail or a fire road, and then return the other route. It's very exposed in spots and can get quite parched in summer. Views are mainly of hilltop houses. -- Grizzly Flat loop: (~4 miles) More of figure-eight than a loop, along two, mostly-parallel trails that descend to the main creek below. Primarily shaded, so not a bad choice for summer. This hike can be extended by adding additional mileage along the shady creek. Upper Stevens Creek park forms sort of a "U" shape that is wrapped around private land; so it's hard to do a larger loop hike between the two sections listed above without walking on Skyline Dr for a few miles (not my favorite option); or by taking a longer detour through Long Ridge OSP. But if I'm going to hike 10 miles, then I can think of several other spots I'd go first before heading here. I'm not saying it's bad, just not above average. Hiking Spot Checklist: -- Parking: Roadside only; along Skyline Dr. -- Bathrooms: No -- Potable water: No -- Maps provided: Yes, but 0.2 miles in from the road on the Table Mtn side -- Highlights: relatively quiet My Peninsula Hike Collection is here: (https://www.yelp.com/collection/qBI6U6Lz9LJQjnGjFW6ubg) read more

See all

And so begins my foray into the most fertile hiking territory of all the Bay Area: the Skyline/Page Mill area. With 6 Open Space Preserves and a County Park, there's no shortage of trail combinations you can make. One of the more popular hikes to do around here is a 10-mile loop through Upper Stevens Creek and Long Ridge involving the Grizzly Flat, Table Mountain, Hickory Flat and Peters Creek Trails. In my old age, I stick to shorter hikes, so I did a 5-6 mile loop of Charcoal Road and Table Mountain trails. Scenery is pleasant if generic, although the flat meadows of Table Mountain were pretty unique. Note that whichever hikes you do in this park, you'll be climbing on the return trip. Also note that a portion of Charcoal Road goes through Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve, which I don't plan to review separately as it doesn't really have any hikes to speak of, unless you count a stretch of the Bay Area Ridge Trail that just parallels Skyline. read more

See all

I hiked up to Table mountain. That was nice. Also it is nice to hike along the creek. I like to eat lunch along the creek. I really like this area. Along 35 (Skyline), a loooooot of OSPs are waiting for me... I combined this hike with Long Ridge OSP. next to this park, Monte Bello OSP, Saratoga gap OSP as well. It is fun planning hiking trail. read more

I was not sure which trail was part of Upper Stevens Creek Country park since all these trails are so connected. Anyway, last week was my first time I mountain bike from Skid Trail to Canyon Trail and then up Grizzly Flat. The downhill section at Skid trail was fun and not very steep but mainly single trail. It will connect to Canyon Trail and if you turn left, it bring you to Monte Bello Parking. Make sure you keep right to continue to Canyon Trail which is 2 miles long and mainly fire road. There are hikers on these trail and make sure to slow down at turn. Canyon Trail are main shaded with some open areas. Look for intersection to Grizzly Flat (deceiving name) which is uphill 1,043ft and 2.3 miles long which will test your endurance. You will cross a small creek which is closed during winter and wet seasons. Make sure you bring plenty of water and food since you will be out of gas after the long climb. I love all the trail here and they are well marked with sign at intersection and maps are available at parking lots. I don't think I will ride up the slope again again since the climb was so painful and long. Grizzly are shaded and very quite and lonely at times. read more

Upper Stevens Creek County Park - The creek along Grizzly Flat - Parks Near Me - Los Gatos, California

A nice trail to check out when you are in the area. Its also great for mountain bikers as well. You can take the short route of the trail or you can choose to continue down the mountain for a much longer hike. This trail is mostly all uphill and straight downhill. There is not a lot of flat areas so expect that when you go down, that its going to be a pretty steep uphill. The nice thing though is that it is completely shaded hiking through here so you are not in direct sun and can avoid the summer heat. It was quiet when we came here and plenty of parking outside the entrance. See you on the trail sometime! This trail proved to me that I am totally out of shape! ;) read more

I hiked Grizzly flat north and looped around to grizzly flat south. Mostly shaded, these trails are far from grizzly and far far from flat. The total mileage was about 2 miles. The first mile was 100% downhill and the second mile was 100% uphill. I prefer more of a variety of up/down and sun/shade. The hike across the street from this one was really nice, and I would opt to do that one again over the grizzly flats. read more

This place is so big! You'll never finish. Lots of shade also. Maps & mile markers are available but for some strange reason, it's never helpful to us or we never understood the calculation. read more

See all

Best place to mountain bike near Cupertino with lot of shade. You may see large birds(6ft) I believe are Emus. read more

Upper Stevens Creek County Park - Emu in upper stevens creek park. Found July 6 2013. - Parks Near Me - Los Gatos, California

This rugged 1000+ acre park is not your jungle gym and picnic table variety. It's more of a nature preserve than park with few amenities other than trails, trees, and the occasional bench for sitting. It's easy to miss but hard to forget once you have explored it a few times. It's definitely a worthwhile alternative for those looking for a new hike or ride in the Santa Cruz mountains and who are already familiar with the more popular destinations. It's easily accessible from Page Mill, Skyline, and Highway 9 and feels more remote than it actually is. Once you get lost in its forested canyon, you won't miss the picnic tables all that much, provided that you bring a few snacks and water bottles to keep yourself replenished on its winding and well-graded trails. The park itself is like a giant green puzzle piece connecting together three significant open space preserves that range across Skyline Boulevard and spill into the Santa Clara foothills between Saratoga and Palo Alto. The park protects a major part of the Stevens Creek canyon and watershed, which is bordered by Black Mountain and Monte Bello ridge to the East and Skyline ridge to the West. Several trail networks weave seamlessly through all four. Hidden in the park's epicenter is the flat and open Table Mountain, which you can reach via a handful of trails for hikers, joggers, and mountain bikers. Starting from Skyline, you can put together some lively and heart-pumping loops that take you from Pacific vistas down steep inclines and past sun-splashed hillsides into the dark and welcoming heart of Stevens Creek. This attractive ribbon of water flows year-round and can be followed for miles in both directions. There is no bridge across the creek, just informal stone pathways that can be more difficult to cross in the rainy season. My favorite route (ca. 11 miles) begins at the Grizzly Flat parking area and traverses part of Long Ridge OSP before crossing Skyline and dropping down into the canyon via the hikers-only trail that runs roughly parallel to Charcoal Road. Along the way, you pass Table Mountain and descend steadily to the water past steep ravines and increasingly dense tree canopies. From there, it's a short stroll along the creekside trail to Grizzly Flat, where a long incline awaits, one that frequently allows you great views of the exposed Western slopes of Black Mountain. The trails are few and far between here, and the park exists above all to protect the canyon from the encroachment of those who would fence or wall off its beauty to the public. As a connecting piece in a patchwork of preserves and parklands that makes so much of the Santa Cruz mountains look and feel the way they do, this is sacred territory to those who appreciate a good walk in the woods. There are no mega-redwoods or drop-dead panoramic views here, just a little slice of mountainside heaven replete with bubbling streams, lush ferns, thick chapparal, second-growth mixed forests, and lots and lots of protected space for you to stretch your legs, pamper your senses, expand your mind, and refresh your soul. Honestly, that's more than enough for a gentle but still adventurous afternoon of hiking pleasure. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my hike here. It was a hot day, but the heavily shaded trails kept me cool for the most part. I meant to start at the charcoal road/Table mountain loop, but I drove past it and beagn my hike at The grizzly flat trailhead. This trail was downhill, until I hit the table mountain trail. This trail was almost completely uphill. I then made the return trip on the peters creek trail. This hike was 10 miles long (not what I was intending to do, the table mountain loop is about 5 miles) I would recommend at least two bottles of water and a snack, the ten mile hike took me 6 hours. Also BUG SPRAY is a must. Some parts of the trail I was left unhindered by any bugs, but others brought on swarms of little knats and flys. Dont forget your trail map, happy hiking! read more

The Grizzly Flat Trail is the second trailhead on the east side, going south from Page Mill on Skyline Drive, across from the Long Ridge Trail trailhead. The trail is an abandoned fire road with markers at junctions (but posted signs were strangely closed and locked?) forming a figure eight through bay, madrone and occasional pine. Sorry, no redwoods. It descends several hundred feet over about a mile where it meets a branch that descends further toward the upper Stevens Creek in Monte Bello Preserve. It's quiet; we met perhaps one other hiker, and one mountain biker. read more