This is a GREAT place to hike. The trails are nice and wide and mostly shaded. I really felt like I was deep in a forest. It makes hiking fun and its location is perfect. The signs are also very clear too. Cant wait to go back. read more

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Nice trails for hiking and great trees but the trails were overrun with horse poop. Ok views, terrain was fairly wet and tore up from horses. read more

A very popular park. It gets crowded on the weekends. If you are coming off from Highway 280, the traffic can extend all the out to the Woodside Road Highway 84 exit. The bottleneck is at the Canada Road intersection where there's a 4-way stop sign and lots of cyclists ride up Canada Road. Wunderlich is great because there are many trails with lots of options. Check out the trail map here - http://bit.ly/SZDwQu You can do either a long or short hike. For the day we opted for the 5+ miles loop hike starting off from the parking lot off of Woodside Road with the Alambique Trail. Ascending from the Alambique Trail, we then took the Bear Gulch Trail towards the Meadows and then headed down the Meadow Trail and then down the Madrone Trail back to the parking lot. If you like the slippery-trunked Pacific Madrones as I do, there are many closer to the Meadows than actually on the Madrone Trail. The Madrone Trail is practically overgrown with redwoods so nice for cooling down as you descend. Wunderlich Park is great for people of all ages and active levels. Families and equestrians friendly. There's also a beautiful stable near the trailheads. read more

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Apparently my co-workers like to go on a hiking excursion about once a month. Ok! Well I'm not much of a hiker, but I'll go. This place is off the beaten path in the midst of the expensive little town of Woodside. There's a tiny little parking lot, but it was almost empty when we got there on a random weeknight. We did about 3 different trails in about 2 hours. I really liked that the trails were "paved" and easy to walk on. It had lots of scenic views too. I would definitely love coming here again. I also appreciated that the majority of the trails were covered/shaded. Enjoy and remember to bring water with you! read more

Beautiful park, but because horses are allowed on the trails, I spent most of my hike looking down at the ground to make sure I didn't step in droppings rather than enjoying the trees/views. Also, the parking lot off Woodside Dr is TINY. I got there just before 7:30am on Saturday and it was full. So I parked on Woodside Dr in a section free of "no parking" signs and still got a citation for "parking on state route". I was well off to the side of the road, along with other vehicles, and I could see citations flapping off all of those cars too. The parking situation is enough to deter me from coming back--there are other parks that are just as pretty with more sufficient parking. read more

They only have one porta-potty (if the sign is green, give it a good tug to open the door) at the front, but parking is free. Lots of horses on the trail, so make way for the equestrians. Beautifully scenic. Lots of diversity in plant life, from eucalyptus to redwoods. We also spotted plenty of squirrels, scrub jays and a spotted fawn. Not so much of a view from the top though, lots of greenery in the way. Nice subtle incline if you head the trails on the left (Alambique Trail.) 5.5 mile loop is enough to get the blood flowing. Great starter trail, and close by is Huddart Park. Lots of nice park benches along the trail, for those who easily tire. read more

Wunderlich Park - deer on trail - Parks Near Me - Woodside, California

Wunderlich Park is awesome (minus the flies and horse droppings along the trails)! We wanted to take on a hike on the 4th of July, before dinner and fireworks commenced, but were tired of our usual stomping grounds (pun intended). Thus, we decided to venture out to Wunderlich on the recommedation of my dental hygienist. Upon our arrival, the ample parking lot was nearly full for the holiday, but we were able to find a spot without too much trouble. Since we arrived around 2:30pm, we decided on one of the shorter hikes (roughly five miles total), since we had dinner plans with others. GoPro and Camelbacks in tow, off we went to hike up to the Meadow. A slow and steady grade was the pace that day, and it was WARM! Along the path there is shady spots, and be careful where you step since numerous horses use the trails as well. Arriving at the end of the trial you come upon a large meadow where you can view the hills, and valley below. There is also a bench to cool your heels if you like. Wunderlich Park offers several trails to choose from, that include both short and longer hikes, restrooms (closed for construction the day that we visited), and a small museum. If you happen to visit, make sure you bring water with you. read more

You can't beat the foothills of Woodside. The redwood forests, beautiful views, the feeling that your far away but only a few min off the highway... my only recommendation is to hit it on a weekday evening and avoid the crowded weekend crowd. read more

Great place for an easy hike, and doesn't cost $5 to get in like Huddart. Trails were easy, gently sloping up, and not a lot of people. Unfortunately, the limit on people is enforced by the tiny, tiny parking lot. I made the mistaking of trying to hike on Easter weekend, and there was nary an empty spot to be found. Still five stars though, for a great hiking experience (when you can get in) through the redwoods. read more

Wunderlich Park - Parks Near Me - Woodside, California

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Nice shady, easy hike. You can do the math to get a path as long or short as you like--there's lots of little trails that you can add up. There is a nicely paved parking lot, but it can fill up, so that's why you see people parking on the side of the road leading up to the park entrance. There's a couple major cons. Tons of horse poop (giant, smelly, fly-covered piles in the middle of the trails). I also saw a LOT of poison oak--some actually hanging over into the trail. Eek. It looks like they've put in a restroom building! read more

***4.5 stars*** this lovely park is about 4 miles from my house, and it took 4+ years for me to drive over and visit! i met up with a group of friends for a 4th of july morning run/hike and had an amazing time! going up bear gulch trail was tough as i ascended over 900 ft. but once i reached the top, i was treated to an amazing view of woodside and surrounding areas in the open meadow. the 2nd half of the run was much easier, since it was net downhill, but not too steep, so gentler on the knees. we descended on the oak & meadow trails since the alambique was closed at the time. it was ~4.6mi roundtrip, and took a little over an hour since i was going at a casual pace. some logistics: -free entrance to the park -free parking (though it may get a bit crowded later in the day if weather is nice) -horse stable & carriage adjacent to the parking lot -several picnic tables (our group had a mini-breakfast post-run) -separate men's & women's restrooms (toilet paper & hand sanitizer available, but no soap & water) -no water & restrooms on the trail, so definitely bring hydration (and maybe toilet paper to do your business in a watering hole/bushes as needed) if you visit, bring your camera to snap some pictures at the top! read more

What a great hike! From the koi pond that is secretly hidden to the horse stables. There are multiple discoveries on this trail and it's beautiful. The foliage was very different from other hikes I've been on in the area but I think it's great. On a hot day being covered in the shade of the trees is my favorite. One of my favorite spots to hike since it is more on the easy/medium hike side. Can't wait to see the Koi's again soon! read more

Wunderlich Park - Too chicken to cross - Parks Near Me - Woodside, California

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I have three main criteria for a great local hiking park: interesting enough to warrant multiple visits, reasonably quick to drive to, and no entry/parking fee. A number of parks along the 280 meet these criteria, but three stand out as my favorites: * Edgewood Park * Arastradero Preserve * Wunderlich Park Wunderlich Park makes the list for one major reason--only about 10 minutes up Woodside Road (Highway 84) from the 280, it's one of the most convenient ways to access a redwood forest. It's also nice because it offers a few nice panoramas of the Bay and has a number of great loop trails that get the blood flowing without being painfully steep. One other plus: below the Meadows, most of the trails are well-shaded, so this park is a good choice even when it's too warm for more exposed trails. Trails are well-maintained and signed, and there are free maps at the parking lot, so it's very hard to get lost. My favorite hike is to start on the Alambique Trail and take it to the Alambique Flat, a terrific redwood grove that meanders up a quiet canyon. As second growth redwood forests go, Alambique Flat is as good as it gets. It's a perfect spot for lunch or quiet contemplation. I then continue to the Meadows, which isn't very meadow-like but does offer good mountain views. From the Meadows, I continue down the Bear Gulch Trail through Redwood Flat and back to the parking lot. This is a great 6 mile loop trail offering lots of redwoods, bay views and mountain views, plus some good exercise. As a variation, at Redwood Flat, turn along the Redwood Trail (which exits the redwoods disappointingly quickly) and go to Salamander Flat, where there's a small and not especially attractive reservoir. I then take the Madrone Trail (which has more redwoods than the Redwood Trail) back to the Bear Gulch Trail. This adds a little extra exercise and variation to the trip. Another variation is to continue from the Meadows up to Skyline. I must confess that this doesn't do it for me. After the Meadows, the trail follows a relatively boring fire road. It's satisfying to reach Skyline, but the ennui usually isn't worth it. Instead of going up the Alambique Trail, an alternative is to hike up Bear Gulch Trail to Redwood Flat (3 miles RT). This portion of the Bear Gulch Trail goes through many redwood groves, making this a great redwood experience. At Redwood Flat, you can turn around and retrace your steps, or make a small loop by going to Salamander Flat and taking the Madrone Trail back to Bear Gulch Trail. A few other things to consider: * this park is popular with horses, so watch your step. On the plus side, no mountain bikes! * even though it's well-shaded, always bring plenty of water * at peak times (i.e., weekend mornings) the parking lot can be full * Bear Gulch Trail follows Bear Gulch Road, so it will get a little road noise. Alambique Trail follows Woodside Road for the first mile or so; it gets a lot of motorcycle and truck noise. As with most parks on the east side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, it also gets a fair amount of airplane noise from planes heading to SFO or the local San Carlos/Palo Alto airports. read more

This is a popular park for several reasons: It's easy to get to, lots of easy hikes, and there are horse-related activities all around. I will probably add to this my hiking rotation because there's lots of loops to explore and the parking was fairly easy (you can park along woodside road no problem). One unique thing about this park is the Salamander Pond; it was a surprise little attraction off of the Redwood loop trail (see my photos). read more

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Sunday group hike to pre-celebrate a friend's bday. Pretty easy trail which can accomodate most levels. There are some spots where it gets a bit steep, but newbies can take it slow. Benches located throughout for a quick break. It's generally pretty shaded, so a nice alternative on those super sunny days. If you want a great workout, the trail is definitely runnable. You choose the distance, anywhere from 5-15 miles are possible on this trail. Markers are well placed and easy to follow. Parking is free and you can also find a spot on the side of the road as well. Happy room to relieve yourself located in parking lot. Watch out for the horse poopie while walking. read more

Wunderlich is another wonderful park on the Peninsula. However, it is flawed by the same issue as Windy Hill- few flat running surfaces. However, the climbs are easier and not as exposed as Windy Hill. I would much rather come to this park over Windy Hill for a 6-8 mile run. You have two trail choices from the parking lot. Both take you to Skyline. On the way you can stop at the "meadow" for some great views and a quick stretch after having just done 2.2 climbing miles. Once at the meadow you have several choices of how to continue. it is pretty easy to get a nice run in, but you are commited to running 80% of the time either straight up or straight down - granted both are more gradual than other peninsula parks. There is poison oak, but the trails are wide so you have fewer chances of exposure. read more

Great hiking in the forest, with trails for varying levels of capability. A pretty drive up, horses at the outset, and some really nice places to eat lunch! On the shorter trail, have a picnic in the Meadows... It's wonderful even if it rains! read more

Wunderlich is a really nice place to go for a nice morning hike. The trails are not too steep which makes it easy to maintain a steady pace getting to whatever scenic spot you are trying to reach. They have so many redwood trees everywhere that provide a good amount of shade on a hot day. They also have different scenic points different distances from the parking lot so you can take a short hike or a longer hike and still see a nice view at the end of it. My boyfriend and I hiked up to the meadow area (about 2.4 miles one way) and it was both a good steady workout for the two of us, and we were greeted with a beautiful view of a really lush green meadow surrounded by hills. The park also offers horseback riding lessons and it seems like many people take their horses along the trains. This leads to my biggest negative about wunderlich park: there are horse dropping all along the trails which is very annoying because you have to keep looking down at your feet to make sure you don't step in something and completely miss looking at your surroundings during the hike. Even though we went on a Sunday in the midmorning, there were not a lot of people and there was parking both in the small parking lot and on the sides of the road. Close to Palo Alto too so you can go into town and get some food after the hike. Very beautiful and conveniently located hiking grounds. read more

Nice trails with a canopy of trees to shade you from the sun, and I love seeing the rays of sunlight come through. This trail (and most of the area, I'm guessing) is good for an easy hike, or better yet, perfect for a run. read more

Wunderlich is a favorite. It's located close to my life, yet feels like I am far away when hiking here. There are trees. Lots of them. It makes for awesome summer hiking without having to drive all the way to any of the number of parks on Skyline, or to Portola or to Big Basin. One can do a good hour and get the heart rate up into the real work-out zone. Most of the hikes start uphill from the parking lot. One can hike a short distance or a long distance. This is a horse friendly place, so I'm going to ask a big favor of you if you choose to visit. First, don't ever ride a bike here-they are not allowed on the trails. We need more thoughtful bike riders to off set those few jerks who don't understand how important it is to stay away from horses with those scary bikes. Second, if you cross the path of a horse and rider just stop for a while and let them pass. Horse poop is a common sight on some of the trails, so be aware of it. The trails are often rough because this place is a watershed area. The surface will change after a hard rain. It's a great place for the quick get away when the need strikes to be out in the woods. read more

What a hidden gem! Great park and we didn't need to travel far. Did one of the trails today... hoping to go back and explore some more! read more

Wunderlich Park - Parks Near Me - Woodside, California

My husband and I love coming here on a nice evening to enjoy the talll trees and deers that freely roam like it were their home. Very calm and soothing to listen the wind bustling through the trees. Perfect yoga/meditation spot not that there is a space for that but just saying. Lots of trails with varying intensities and distances for people in any mood. Very relaxing and refreshing. Just a 15min drive from palo alto and this one is for keeps. read more

what a gem!! hiking among the redwood trees and then ALL OF A SUDDEN it turns into a huge meadow. For the curios, this is a beautiful hike. I went with my mom and she absolutely loved it (also means that the difficulty level is medium, not super hard) -- still a good workout and who can complain when you're breathing in fresh northern cali air read more

Wunderlich Park provices nice trails for easy hikes. Most of the trails are shaded so this would be a great hike on those really hot days. On those days where it is or has been raining, I'd wait for another day or be prepared for a muddy trek. We followed the Alambique Trail uphill to the Alambique Flat where it leveled out a bit, before continuing on via the Bear Gulch Trail. Our descent back to the trailhead was via the Meadown Trail, Redwood Trail, Madrone Trail and finally the Bear Gulch Trail. The total distance was just under 5 miles. The elevation change was a gradual 1000 ft, with switchbacks on the second half of the hike. The ascent is fairly gradual, which makes this a nice hike for beginners or those looking for a nice walk. The trails are well groomed and very well marked. I would imagine that it would be pretty hard to get lost. There are several places along the hike for resting, picnics and pictures. Maps and a restroom are available at the trailhead. The views of the South Bay are pretty good, but nothing compared ot the views of the redwoods, especially on those days when the sun is able to shine through the trees. Absolutely lovely. This park is a nice place to get away from it all and just relax. Although the small parking lot was full, we only came across small groups of friendly fellow hikers. The park also contains horse stables and the most of the trails are open to equestrians. Even though we didn't see any on the hike, we saw plenty of evidence that horses were there (a bit too much at times, but what can you do....at least we didn't have to share the trails with cyclists as well). I would recommend dressing in layers as the shaded portions were cool but the exposed areas can get quite warm. read more

Awesome Bay Area hiking! Just discovered this park this weekend while searching for a hiking spot to enjoy the beautiful weather! Wunderlich is a beautiful park with great hiking trails (moderate - some steady inclines) and amazing scenery. I couldn't get over all the redwoods, it was so pretty. Surprisingly not very crowded either, however, the roads on the way in were packed with cyclists. There aren't a lot of signs so we were a little confused about where the trial heads were (they're behind the "museum"). Only downside would be the amount of horsie droppings on the trial! read more

The hikes at Wunderlich are great! I went on a sunny Saturday morning and when I arrived at the entrance, I expected the trails to be packed - the parking lot was completely full and the streets were lined with cars. However, once we got on the trail, no one was around! My favorite part of the hike was admiring how enormous the trees are. You feel like you're exploring untouched earth. The name, Wunderlich, is the perfect description for the trail. read more

Wunderlich Park - Parks Near Me - Woodside, California

One of the best parts of living on the Peninsula is having parks like this one so close and accessible. There is lots of free parking and porto potties (if you dare). There are also signs throughout the trails giving you landmarks of where you are relative to popular points and the parking lot! read more

Great for horse riding - not so great for walking or hiking. The trails are usually covered in horse manure, and on a bad day can really smell. Your shoes will get dirty. If it has been raining, the ground can be extremely soft. read more

We stumbled upon this place a few months back. It's kind of tough to spot, but also not - it's directly off of Woodside, a high-traffic road, but blink and you could miss the sign for the entrance. The trails are full of Redwood trees and the one we've gone on a couple times winds its way upwards, so the views are pretty stellar. We also like taking our daughter here because of the horses that are kept at the park. But beware, that also means there's a ton of poop on the trails. Ups the degree of difficulty on those hikes just a bit! read more

The trails at Wunderlich consist mostly of dirt and soft bark (except for the first short bit leaving the parking lot). I've run barefoot here before and not been bothered by the gentle trail surface. Halfway through the park is a small meadow, although it wasn't flowering when I was there. Decent tree coverage also makes this park a good pick on a hot day. read more

Hike to the windmill and experience something only locals are aware of.. (gorgeous... absolutely beautiful location.) read more

This is my favorite place to go in the area for a relaxing hike. The park offers a wide variety of dirt trials (in terms of both length and difficulty), and the paths have both sunny and shady parts. Rather than steep inclines, most of the trails offer a gradual up/down hill slant that provides a steady (but not exhausting) workout. Overall, the hike is refreshing and peaceful, with lots of different scenery (from forests to meadows) as you move up the hill. There are also plenty of benches along the way to stop and relax. The park is usually not very crowded, so there is plenty of parking. There is also a lost and found at the start of the trail and a relatively clean porta-potty. The only real downside is the large quantity of horse droppings along the beginning of the trails. So, make sure you watch were you step! But, this problem mostly goes away after the first half mile or so. read more

I recently went here on a rainy day, so suprised to see it crowded at first but now i know why. This place is amazing and has beautiful redwood trees. They have a salamader pond and we were lucky enough to find some! The hike is not extremely hard but expect to be walking uphill for the first half and has a variety of trail choices. I love hiking and have been going back here since that magical rainy day! Perfect place for a picnic :) read more

Wunderlich Park - Parks Near Me - Woodside, California

I love my hiking experience long and GREEN totally in love with this trail. Makes me feel like Tarzan I'll come back here over and over again. Found it through yelp. THANKSSSSSSS. read more

I came here January 2015, and it was a pretty good hike. Pretty flat, but many probably around 12 miles round-trip. We hiked half of it, got lunch at Alice's Restaurant, then walked back. Not too strenuous, lots of shade and trees, and in general a nice walk. Good for beginner hiking! read more

A new favorite! I am always looking for new hiking trails around the bay area and this one was a great find! There is a small parking lot and picnic area a few 100meters from the stables. It is totally worth it to take a peak inside the horse stables before or after your hike because it is by far the most gorgeous stables I have ever stepped foot in...and I have been to a lot of horse barns/stables! The museum inside the first 1/2 of the stables is open on Saturdays only, I was there on a Sunday so did not have the luck to explore this option but I am fully planning on coming back some other time. There are many hiking options from short to long. We did a small loop from the parking lot, up up up up hill for the frist half with breath taking views along the way. We then followed the signs back to the parking lot. If you are not a horse fan or scared of horses I would caution you. We met a few horseback riders as we were hiking and there was a lot of horse manure on the trail. This doesn't bother me, but I could imagine some people would be turned off by this. Also great running trials, we came across a few joggers (props to them though because I don't think I would be able to run up those hills!) read more

Picked Wunderlich by chance off of the internet and though I've only been to a handful in the area so far this is my favourite park so far. The ranch and stables near the (free) parking add interest and it's quite relaxing to watch horses being cleaned and brushed down too. There's also a little free museum on horses, and the Folger estate which we enjoyed. We only went on a short casual walk around the shortest route but I definitely plan to come back a bit better equipped. The trees on our short trail kept us nice and cool throughout. read more

I found Wunderlich Park in a book - 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area. I had never heard of it prior to reading about it but it sounded like a great place to hike, so on a warm Saturday afternoon, we headed to the south bay to check it out. We had a fun hike through the forest - I think we did a 5+ mile loop - and enjoyed the views as soon as we reached the beautiful Alambique Flat meadow that overlooks part of the Silicon Valley. What a great place to enjoy a picnic. Pros: free parking, no entrance fees, lots of shade, good for hikers of all skill levels, equestrian friendly, a good place to enjoy nature. Make sure to keep an eye out for the pond! Cons: very muddy after the rains, make sure to avoid the horse poops if you are a runner or hiker, small parking lot. If you are interested in learning more about the park (and how it's related to the Folger family, of coffee fame), visit the County of San Mateo webpage on Wunderlich: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/portal/site/parks/menuitem.f13bead76123ee4482439054d17332a0/?vgnextoid=648bc8909231e110VgnVCM1000001d37230aRCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1 read more

Wow, nice spot on the peninsula to go hiking. Short drive off the highway through Woodside. Small lot parking, with minimal services, a port-o potty and water fountain. Then you are on your own. At the entrance is a large beautiful stable from the old Foldgers estate. Just watch the horse poop on the trails. But whats nice is alot of the trails are shaded and tree lined. Beautiful old redwoods with fern lining the trail. Lots of climbing and you can go up to skyline. There is a nice opening on the meadow trail. The trails are well marked with markers and distances, but take a map at the trailhead because the trails are all interconnected, Be prepared to hike in ascending and hike down coming back. There are benches along the way with spectacular views. The Medows is great place to stop for lunch. One of my favorite places to hike in the peninsula. read more

This is the perfect trail if you don't want to drive all the way up to highway 35 or just pay $5 at Huddart park. My first time here was early January so there were a few creeks and waterfalls here and there. The trails here can make it an easy 3-mile hike or a 5-mile moderate if you take the Skyline trail. I took most of the hiking only trails cause I don't like the smell of horse poop. I highly suggest you avoid the horses trails because you will find yourself trying not to step on poop instead of enjoying view. The really enjoyed the hike and would definitely come back this summer... read more