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BIKING, HIKING & NATURE WALKS
• Almaden Quicksilver County Park – Almaden Rd. (off Almaden Expwy.), New Almaden; 408-268-3883; www.parkhere.org. More than 34 miles of hiking trails, 23 miles of horse trails and 10 miles of bike trails.
• Alum Rock Park – Alum Rock and Penitencia, San Jose; 408-277-2757; www.sjparks.org. San Jose’s largest park includes approximately 13 miles of trails including six miles of horse trails and three miles of bicycle trails.
• Anderson Lake County Park– 19245 Malaguerra Ave., Morgan Hill; 408-779-3634; www.parkhere.org. Hikers, bicyclists, runners and skaters can use the paved trail that follows the Coyote Creek north for 15 miles and also offers a one-mile self-guided nature trail.
• Calero County Park – 23205 McKean Rd., San Jose; 408-268-3883; www.parkhere.org. The backcountry offers 18.6 miles of trails for hikers and equestrians and the park’s riding stables offer horse rentals and trail rides.
• Coyote Creek Parkway – South San Jose; 408-225-0225; www.parkhere.org.Paved, multi-use trail for bicycles, hiking and rollerblading.
• Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park – 10840 Coyote Lake Rd., Gilroy; 408-842-7800; www.parkhere.org. Features more than 13 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.
• Ed Levin County Park – 3100 Calaveras Rd., Milpitas; 408-262-6980; www.parkhere.org. Features a 19-mile trail system for hikers, equestrians and cyclists.
• Hellyer County Park – 985 Hellyer Ave., San Jose; 408-225-0225; www.parkhere.org. Hikers, runners, bicyclists and skaters can enjoy the multiple use paved trail, which follows the Coyote Creek south for 15 miles and also offers a one-mile self-guided nature trail.
• Henry W. Coe State Park – E. Dunne Ave., 13 miles east of Morgan Hill; 408-779-2728; www.parks.ca.gov. The largest state park in Northern California with more than 250 miles of hiking trails.
• Joseph D. Grant County Park – 18405 Mt. Hamilton Rd., San Jose; 408-274-6121; www.parkhere.org. Offers an extensive 52-mile trail system for hikers and equestrians.
• Los Gatos Creek Trail – Trail heads in San Jose, Campbell and Los Gatos (visit site for trail map); 408-356-2729; www.parkhere.org. This 11-mile long trail offers opportunities for hikers and bikers.
• Mount Madonna County Park – 7850 Pole Line Rd., Watsonville; 408-842-2341; www.parkhere.org. This 3,219-acre park features an extensive 14-mile trail system for hikers and equestrians.
• Palo Alto Baylands Preserve – 2775 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto; 650-496-6962; www.cityofpaloalto.org. The largest tract of undisturbed marshland featuring 15 miles of multi-use trails that provide access to a mixture of tidal and freshwater habitats. The preserve features a nature interpretive center and is considered one of the best bird watching areas on the West Coast.
• Penitencia Creek Trail – Penitencia Creek County Park, Jackson and Mabury, San Jose; 408-262-6980; www.parkhere.org. This four-mile trail follows Penitencia Creek from Alum Regional Park to its confluence with Coyote Creek.
• Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve – 13100 Montebello Rd., Cupertino; 650-691-2150; www.openspace.org. Features 3.7 miles of hiking and equestrian trails as well as historic buildings.
• Rancho San Antonio Trail – Rancho San Antonio County Park, Cristo Rey Dr. (off I-280, Foothill Blvd. exit), Mountain View; 650-691-1200; www.parkhere.org. Hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails connect with the more than 23 miles of trails within the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Reserve.
• Sanborn County Park – 16055 Sanborn Rd., Saratoga; 408-355-2201; www.parkhere.org. Features more than 15 miles of trails for hikers that showcase the geographic features of the park, as well as a one-mile nature trail.
• Santa Teresa County Park – 260 Bernal Rd., San Jose; 408-355-2201; www.parkhere.org. More than 18 miles of unpaved trails for equestrian, hiking and bicycling use.
• Shoreline at Mountain View – 3160 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View; 650-903-6392; www.ci.mtnview.ca.us. Features roughly seven miles of paved pedestrian and bicycling trails – a trail map is available for download online.
• Stevens Creek County Park – 11401 Stevens Canyon Rd., Cupertino; 408-867-3654; www.parkhere.org. Hikers, bikers and equestrians may enjoy a variety of over six miles of single track and multi-use trails.
• Sunnyvale Baylands Park – 999 E. Caribbean Dr., Sunnyvale; 408-730-7751; http://sunnyvale.ca.gov. Features more than two miles of unpaved pathways for walking and jogging that wind through the park and connect different features.
• Uvas Canyon County Park – 8515 Croy Rd., Morgan Hill; 408-779-9232; www.parkhere.org. Six miles of hiking trails including a one-mile Waterfall Loop that travels along Swanson Creek past many of the park's waterfalls.
• Villa Montalvo – 15400 Montalvo Rd., Saratoga; 408-961-5800; www.villamontalvo.org. Features 175 acres of hiking trails and gardens. .
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
• Arana Gulch – Agnes St., Santa Cruz; 831-420-5270; www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pr/parksrec. The area’s primary trail route provides a connection from Agnes Street to the upper harbor (less than one-half mile). Hiking and bicycling are allowed on this primary route and a footpath also encircles the southern meadow area.
• Big Basin Redwoods State Park – 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek; 831-338-8860; www.santacruzstateparks.org. The oldest state park in California with miles of trails for hikers and equestrians, along with redwood groves and waterfalls.
• Castle Rock State Park – 15000 Skyline Blvd., Los Gatos; 408-867-2952; www.santacruzstateparks.org. More than 30 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails.
• Fall Creek State Park – 1400 Felton Empire Rd., Felton; 831-335-4598; www.santacruzstateparks.org. This 2,390-acre park features about 20 miles of hiking trails.
• The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park – Aptos Creek Rd. and Soquel Dr., Aptos; 831-763-7063; www.santacruzstateparks.org. Features 10,000 acres of semi-rugged wilderness with 30 miles of hiking trails. The site of logging operations until the 1920s, visitors can still find evidence of logging operations, mill sites and trestles in this park.
• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – 101 N. Big Trees Park Rd., Felton; 831-335-4598; www.santacruzstateparks.org. Home of the Redwood Grove with 15 miles of hiking and riding trails.
• Lighthouse Field State Beach – 701 W. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz; 831-420-5270; www.santacruzstateparks.org. Trails include a paved pathway along W. Cliff Dr. for pedestrians and bicycles.
• Loch Lomond Recreational Area – 100 Loch Lomond Way, Felton; 831-335-7424; www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pr/parksrec. Open Mar.-Sept. The self-guided Big Tree Nature Trail begins and ends at the Glen Corrie picnic area. Free trail maps available.
• Moore Creek Preserve – Hwy. 1 at Shaffer Rd., Santa Cruz; 831-420-5270; www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pr/parksrec. This 246-acre greenbelt features 2.5-miles of trails (round trip) through open meadows that are open to hiking only.
• Pogonip – 333 Golf Club Dr., Santa Cruz; 831-420-5270; www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pr/parksrec/parks/pogo.html. Open meadows, woodlands and creeks with eight miles of hiking trails.
• Portola Redwoods State Park – 9000 Portola State Park Rd., # F, La Honda; 650-948-9098; www.santacruzstateparks.org. Eighteen miles of trails through canyon and across several streams. The Sequoia Self-guided Nature Trail and Old Tree Trail introduce visitors to the natural history.
• Rancho Del Oso Nature and History Center – 3600 Hwy. 1, Davenport; 831-427-2288; www.santacruzstateparks.org. Weekends, noon-4pm. Guided cultural history tours, guided nature walks and exhibits.
• Wilder Ranch State Park/Interpretive Center – 1401 Old Coast Rd., Santa Cruz; 831-423-9703; www.santacruzstateparks.org. This 7,000-acre park features 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Interpretive center features displays on the cultural and natural history of the park, as well as guided history and nature walks and farm animal viewing.
MONTEREY COUNTY
• Andrew Molera State Park – Hwy. 1, 20 miles south of Carmel; 831-667-2315; www.parks.ca.gov. The park is relatively undeveloped and features miles of hiking trails, fishing and beachcombing.
• Fremont Peak State Park – Off Hwy. 156 (11 miles south of San Juan Bautista) on San Juan Canyon Rd.; 831-623-4255; www.parks.ca.gov. Expansive views of the Monterey Bay from hiking trails, as well as an astronomical observatory with a 30-inch telescope.
• Garland Ranch Regional Park – Carmel Valley Rd. (8.5 miles east on Hwy. 1). Carmel Valley; 831-372-3196; www.mprpd.org/parks/garland.htm. This 4,500-acre park offers hiking, mountain biking, jogging and horseback riding. Also features Indian habitation sites, homestead and logging remains and a wide variety of insects, birds and animals. Offers environmental education programs and outdoor interpretive hikes.
• Garrapata State Park – Hwy. 1 (6.7 miles south of Rio Rd.), Carmel; 831-624-4909; www.parks.ca.gov. Coastal hiking and approximately 3,000 acres.
• Huckleberry Hill Nature Preserve – Monterey; 831-646-3866; www.monterey.org. This 81-acre park features well-established hiking trails. Pedestrian access available through Veteran’s Memorial Park.
• Jacks Peak Park – 25020 Jacks Peak Park Rd., Monterey; 888-588-2267; www.co.monterey.ca.us/parks/jackspeak.html. Almost 8.5 miles of horseback riding and hiking trails, and the Skyline Self-Guided Nature Trail, which features fossils from the Miocene epoch.
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – Hwy. 1 (37 miles south of Carmel); 831-667-2315; www.parks.ca.gov. Features an 80-foot waterfall, whale watching and a scuba diving area.
• Lake San Antonio – 2610 San Antonio Rd., Bradley; 888-588-2267; www.co.monterey.ca.us/parks/sanantonio.html. This freshwater recreation area features 12 trails covering 26 miles that are accessible by both hiking and mountain bikes. Offers Eagle Watch Tours where visitors can observe eagles and other wildlife inhabiting the lake area.
• Limekiln State Park – Hwy. 1 (56 miles south of Carmel); 831-667-2403; www.parks.ca.gov. Breathtaking views of the Big Sur Coast and 33 campsites.
• Los Padres National Forest – Monterey Ranger District, 406 S. Mildred, King City; 831-385-5434; www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres. The forest encompasses nearly 2 million acres in the coastal mountains of central California and offers numerous trails and roads that are suitable for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.
• Monterey Bay Coastal Trail – Spans the coastline 18 miles from Pacific Grove to Castroville; 831-646-3860; www.monterey.org/rec/coastaltrail.html. Walkers, joggers, skaters and bicyclists.
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park – Hwy. 1 (26 miles south of Carmel); 831-667-2315; www.parks.ca.gov. More than 1,000 acres of various trees, including redwoods and sycamores, as well as open meadows, scenic trails and a self-guided nature trail.
• Royal Oaks Park – 537 Maher Rd., Watsonville; 888-588-2267; www.co.monterey.ca.us. The oldest park in the Monterey County Parks system features miles of hiking trails.
• San Lorenzo Park – 1160 Broadway, King City; 888-588-2267; www.co.monterey.ca.us. Features a walking trail along the banks of the Salinas River.
• Toro County Park – 501 Monterey-Salinas Hwy. 68, Salinas; 888-588-2267; www.co.monterey.ca.us. More than 20 miles of riding and hiking trails.
• Veteran’s Memorial Park – Skyline Dr., Monterey; 831-646-3865; www.monterey.org/rec. This 50-acre park features limited hiking trails and walking trails.
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