Hiking
The Silicon Valley area offers hundreds of miles of trails managed by various open space agencies, as well as state, county, and city parks. Hikers can explore trails through coastal regions, redwoods, grasslands, and scrublands throughout the Bay Area. Explore the personal impressions of hikes in the area.
Guided Wildflower Hikes at Máyyan ‘Ooyákma
Spring weekend guided hikes at Máyyan 'Ooyákma–Coyote Ridge let visitors see native wildflowers, Bay checkerspot butterflies, and tule elk.
Wildflowers in Silicon Valley
Open space preserves in the Silicon Valley are popular destinations for hikers wanting to see wildflower blooms in the spring.
McAbee Trailhead: Birding at Almaden Quicksilver County Park
Almaden Quicksilver County Park's oak woodlands and grasslands are great for hiking and birding in the spring.
Thornewood Preserve: a Short Redwood Hike
Thornewood Open Space Preserve features a short hike through a second-growth redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Woodside.
Hiking to the Sound of Rushing Water
If you love the sound of rushing water, here are a couple of hikes in the Silicon Valley.
Differences Between Coastal Redwood and Douglas Fir Trees
Learn how to tell the difference between coastal redwood and coast Douglas-fir trees by their bark, needles, and cones.
Hiking to the Elbow Tree – Purisma Creek Redwood Open Space Preserve
Hike from Grabtown Gulch Trailhead to the Elbow Tree, a remarkable redwood with a bent trunk and hollow base in Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve.
Exploring the Fall Creek Unit: A 10-Mile Loop through Henry Cowell Redwoods
Explore the quieter Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods, a 10-mile hike featuring lush redwoods, historic lime kilns, and tranquil creekside trails.
Santa Cruz Sandhills at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
The Sandhills at Henry Cowell Redwoods feature ancient marine sand deposits, a rare geological formation dating back over 15 million years.
Tunnel Trail at Pinnacles
For a more strenuous hike at Pinnacles National Park, visitors can traverse the challenging High Peaks Trail that winds up to connect with Tunnel Trail.
