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.
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.
Banana slugs in Silicon Valley: where to find these forest decomposers
Banana slugs are a curious and iconic sight in the damp forests of Silicon Valley’s Santa Cruz Mountains.
Zinfandel Trail – Picchetti Ranch Preserve
The mostly shaded trails at Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve make it an ideal spot for a hike on a hot day.
Coyote Lagoon Trail at Don Edwards
Coyote Lagoon is a short two-mile long flat trail located at the southeastern part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum features thousands of plants native to Mediterranean climates in California, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
