horseback riding

Alum Rock Park

A 140-plus-year-old stone bridge crosses Penitencia Creek in Alum Rock Park. Photo by Raul A./CC

A few miles from downtown San Jose, find history, wildlife, a diverse set of trails, and great picnic spots at California's oldest municipal park.

Almaden Quicksilver County Park

The Senador Mine Trail at Almaden Quicksilver. Photo by Don DeBold/CC 2.0 DEED.

Historic mine country.

Crystal Springs Regional Trail

Walking south on the Sawyer Camp section of the Crystal Springs Regional Trail. Credit: Mike Kahn.

Fifteen miles of Peninsula pretty.

Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve

Looking across Upper Lake and the easy-access Upper Lake Loop Trail. Photo courtesy Midpen Open Space

Lush redwood groves.

New Trails to Explore in Santa Cruz at San Vicente Redwoods

Vista Point at San Vicente Redwoods, photo copyright Mike Kahn.

Discover new hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails on the coastal side of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the new San Vicente Redwoods.

Calero County Park

Amazing but true: Calero County Park has ponds and a reservoir. Brendan Bane photo.

Hikers, horses and boaters welcome.

Deep Gulch Trail

The remains of an old church, a schoolhouse and a mining office make English Camp a picturesque destination. Photo by Eugene Zelenko/CC.

A steep but short climb to English Camp, home to the mine's English-speaking population.

A Piece of the Bay Area Ridge Trail

Classic vista from a piece of the Bay Area Ridge Trail in the Long Ridge Open Space Preserve.

This short out-and-back hike starts from the Grizzly Flat parking area, and is great for dog-walking and horseback riding.

Gordon Mill Trail

Happily, there is shade and plenty of scenery on Gordon Mill Trail in El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve. Photo by L. Clark Tate.

A relatively easy-to-follow, wide-open dirt road diving deep into mountainside forests.

Tafoni Trail Loop

Tafoni is fragile, so look but don't touch! Photo by L. Clark Tate.

See a plane crash memorial, ocean view, and remarkable sandstone formation on just one walk through the woods.

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