Tromp Blog

A Boccardo Peak Trail Run

 Electric green grasses flourish following rains.

Story and photos by Bridget Lyons

Happy New Year from the Immortal Ginkgo

Cyanotype print of ginkgo leaves by Bridget Lyons. Photo by Eric Johnson.

An inspirational creature card with a message of ‘fortitude, endurance, and badassness.’

Day Trips and Sips: Pair a Hike with a Winery on Cupertino’s Montebello Road

Vineyards adjacent to the Water Wheel Parking Lot, Montebello Road. Photo by Ben Lilly.

By Ben Lilly

Jan. 2, 2024 (Updated Dec. 24, 2024)—Hilltrompers, we have good news: you don’t have to schlep to Napa or Sonoma to enjoy a day brimming with rural landscapes and local wines. Instead, just hit the vineyards of Cupertino.

Six Hikes for History Buffs!

The stone dairy house at Wunderlich Park was built in 1874. Photo courtesy SMCPF.

Where did Houdini challenge local policeman to keep him locked up? What almost became a 6-lane freeway? San Mateo County Parks are rich in history beyond the two historic sites, Sanchez Adobe and the Woodside Store. If you love nature and history, then we have you covered with these six hikes.

The Christmas Bird Count: It’s for the Birders!

A California Thrasher spotted during the Mount Hamilton Christmas Bird Count. Credit: Mike Azevedo

Outdoor fun meets citizen science in the annual birdwatching festival under California’s Pacific Flyway.

An Ode to Coyote Brush and Other Late Fall Bloomers

Why do you think it's called coyote brush? Read on to find out. Credit: Mike Kahn.

What's blooming in mid to late fall, and where you can find these flowering plants on the Peninsula, in the South Bay, and Santa Cruz.

Five Fall Hikes Near Silicon Valley

Wild turkeys on a fall day at Rancho San Antonio Preserve. Photo by Karl Gohl

Enjoy the changing colors of the leaves and the serenity to be found hiking in the hills around Silicon Valley (Santa Clara Valley). Oh, and a chai recipe to warm you up!

Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument: A Tour

Eric Johnson points toward the grand swath of the Pacific Ocean from the sweeping vantage point of Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument. Photo by Mike Kahn.

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and Bureau of Land Management offer a glimpse at a national treasure just over the hill.

Pump Tracks Find Some New Momentum

The Flood Park Pump Track features awesome rollers and shade. Courtesy San Mateo County Parks Department.

Mountain bikers and BMX riders of all ages are flocking to parks to practice their skills on purpose-built rollers and berms.

Fun and Games for Students in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Quail Hollow Pond is a great place for animal tracking! Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History photo.

Here are a couple of kid-friendly hikes and gamified educational activities in the hills near Santa Cruz, just 45 minutes from Silicon Valley.

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