County parks offer boating, hiking, biking and more. In the
third of a four-part series, we give you a breakdown of Santa Clara
County parks from A to Z
Week THREE: LOS GATOS CREEK to SANTA TERESA LOS GATOS CREEK
This nine-mile trail is popular with pedestrians, hikers and bicyclists – it can get a bit crowded on sunny weekends. In San Jose, it begins near the intersection of Leigh Avenue and Willow Street and winds south toward Lexington Reservoir. It’s an excellent place to see riparian plants and wildlife in an intricate water system of percolation ponds and creeks. It passes close to the city of Campbell’s downtown region. Farther south along the trail near downtown Los Gatos, it passes near the historic Forbes Mill, now a local museum of the town’s past.
Directions: In the city of Campbell, access the trail at Campbell Park just off Campbell Avenue (near the Pruneyard shopping center).
MOTORCYCLE
More than 20 miles of dirt trails for motorcyclists and ATV riders cris-cross this 459-acre park just north of the South Valley. Trails suitable for both beginners and experts are available. The trails rise to a 1,000-foot ridge, allowing park users to enjoy the scenery from Gilroy to San Francisco. The park also has a motocross competition track and a mini-motocross track (for smaller engines). A oval track is operated by the Baylands Quarter Midget Racing Association for quarter-midget racing and practice.
Directions: From South Valley, drive north on Highway 101 to South San Jose’s Bernal Road exit. Drive west about 0.2 miles to Monterey Highway south exit, and drive south just over a mile to Metcalf Road. Turn left on Metcalf, and drive 2.5 miles to the park entrance in the foothills east of Highway 101.
Mount MADONNA
Here in the South Valley just west of Gilroy, we have one of the most beautiful of the county parks on the crest of Mount Madonna. The 3,688-acre park near the summit of Hecker Pass is covered by redwood forests, oak woodlands, chaparral and grassy meadows. The park provides panoramas of the Santa Clara Valley to the east and Monterey Bay to the west. A visitors center at the park headquarters allows users to learn about the natural history as well as the Ohlone Indians who once made Mount Madonna their hunting and acorn harvesting land. In the 19th century, Henry Miller, the pioneer cattle rancher, built himself a fine summer retreat here – and the concrete foundation still remains to give visitors a sense of the home’s grandeur.
Activities include 118 drive-in and walk-in campsites – each of which comes with a barbecue pit, a food locker and a picnic table. Hikers and equestrians can trek along 14 miles of trail meandering through the various natural zones of the park. Archery enthusiasts can practice their bow and arrow skills in an archery range set among the redwoods.
Directions: From Gilroy, drive 10 miles west on Highway 152 (Hecker Pass Road). Near the summit, turn right on Pole Line Road. The park entrance is located just down the road.
PENITENCIA CREEK
A four-mile regional trail park of about 134 acres that follows the Penitencia Creek in east San Jose, visitors can enjoy gardens and open space from various agencies including the City of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley Water District. The park connects to the city of San Jose’s 700 acre Alum Rock Regional Park, and provides recreation for hikers, bikers, equestrians and nature lovers.
Directions: From South Valley, drive north to San Jose on Highway 101. Take the McKeen Road exit and drive east on McKeen 1.2 miles to Jackson Avenue. Turn left on Jackson and head 0.7 miles to Mabury Road. Access to the trail is located on the northwest corner of Jackson and Mabury.
RANCHO SAN ANTONIO
Although this county park itself is small at 165 acres, it’s situated next to 2,135 acres of the mid-peninsula Regional Open Space District preserve in the Skyline Ridge foothills just west of Interstate 280 near Los Altos. The park has more than 23 miles of jogging and hiking trails as well as bicycling and equestrian trials. A staging area for non-gas powered model airplanes allows for take-offs and lands in the South Meadow area. In the Open Space Preserve is Deer Hollow Farm, where visitors can see firsthand the agricultural heritage of Santa Clara Valley.
Directions: On Interstate 280, take the Foothill Boulevard exit and drive south about .2 miles to Cristo Rey Drive. Turn right at this drive and proceed about 1 mile to the park entrance.
SANBORN
Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this 3,688 acre park is located between Saratoga and Skyline Boulevard. It has more than 15 miles of trails passing through redwood and tan bark oak groves. A mile-long nature trail helps visitors learn about the flora and fauna located in the region. Picnic tables are available in the day-use area. Families might also want to check out the nature display at the Youth Science Institute inside the park’s ground. Shakespeare enthusiasts should definitely visit the park during the summer, when the Shady Shakespeare troupe performs there (check out the Web site at www.shadyshakes.org). RV camping is available year round – with electric and water hook-ups and a dump station. Tent camping is open from late March to late October. An American Youth Hostel is also open inside the park. Call (408) 293-3787 for more details.
SANTA TERESA
Panoramic views of Coyote and Almaden valleys can be taken in from the ridgeline trails of this 1,627-acre park just north of South Valley. More than 18 miles of trails wind through the park for equestrian, hiker and bicyclists’ enjoyment. Trails lead to the historic Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch site as well as the Santa Teresa Springs. The day-use grounds has parking for more than 170 vehicles as well as a staging area for equestrians. A picnic area has a large barbecue pit that can service up to 100 people. An archery range is also open for public use and occasional tournaments are scheduled throughout the year. An 18-hole championship golf course is operated by a concessionaire. Call (408) 225-2650 for details.
Directions: From South Valley, drive north on Highway 101, and take the Bernal Road exit in south San Jose. Drive 1.3 miles on Bernal and cross Santa Teresa Boulevard past the Santa Teresa Golf Club and up into the hills. The day-use area is located just past the park entrance, which will be on your left.
