hiking gear


Stevens Creek County Park hiking trails

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Wearing: winter jacket (machine washable and packable! Under $100) / knit hat (old, also love this one) / long sleeve tee / backpack / G buckle belt / light wash skinny jeans / spring nail polish / hiking boots (old, also love this pair) /

How pretty is this view! We hiked at Stevens Creek County Park for the first time last weekend, and it was a real treat! This large park puts you out in the wilderness just steps from Cupertino. There is a large network of hiking trails, some of which allow dogs, if your dog enjoys hiking too. You can also ride your bike on the some of the trails. Please refer to the trail map when you arrive to see which trails allow dogs and/or bikes.

The hiking trails at Stevens Creek County Park start from the multiple picnic areas where you can enjoy a picnic and then catch a trail. We hiked the Stevens Canyon Trail for the majority of the hike, which was just over three miles, and roughly two hours long. We had my daughter’s girl scout troop (they’re teenagers) with us, and her friend’s parents brought two dogs along for the fun. We had a blast!

The main attraction from the Stevens Creek County Park hiking trails is the view. You can see Silicon Valley from the viewpoints along the trails, and of course when you get to the top. These trails are medium difficulty and offer a lot of elevation changes, which is super fun!

Stevens Creek County Park is easy to get to from Cupertino. If you are traveling down N. Foothill Blvd, it turns into Stevens Canyon Road. As soon as you stop seeing homes (civilization), there will be a parking lot on your left. That’s a great place to park and enjoy the park! The ranger’s station is a few yards from the parking lot, hidden down the road. This is where you can find tri-fold maps to take with you on the hike. There is also an ancient communications device at the ranger’s station, aka a pay phone-and it works, we tested it! haha

For more information, please visit the county’s website.

If you’re local, I hope you have a chance to check out Stevens Creek County Park!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

stevens creek county park hiking trails

Rancho San Antonio County Park hiking trails in Cupertino

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Rancho San Antonio Park is a large Santa Clara County Park with a series of hiking trails, and a small farm. I have always wanted to hike there, and we finally did!

We took our family hiking at Rancho San Antonio County Park on a Saturday morning, when we thought it might be slow. We were mistaken! This is a popular park, and the multiple parking lots fill up quickly. I recommend getting there well before 9am if you want an easy time finding a parking space.

Although the park is heavily trafficked, it is very large, so it can accommodate a large volume of hikers; even during this time of social distancing.

Rancho San Antonio County Park hiking trails are set up to ensure social distancing. The county made the trails one-way, so you cannot turn around and go back. Get ready to hike!

The one-way trails are a gift, and a curse. If you get tired, you have to keep going; there is no turning around and going back from where you came from. Luckily when my kids saw the one-way signs, they were mentally prepared to gut it out. They did the whole hike!

We were out there for two hours, and hiked roughly four miles. It was really fun, and a very pretty hike. While there wasn’t an abundance of views, as there are on other trails I have covered, there was a cute farm, known as Deer Hollow Farm, and lots of trees. We loved the large amount of shade on these trails! The shady trails are perfect this time of year.

The one-way trails may end at a different parking lot than the one you started at. Don’t worry, all the parking lots are in a line, so you can easily find your way back to the lot where your car is parked.

The terrain isn’t very steep, this hike is more sloped; making it ideal for families with children, and anyone who isn’t into steep hikes. I would say this is an easy hike, but right now, it is long-so bring water and snacks!

There is a mask ordinance in the State of California, so you will need to wear a mask while hiking Rancho San Antonio Reserve hiking trails. I like to hike while wearing a balaclava which is easy to pull down around my neck when no-one else is around. You can wear any mask you are comfortable hiking in.

Rancho San Antonio County Park hiking trails are easy to find. Take the Foothill exit off 280 and head west. Turn right onto Cristo Rey Drive and drive a couple minutes until you see the large sign. Then you can enter the parking area and find a lot with open spaces. You can’t miss it! It’s easy to find 🙂

Have you hiked on the trails at Rancho San Antonio County Park in Cupertino? What are your thoughts?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


Quicksilver Trail in San Jose

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wearing: silver hoops / tee shirt / backpack / sweatshirt / spring nail polish / jeans / hiking boots /

Quicksilver Trail is a popular hiking trail in the southern part of San Jose. It’s an interesting trail because it goes through the old and historic Quicksilver Mines; which are a big part of San Jose history. There are several mines in the area dating back to the gold rush; some of which were still in operation in the early 1900’s. This trail is a fun way to share and learn about our local history, while getting a great outdoor workout.

The Quicksilver Trails are steep. I would not recommend bringing a small child or stroller on these trails. They go up in elevation quickly, so it is a good idea to be old enough to handle the pitch of the trail; and to also be fit enough to tackle the terrain. It is a great workout, and worth the effort. The views at the top of the various trails are outstanding.

In case you are wondering what Quicksilver is, it is actually mercury. It was used during the gold rush as a reduction agent for gold and silver; before the industry switched to cyanide.  Quicksilver from San Jose was an important product during the gold rush, and essential in helping the area grow. It’s fun to hike through the old mines, and share this history with your kids. My kids enjoy the trails, and they always find it fun when we come across an old building or mine shaft. I recommend staying out of any mine remnants. It is not safe to climb into old buildings and mines.

There are several entrances to the Quicksilver Trails. Our favorite is on Whispering Pines Drive between Whitbourne Drive and Pierce Ranch Road. There is plenty of parking on the street across from the homes in the area. This is a neighborhood filled with homes and children, please respect the neighbors by driving slowly, not blocking driveways or mailboxes, and keeping noise to a minimum. During peak season such as weekends and summer, I recommend going before 10am. It gets crowded.

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This is an incredible hike! I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I do!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

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