1. Overview
Explore the scenic hiking opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly around San Jose and Silicon Valley, which offer a wide variety of trails across several public agencies.
2. City of San Jose Trail Network
The City of San Jose boasts one of the largest urban trail networks in the United States, currently featuring 56 miles of developed trails with plans to expand to 100 miles.
- Flat trails like the Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek are ideal for commuters.
- Rural hiking options include Alum Rock Park and Silver Creek Valley Trail.
All trails are dog-friendly, except those in Alum Rock Park. However, the city’s trail website lacks a comprehensive map for easier navigation.
3. Santa Clara County Parks
Santa Clara County’s regional park system features a mix of urban and mountain parks, providing a diverse range of trails, lakes, and open spaces. With 29 county parks covering nearly 46,000 acres, it is one of the most diverse recreational areas in California.
The county offers a tool called “Parkfinder” to search for parks by activity, location, or specific criteria like pet allowances.
4. San Mateo County Parks
San Mateo County operates 21 parks featuring numerous diverse trails from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Coast.
While a physical search form is not available on the website, visitors can filter trails by categories such as activity and location. Please note that only two San Mateo County hiking trails allow dogs.
5. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
This district maintains 24 protected open space preserves in San Mateo County and the Santa Cruz Mountains. These minimally developed areas provide unique hiking experiences away from urban settings.
Like the Santa Clara County Parks, there is a “Find a Preserve” tool that identifies dog-friendly trails.
6. Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
The Open Space Authority oversees three preserves in Santa Clara County. Although the website does not support trail searches, individual trail maps are available for:
- Rancho Canadá Del Oro
- Sierra Vista
- Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve
All trails prohibit dogs.
7. City of Palo Alto Open Space Preserves
The City of Palo Alto manages four open space preserve areas offering visitors access to printable guides and maps, enhancing the hiking experience within this vibrant city.
8. California State Parks
California operates two parks in Santa Clara County and 15 parks in San Mateo County. For more information, you can utilize the “Find a Park” tool available on their website.
