Santa Clara County
Outdoors and nature in Santa Clara County: 10 picks from the Santa Clara County guide, each linked to its source. Details can change. Check with the venue before you go.
Every listing links to its source · Updated
Santa Clara County's outdoor picks run from county parks to Hakone Estate and Gardens in Saratoga, described by its stewards as one of the oldest residential style Japanese gardens open to the public in the Western Hemisphere
. Each listing links to its park or garden page for hours and fees. Source: hakone.com
Parks, trails, beaches, gardens and nature reserves.
Section: Outdoors and natureparkWhere: 21785 Almaden Road, San Jose, CA 95120Map of Almaden Quicksilver County Park (opens in new tab)
4,163 acres on a former mercury mining site, with over 37 miles of trails, historic mining remnants and the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum. No entry fee.
Section: Outdoors and natureparkWhere: 3100 Calaveras Road, Milpitas, CA 95035Map of Ed R. Levin County Park (opens in new tab)
1,558 acres with lawns, a playground, fishing at Sandy Wool Lake, views from Monument Peak and a hang-gliding launch area where visitors can watch gliders soar.
Section: Outdoors and naturegardenWhere: 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070Map of Hakone Estate & Gardens (opens in new tab)
Japanese estate and gardens in Saratoga.
Section: Outdoors and natureparkWhere: 985 Hellyer Ave, San Jose, CA 95111Map of Hellyer County Park (opens in new tab)
178-acre creekside park with a 30-foot play structure, a toddler area, fishing at Cottonwood Lake, a dog park and an Olympic-size velodrome.
Section: Outdoors and natureparkWhere: 18405 Mt. Hamilton Road, San Jose, CA 95140Map of Joseph D. Grant County Park (opens in new tab)
The county's largest regional park, 10,882 acres of grassland and oak woodland at the base of Mt. Hamilton, with a 51-mile trail system and fishing.
Section: Outdoors and natureparkWhere: 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose, CA 95136Map of Martial Cottle Park (opens in new tab)
A 287-acre historic ranch celebrating the valley's farming heritage, with over 3 miles of paved trails, picnic areas and the Walter Cottle Lester Visitor Center (hours vary).
Section: Outdoors and natureparkOver 25 miles of trail across a 2,180-acre preserve and 293-acre county park, including the climb to 2,800-foot Black Mountain, plus Deer Hollow Farm. Parking can be congested at busy times.
Section: Outdoors and natureparkWhere: 16055 Sanborn Road, Saratoga, CA 95070Map of Sanborn County Park (opens in new tab)
3,453 acres of redwoods and tanbark oaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains, with over 22 miles of trails and a one-mile nature trail.
Section: Outdoors and natureparkWhere: 8515 Croy Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037Map of Uvas Canyon County Park (opens in new tab)
1,147 forested acres with a one-mile Waterfall Loop along Swanson Creek. A pre-paid vehicle day pass reservation is required every day.
Section: Outdoors and natureparkWhere: 333 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032Map of Vasona Lake County Park (opens in new tab)
152-acre lakeside park with 45 acres of lawn, picnic areas, fishing and the Youth Science Institute nature center. Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad rides run through the park from neighboring Oak Meadow Park.
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