Santa Clara County, California
The best Trails and Outdoor Activities in Santa Clara County, California, offer top-notch outdoor adventures. A must-visit is the Almaden Quicksilver County Park. It boasts over 37 miles of hiking trails, with scenic views of the Santa Clara Valley and the Sierra Azul mountain range. The park is also home to historic mining sites and the beautiful Guadalupe Reservoir. For a more challenging hike, try the 8-mile round trip to the top of Mission Peak. It offers panoramic views of the Bay Area and unique rock formations. Don't miss the Stevens Creek Trail, a multi-use trail that follows the Stevens Creek and offers birdwatching, biking, and jogging opportunities. For a relaxing day, head to the Uvas Reservoir County Park for fishing, boating, and picnicking. These outdoor activities make Santa Clara County a must-visit for outdoor adventures.
Top Spots in and near Santa Clara County
-
San Francisco, CaliforniaLyon Street Steps
4.50.2 mi / 102 ft gainRumor has it there are almost 300 stairs from top to bottom. This is a great place to get some exercise in if you're up for running or walking up the stairs. Do a few laps (roundtrip) and you'll be pretty happy with your workout. If you're really looking to get after it, throw in a few pushups an...Read more -
Oakland, California
Sibley Volcanic Trail Labyrinths
3.02 mi / 144 ft gainFrom Skyline Blvd, pull into the staging area for Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, you'll see the sign. Parking here is usually easy to find. You'll find an unstaffed visitor center with a restroom, park maps and informational displays featuring the history and geology of the park. Sibley is a...Read more -
San Francisco, California
Presidio Ecology Trail
5.01.82 mi / 427 ft gainPresidio Ecology Trail is a loop trail through the Presidio located near San Francisco, California. This loop can be started at the Upper Ecology Trail off of Arguello Blvd near Pacific or down at the Lower Ecology Trail near the Inn at the Presidio. This trail is dog friendly on-leash.Read more -
San Francisco, California
Presidio Loop
5.95 mi / 823 ft gainThis route starts and ends on Jackson street in the Presidio Terrace neighborhood of San Francisco. This loop can be started in several areas of the Presidio including off of the Lyon street steps, but this starting point creates a good midpoint of the loop. Along the route, be sure to keep an ...Read more -
San Francisco, California
Presidio Bay Area Ridge Trail
5.02.73 mi / 203 ft gainPresidio Bay Area Ridge Trail is a point-to-point trail where you may see wildflowers located near San Francisco, California.Read more -
San Francisco, California
Aquatic Park
3.7Take an early morning swim and watch the sunrise over the east bay or catch an afternoon swim on a sunny SF day. A full lap around the buoys (out-and-back) is about 1/3 mile and the perimeter of the park is 1 mile. Bring your dog for a swim too! Afterward, you can head up Columbus to one of the m...Read more -
San Francisco, CaliforniaFort Mason
4.8When the sun comes out in San Francisco, Fort Mason's Great Meadow Park transforms into ground zero for bocce ball, corn hole, wiffle ball, music, dancing, wine, and beer. While it lacks the diversity and quirkiness found at Dolores Park, it makes up for it with a beautiful panoramic view of the ...Read more -
Scotts Valley, California
Panther Beach
5.00.27 mi / 22.97 ft gainPanther Beach: Santa Cruz's Hidden Coastal Gem Panther Beach is a stunning, secluded beach nestled among rocky cliff sides along California's Highway 1. This is a great place to catch an awesome sunset, and there's even some decent bouldering on the beach archway for climbing enthusiasts. Beach...Read more -
Los Gatos, California
Soquel Demonstration Forest Flow Trail
14.21 mi / 2080 ft gainAs with many trail systems there are multiple routes and loops available at Sequel Demonstration forest of varying lengths and difficulty. The 3 main trails are all accessed via the same parking area on highland way. The most popular trail is the all skill levels "Flow" trail, followed by two sho...Read more -
San Francisco, CaliforniaSurf Ocean Beach
4.8Ocean Beach has long stints of good waves during the fall and winter months. During the fall, winds are favorably offshore creating warm and hollow conditions. Once winter hits, wave size can increase to the 12-15ft range on big swells and it gets pretty cold - that's when you'll see people break...Read more -
San Francisco, CaliforniaBeach Bonfire at Ocean Beach
4.3Yes, it's often cold in the city. So, what's the best way to warm up? Bring some blankets, a jacket or two, and come out to Ocean Beach to enjoy a bonfire, a sunset, and some quality time with friends. The fire pits are between Fulton and Lincoln. On a sunny day, get there early if you want to ge...Read more -
San Francisco, California
The Wave Organ
The Wave Organ is an acoustic sculpture located on a jetty in the Marina district of San Francisco. Designed by Peter Richards and built in collaboration with sculptor George Gonzalez, this unique attraction was completed in 1986. It utilizes the natural movement of the waves to create a variety ...Read more -
San Francisco, CaliforniaCrab Fishing at China Beach
5.0It's illegal to catch Dungeness Crab inside the bay, but once you reach Baker Beach and China Beach, it's legal to catch 10 per valid fishing license. When you're ready to start your crabbing adventure, head to Gus' Discount Tackle. They'll get you set up with the right equipment (a crab trap, zi...Read more -
San Francisco, California
Hopper's Hands via the San Francisco Bay Trail
4.63.07 mi / 69 ft gainHundreds of people touch Hopper's Hands every day as a turn-around point on their runs in and around Crissy Field and The San Francisco Bay Trail. Running west through Crissy Field, passing the Warming Hut and pier, you follow Marine Drive until you dead end at Fort Point. If you continue through...Read more -
San Francisco, California
Lands End Trail
4.73.26 mi / 518 ft gainThe Lands End Trail is a 3.26 mile out-and-back hike located in the northwest corner of San Francisco along the city's rugged coastline. Offering spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and the Pacific Ocean, the hike is one of the most popular trails in San Francisco for ...Read more -
San Francisco, CaliforniaParadise Loop
4.337.61 mi / 2946 ft gainRiding this loop has long been a popular option for San Franciscan riders looking to escape the busy city streets. This 38-mile ride with 1,600 feet of elevation, is suitable for all personalities of rider: the fast paced racer or the person just out to relax and cruise. A great place to start t...Read more
