Exploring Our Local Wildlands
Santa Clara County is a place of great ecological variety. Following a drop of water from the high peaks of the Diablo Range and Santa Cruz Mountains, we move in permanent creeks from mixed deciduous and evergreen forests through chaparral and redwoods, to the spring creeks of the rolling oak woodlands of the lower foothills, then out through the valley floor to the estuaries of the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay. The student of California’s flora has much to explore.
Consider the following hikes to experience these varied ecotypes:
High Montane
Sierra Azul Open Space: Woods and Mt. Umunhum Trails
Sanborn County Park: Sanborn and John Nicolaus Trails to the summit. Skyline Trail
Uvas Canyon County Park: Knibbs Knob Trail to the summit. Check out the spur to Knibbs Knob.
Henry Coe State Park: Any of the ridge trails, such as Bear Mountain Road, Willow Ridge Road, and Rock House Ridge Trail
Joseph D. Grant County Park: Manzanita Trail, Pala Seca Trail
Monte Bello Open Space: Indian Creek Trail, Black Mountain Trail
Redwoods
Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve, Los Gatos
Montalvo Art Center, Saratoga
Mount Madonna County Park: Ridge Trail
Sanborn County Park: Peterson Trail, Sanborn Trail
Mixed deciduous and evergreen forests (many options)
Montalvo Art Center, Saratoga
St. Joseph Open Space: Jones Trail
Lexington Reservoir County Park: Priest Rock Trail
Sierra Azul Open Space: Kennedy Trail, Woods Trail
Chaparral
St. Joseph Open Space: Manzanita Trail
Lexington Reservoir County Park: Limekiln Trail, Priest Rock Trail
Henry Coe State Park: Chaparral Trail, Manzanita Trail
Mount Madonna County Park: Merry-Go-Round Trail
St. Joseph Open Space: Manzanita Trail
Stevens Creek County Park: Bear Meadow Trail
Oak Woodland
Guadalupe Oak Grove Park
Rancho San Antonio: Rogue Valley Trail
Bay Estuaries
Baylands Nature Preserve: San Francisquito Trail, Adobe Creek Trail
Environmental Education Center Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge: New Chicago Slough Trail