Bear Gulch and Alambique Trail Loop

Towering redwoods and eye-opening vistas make this hike a great escape from the stress of Silicon Valley. This hike at Wunderlich County Park takes you through some of the most common ecosystems in the South Bay: second-growth redwood, oak, madrone and open meadows. The park, just outside of Woodside on the west side of Silicon Valley, draws crowds on the weekends, and it can be hard to find a parking spot. If possible, it's recommended to try and come mid-week when you'll have the trails mostly to yourself. The redwood forest deepens the further you hike in. At one point this whole hillside was logged, but now a new redwood forest is reclaiming the land. It's a great place to experience nature's regenerative powers first-hand. Trails on this track: Bear Gulch Trail, Skyline Trail, and Alambique Trial. Wunderlich is on a hillside at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains; you start at the bottom so it's pretty much uphill for most of the first half; but it's downhill for the rest. Note you can cut this hike roughly in half by looping back to the parking lot rather than venturing higher in the park along the Skyline or Alambique trails. Also, the Redwood Trail is a pretty side trip, and The Meadows is an excellent open area for taking a snack break. Best time to come: With all the shade, this is a great all-year park; springtime will be a bit more scenic as the wildflowers bloom. The deepest redwood section offers a cool break from summer heat. The redwood canopy even offers some protection on a rainy hike.