Pack your water, snacks, and hiking shoes, leash up your best four-footed friend and get on the path to adventure. We’ve got some great places picked out for you to do some hiking with your dog in the south bay area around San Jose.
Check out the 6 best dog-friendly hikes near San Jose, CA
1. Guadalupe Oak Grove Park
5982 Thorntree Dr, San Jose, CA 95120 | map
Home to nesting owls, old mineral quarries, and 300-year-old oak trees, this 60-acre urban park has a range of paths from flat and level to mildly challenging, so it’s a great choice for older, shorter, or just plain lazy dogs. There’s an off-leash dog park right nearby for a nice social warmup or cool-down.
2. Almaden Quicksilver County Park
21785 Almaden Rd, San Jose, CA 95120 | map
Almaden Quicksilver park hosts over 24 miles of hiking trails and hundreds of feet of elevation to test your endurance. Much of the area was once dedicated to Mercury mining, so don’t eat the fish in the reservoir and stick to marked paths. Here’s a park map to get you started.
3. Fremont Older Open Space Preserve
Prospect Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070 | map
14.7 miles of trails in nearby Saratoga range from mild to wild. There are a few different trailheads with their own parking, so consult a map before deciding where to start your adventure. This open space was a family ranch until the 1980s, so keep an eye out for interesting historical features.
4. Los Gatos Creek Trail
This 10-mile urban trail follows the Los Gatos Creek from Los Gatos to San Jose. The path is partially paved, part retired railroad bed, and part gravel path. This busy thoroughfare is popular with bicyclists, strollers, and joggers as it wends its way through urban landscapes and parks.
5. Santa Teresa County Park
260 Bernal Rd, San Jose, CA 95119 | map
17 miles of trails around and up to the top of Coyote Peak. The park includes some historic farm buildings, an 18 hole golf course, and a day-use area for parties and picnics. Park map here.
6. Sunol Regional Wilderness
1895 Geary Rd, Sunol, CA 94586 | map
The Sunol wilderness may be a little bit further out of town, but it has so much to offer. In addition to hiking and biking, backcountry camping, backpacking, and rock climbing are available. Trails range from nice and easy to major multi-day excursions, so be sure and check your options ahead of time.
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