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Alum Rock Park
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 8 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
93 reviews for Alum Rock Park
93 reviews in English
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Review from Isabel M.
San Jose, CA
12/21/2011
This park is great! I went recently on a warm winter day for the first time and was very impressed. There are extensive trails suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. This is a real escape from urban and suburban life around. In the park, it's quiet, you can hear and see the birds, and it smells like nature. So nice. There's a lot of shade, so I'd imagine it stays cool in summer, unless you're climbing to the top of Eagle Rock.
Eagle Rock is a must-do. It has a beautiful panoramic view of the San Jose area, including the Santa Cruz mountains and up the bay toward Palo Alto and the Dumbarton Bridge.
It's an easy drive from anywhere in San Jose and really easy walking--if you've never been here before and are looking for a park that's convenient and easy to get around, this is a great choice.
On the weekends, it's $6/car to get in to the parking areas inside the park (shorter walk than the one free parking lot outside). Closed Mondays but open every other day.
It's also a very historic park, with mineral springs that used to attract thousands of people for swimming and "curing" their ails. -
Review from Ryan L.
10/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I thought this park was great but my experience there was not.
One Sunday I wandered the trails of the park. When I returned, I went to start my car and nothing. It wouldn't start. It wouldn't do anything. I did a brief inspection and everything seemed fine. I went to call a friend for help and I had no cell phone signal. I was near some buildings so I went in search of someone for help but I couldn't find anyone. I even knocked on the ranger station/visitor center door but no one was there. Luckily I turned around and there was a pay phone. I went back and tried my car again and tried to get a signal. After a while I called 911 from the pay phone. I got Police services and told them what was happening. I had no signal and I needed a tow truck. The police said they couldn't recommend a tow truck and said that I had to walk until I got a signal. I walked at least 3 miles to the entrance of the park. I finally got a signal, called a friend, he came and jumped my battery and then I left.
This moral of this story is that this is a nice park, but you're on your own if something happens. At Alum Rock Park, no one can hear you scream. -
Review from Mike T.
San Jose, CA
9/15/2011
This is solely based on the running, hiking and biking that I've done at Alum Rock Park. It's one of the better escapes from the urban streets and traffic. Lots of trails and endless combinations for trail running, mountain and road biking. The park itself is very large and I've yet to explore the whole place. The hike to Eagle Rock is a bit short, but it's definitely worthwhile.
My son loves this place. There's lots of trees and wild animals roaming around and his curiosity goes to over drive every time we make it out here.
I usually don't drive to the park and it's refreshing to know that most motorists have etiquette when it comes to sharing the road when I run/bike there. -
Review from Ss S.
San Jose, CA
2/7/2012
It's beautiful even in the winter. If you enjoy trail running, hiking or biking... its awesome! I found a paved road (is this new?). I forgot the trail's name but it was about 45 minute to hike and about 30 min to jog it, so it's pretty short. The view at the top is breathtaking.
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Review from Enza P.
I am loving this park! There are a bunch of different trails you can take and everyone is so friendly! I've hiked here twice now and every time I go my butt and thighs feel the burn!
It's a great place to hike and catch up with friends. I'm SO relaxed when I'm here and it's not a crazy park that only marathon participants can do. They have easy trails that everyone can hike. If you don't like going up hills then you can just walk on the road. If you park in the free parking lot and walk to the trails, that is a mission in itself!
The fee is $6 per car to drive in and park. I definitely think if you have a full car it's not a big deal to just pay. If you wanna be cheap, go early and park in the free parking. There's only one free lot so keep that in mind.
If I had more time that day, and found free parking, I would not have minded walking the road. However, there isn't an actual walk way available for pedestrians so I highly suggest you don't walk in the middle of the road =)
I think it'd be a 3+ hour trip if you walked from free parking to the end of a trail and all the way back. My friends and I got there at 8:30 and left at about 10:15 when we parked by the trail.
Just make sure when you go hiking allow yourself a lot of time. There's a bunch of exploring you can do so it's better not to be on a time constraint.
Beware of weird brown balls of poo and smelly creek water! -
Review from Tram N.
When I want to exercise, when I want some fresh air, when I have my Daughter.. I ALWAYS suggest trekking up Alum Rock Park because the terrain isn't that difficult for her.
The 2 hour brisk cardio (if you can call fast-paced walking cardio) and the nice scenery (trails, rocks, creek, birds, deers, flowers, the entire view of San Jose, etc.) is breathtaking.
Parking can be difficult the later you go (the free parking area by the entrance from Pennitencia Creek Rd.) but if you don't mind forking over $5 then you can find plentiful parking..
Picnic areas are available and I have coordinated a picnic here and it's quite nice but since the area is somewhat huge, it can be confusing for your guests so precise location of your designated spot should be well informed.
This is w/in a 5 minute drive from my residence.. literally a beautiful park w/ trails ranging from easy to moderate to difficult.. some joggers, some runners, some mountain biking... a park in my backyard - literally!Listed in: Outdoor Adventures
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Review from Melanie R.
San Jose, CA
7/18/2011
This is a very chill park with some great trails.
I went with my family a few weeks back, and really enjoyed the peaceful (but not boring) atmosphere.
Like Enza P. said, there a lot of different kinds of trails to choose from. It's my choice spot for hiking in the area. -
Review from Vien N.
San Jose, CA
5/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ever come up to the first parking lot and find it completely packed? Don't wanna drop $5 just for parking? Park next the the Lariat Trail!
Go up Berryessa and it'll turn into Suncrest. Drive allll the way up the hill on Suncrest, take a right at Boulder, and another right at Lariat. Be careful! The roads are tight and steep here. Park along the curb near the cul de sac at the end of Lariat Lane and you'll find a mowed path into the park. The Lariat Trail will drop you off at the North Rim trail and from there it's a short climb to the Eagle Rock Trail.
And if you think the Eagle Rock vista was a nice view, check out the Boccardo Trail! It's only another 3.5 miles or so around the loop and up the vista, but the 360 degree view is amazing. -
Review from Zzz C.
Milpitas, CA
9/7/2011
This is a awesome park. Never knew San Jose has such a wonderful park. We were there for a picnic. Paid $6 at the gate to enter the park. Park was very big. Although there are many people but you don't feel it's crowded.
Will return here again next time for hiking. -
Review from Samsudin K.
Santa Clara, CA
5/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I made a mistake when going there for the first time, I used the address listed in Yelp and it brought us to the entrance where is only for bikers and pedestrian. If you are driving into Alum Rock, use the Penitencia Creek Road and not from Alum Rock Avenue.
Don't get me wrong about the park, we love it and we will back to explore more trail but the people that use the picnic and BBQ area need to be educated. We saw trash on the floor, plastic water bottle everywhere on the playground and there are some rowdy kids at the play ground.
The visitor center was closed on Saturday when we there but the Youth Science Institute is great to learn about animals and creature in the park. It is not free but worth the money to see the snakes and learn about nature from the volunteer.
We took the South Rim Trail which has the entrance near the Mineral Springs Picnic Area. It was long hike up 670 ft from the car park but the view of South Bay is amazing. It has mostly shaded and lot of wild flower in Spring. Total hike up and down for us with 3 kids between 5-6 yrs old is 2 hrs. We did many stop on the way up to see the view and look at the plants along the trail. It was good experience for the kids and I highly recommended this trail. The kids enjoy the hike and had good picnic lunch near the creek. Overall, it was good Saturday hike but I wish the people there respect more the place and keep the park clean. -
Review from John S.
Berkeley, CA
6/18/2011 2 photos
There are several hiking trails you can walk along, but probably the most obvious one is the North Rim Trail. I came here with my girlfriend and walked all the way to Penitencia Creek. Walking in the beautiful weather with a beautiful girlfriend made me appreciate the beautiful landscape even more so.
Note that there are also plenty of park benches and picnic tables, playgrounds, bbq pits, a horseshoe pit, and I'm sure other features that I'm not aware of. Oh, and there was this random chicken there, which I ended up chasing for some reason. -
Review from Crysal V.
10/1/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This place is still looking pretty good from when I was a little kid. Great for parties, BBQ's, hiking, bike riding, etc. It's a lovely time to come to the park now because it is transitioning into Fall, and the surroundings look amazing! Come in the morning or early evening to get a cool breeze to cool you off as you work out or simply stroll. Make sure to go with someone because there are wildlife animals and the psycho teenagers.
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Review from Madeline W.
San Jose, CA
7/16/2011 1 photo
This is a beautiful city park with great views of the valley. Though it doesn't seem particularly large on a map, you can take significant day hikes here through varied terrain.
I also love Alum Rock Park for its historical significance. AR Park was the first municipal park in CA, as well as a major tourist destination until about WWII, complete with natural mineral hot springs, a swimming pavilion, a resort, a zoo, and train service! Today you can see remnants of some of those things in the form of old hot spring baths and pretty stone bridges.
The park is especially lovely in the Spring, when Penitencia Creek is really flowing. But it's truly a little SJ oasis throughout the year.
Minus one star:
-NO DOGS
-Closed Mondays -
Review from John S.
San Jose, CA
10/31/2011
We drive here from about 20 miles away to enjoy hiking on nice looking trails with lots of forest and some good views. The park management is stretched thin and is not nearly active enough in enlisting community participation for upkeep and security; like one previous post mentioned, you're on your own, "in Alum Rock Park no one can hear you scream". Hopefully you don't run into trouble but, be prepared just in case.
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Review from Linda D.
I love this place it's just chill and the trail is decent. Not too easy and not too hard! U definitely want to make it to the top ofEagle Rock, and it's an easy goal to achieve. Theres a little house there too with animals such as sheep and a sheep dog, so cute!
Just remember you're way back, cuz me and my friend are directionally challenged and we got lost coming back. One sign had an arrow that said exit, so we followed it and it lead us to a creek! Lmao dang we didn't want that kinda exit, I'm too young to die ha!
There's also cool stuff to take pics of like the sign of smokey the bear. I recommend this place if you want to be outdoors and want an easy hike! I'd bring a carpet or blanket too so you can sit, lay and chill on the top, since there's only one rock and one bench that's not big enough for everybody! -
Review from Alexis S.
San Jose, CA
4/12/2011
Eagle Rock has a great view.. this is a gorgeous park but I think it's really only pretty in the colder months when everything is green- then it's breathtaking.. Once the summer comes it's brown and dusty and :( I hear it's great for bikers. I have only taken the trail to the tippy top ( not sure what the technical name is, once).. I was so sore it took four hours and the cows that were grazing scared the crap out of me..
I have always thought that this was a romantic park though... it's a good place for a romantic tryst.. -
Review from Bernard L.
San Jose, CA
9/2/2011
This is such an awesome place for recovery hikes. There's hardly any elevation at all so it's perfect for relaxing strolls. What I like best is that most of trails are shaded so you don't have to worry about getting burned in the scorching heat. There's a small free parking section but it's always filled up, especially on the weekends so you might have to park in the paid lot (which is closer to the trails). It's $5 to park during peak hours. If you go really early in the morning, there's no parking attendant so you can enter for free. Even though it's called Alum Rock Park, the entrance is NOT on Alum Rock. I always enter from Penitencia Creek right off Capitol Ave. They have several trails so make sure to pick up a map from the parking attendant if one is present.
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Review from Trudy H.
Alum Rock Park is beautiful and a great place to walk, hike, ride a bicycle, BBQ or photograph. I loved hiking the trail and creating photographs. What was neat was that I saw a baby deer out there! I never saw a deer outside of a zoo or on the side of a highway.
There is a variety of lush plant life and some extremely dry areas that make me think of the dessert. Being raised in FL, I am so used to green and rain so to see yellows, browns and reds and dryness was interesting.
For anyone with allergies, they'd definitely want to take a Claritin or something first....there is a lot going on out there in terms of possible allergens.
For much of the trails, trees cover the trail making shade to protect visitors from the heat.
I really liked it there and look forward to going back there sometime soon. -
Review from priscilla M.
San Jose, CA
3/17/2011
Real nature in a large city.
A place everyone can enjoy. You can have a picnic, learn about nature, experience sulfur pools, see deer, and cross bridges.
A true experience for anyone who doesn't have an aversion to nature. -
Review from Lu W.
San Jose, CA
9/10/2010
This park really has a bit to offer to everybody. Picnic areas abound, it's a great place to host a BBQ party with local friends. It's so close to my house it's practical to go there after work for some mountain biking - and that's indeed what I've been doing lately. You can ride from just outside the park's main entrance, along the creek and then up the hill on the North Rim to Eagle Rock Overlook, then turn around and bomb down. There's nothing technical - no rock gardens, no switchbacks, no rattle snakes (well don't quote me on that one though), just plain ol' fireroads with plenty of cardio workout.
Timed right, you can catch the sunset at Eagle Rock Overlook around 7pm. If you have a twisted sense of esthetics like me, you might find it beautiful; if not, you burp and turn around before the ranger catches up with you. -
Review from James V.
San Jose, CA
11/1/2010 4 Check-ins Here
They installed too many fences to keep people out of places and feels too urban now. Maybe they could have afforded to stay open on Mondays if they didn't waste money "protecting" the park environment. The "protections" make for eye sores. They should rehabilitate and reopen closed trails.
They did away with most horse trails - which wa a big element to the park.
I give the park 5 stars because I love the park itself but really the City needs to make more informed spending choices - dumbasses. -
Review from Alice C.
Santa Clara, CA
11/17/2010
I went here about two years ago with my biology class to find specimens in the creeks. My overall first impression (mind you...I will be coming back for sure to see the entire park! =) ) is that it will sure be a great place to hike and see the wonders of mother nature...if only I could have ventured out of my group...but I still have fun trying to catch bugs...unfortunately the most interesting I found was a water beetle and a huge bone.
The small hike towards the chosen creek was refreshing. The natural springs the park provides have long been tapered with and reconstructed by man. Beware of the rotten stench in some of the springs due to the sulfur in the water. It can get pretty bad...-_-
There are picnic tables available everywhere and a few barbecue grills. A pretty good place to have a barbecue if you don't mind an occasional deer or two, which I did see two!!!!!!!! That really made my day.
Because I have only seen a small portion of the park I give this a three but be forewarned that it's only cause I wasn't able to enjoy the whole park. I will definitely update this when I revisit! =) -
Review from Dawn D.
8/31/2010 1 photo
*This review is primarily for mountain biking** but I'd have a picnic here in a heartbeat. :)
The first time my husband brought me here to mountain bike (which was probably last year), I didn't have a good time. I thought the route had too much pavement and while on the singletrack portion of the trail (Todd L Quick I believe is the name), the weeds towered over my head! Mind you, single track trail surrounded by towering thorny weeds! I felt if I encountered another rider coming down the trail, I wasn't sure where to go - the thorny weeds to my left, or thorny weeds to my right? How about if fell off my bike? Would I fall to thorny weeds to my left or right? ha! So obviously I didn't really like it.
But, we've been back a couple times in the last couple months and I actually like it MUCH better. They've done some trail work so no more towering weeds to worry about. phew! Not too technical on the way up and not much coverage, but the view at the top is worth the climb. There's only probably 3 steep sections on the route that we do that get my heart rate up, but most of it is a gradual climb. We do a pretty short loop, I think it's less than 7 miles total.
Can't believe this is in our backyard. Love it and we'll be back for more over and over again.
bonus: there's a bathroom at the parking lot before the gate. :)Listed in: Places I Mountain Bike
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Review from john-michael c.
Santa Clara, CA
6/7/2010
Yeah, it'll flatten out after the next ridge. ~trail master
This dirty, dusty, yet windy trail, whatever particular loop trail this was called is challenging and I hear is similar to mission peak in a few spots. But allow me to warn you that no, NO, No it doesnt flatten out over the next ridge, or around the next corner, or over the next horizon.... a dozen or so peaks, turns, and dips later do we finally find the declining return loop. Thank gawd we found that return loop. I have a feeling my ass will thank me for it later. I havent used those muscles in ages and it wont let me forget the neglect.
You can park in the residential area, you can park in the limited freeby area before the toll or you can pay and park, I guess anywhere in the park. They have hills, lizards, turkeys, aviary preadators and a creek. And if roughing it isnt your thing, there's always the shaded park area where you can pass the summer days.
I roughed it, and it roughed me back. -_-
But I'll be back, and I'll be bringing more of my crew and we'll see who will be doing the roughing from here on out...
;P -
Review from Jennifer T.
Milpitas, CA
8/2/2010
This place is a great place to hike, have a picnic, or ride a bike at.
There's a strong sulfur or calcium smell and it's not that pleasant but you'll get used to it (maybe)
I love that this place had a creek beside it and theirs plenty of trees and a learning center, it's also a nice place to chill.
Tip- you have to pay for parking when you get in but if you super early like maybe around 6am you don't have to pay because the ranger isn;t working there yet.
I love the history of this place considering it used to be known as a place that had healing water and the rocks were once part of the ocean coast.
Although I haven't really explored or been through most of their trails, its really a nice place to get away from the city and enjoy the outdoors .
"THE WILDERNESS NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED, KAW, KAW, RAWR!" -Russell -
Review from Bobby l.
5/25/2010
Easy enough that I think I saw your family / mom / grand ma and pa / baby / baby mama on this hike, yeah, it's that easy.
However, if you take the northern side, it's a little more difficult. I would say a level 3 out of 10 difficulty, where as the southern side is like a 1 out of 10.
Nearby and local, this park is so convienant for that quick get away hike or stroll to enjoy some of the things in nature we've been missing out on.
You can take the northern trail and hike up to Eagles point and enjoy the view of the city, southern trail under the shade of the trees, or the other many trails for a mix of everything. There's even a trail that follows the creek.
On my hike, I saw flowers, birds, and even a snake. But beware, there have been sightings of mountain lions.
You can bring your mountain bike, your horse, or even baby stroller if you want!
Parking is free if you park outside the toll or at one of the other entrances, $6 if you want to drive in and take a shortcut through some of the sections.
DO ask the toll person for a map!
Running, hiking, bike riding, walking, picnicing, drinking (yes they allow alcohol), bbq'ing, and even sleeping, you can almost do it all here. -
Review from Kelly M.
Salinas, CA
6/13/2010
This is such a fun park! And to find it in San jose was great too. Jake and I went up to visit my friend and he suggested alum rock because the weather was perfect.
The trails are really fun. Really fun :) we went a little later in the afternoon but there was still a constant flow of people showing the popularity of the place. You see people walking, running and biking.
I like alum rock park because of the atmosphere. So muh different than the city. And people seem nicer here as well. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because they strictly enforce no dogs allowed. These are perfect trails for well behaved dogs to join. Be careful if you want to risk it because the park rangers due issue tickets.
On that note! It's still a fun place to spend the day. -
Review from Janis V.
7/21/2010
So being the MOH for my friend's wedding, I planned for us to get together to talk about bachelorette & bridal party stuff. She's like, "Great, we'll meet on Saturday. We'll start off the day with a nice, easy hike... at Alum Rock Park." I'm like, "Eh? A hike?" and she's talking 8AM on a Saturday morning. I agreed... I was really focusing on the words: easy hike, so I figured, why not.
I literally live 5 minutes from Alum Rock Park and have NEVER EVER been there until last Saturday... for the hike. When we got the entrance, I'm like, "Aw there's an entrance fee (for cars)? AND no dogs allowed?? Party poopers..." But when we started our hike and I began to experience/be-one with nature, I re-evaluated my thoughts - this park is nice AND clean, which is probably why you have to pay to take your car inside and keep your dogs at home.
There was a specific trail that my friend wanted to take so we drove to it :) Yes it was uphill, but zig-zag so it wasn't difficult. There were lots of trees around, too, so you're not directly under the sun - it was also nice going on a hike in the AM because the weather was perfect. There were certain points on the trail where you could stop to check out the amazing views of San Jose.
I had lots of fun. We hiked and chatted and before we knew it, we were back to where we started. What blew my mind was when I found out we had hiked 4 miles! WOOHOO! It didn't even feel like it. All in all, I had a great time hanging out with one of my closest friends and doing something new (I'm not much of a hiker!) while appreciating the natural beauty around us! -
Review from Veronica V.
San Jose, CA
7/22/2008
I may or may not have been conceived at Alum Rock Park.
That is the way with those things, who knows and the value is in the ambiguous nature of the stories. Like ones your friends' grandparents told you growing up, they were probably untrue but belong no less with the factual stories that make up who you are.
When I moved back to San Jose I missed the nearby hills of Belmont and not having to drive anywhere to feel outside. Alum Rock Park took off where I left off in Belmont, and, for a long time was my silent refuge. I've never been a person for gyms I find the time I spend outside running more valuable. As I sat at a table at Wahoo's Fish Tacos in Santana Row (don't ask) I wondered what it would be like to join Club One and be one of those people on the treadmill by the window looking down on me at Wahoo's or the cars at Winchester. That will never happen.
We park on Alum Rock near the Country Club I realize I haven't been here in a very long time. The gravel under my feet feels familiar but I many things about me had changed. I haven't been running like I used to, so my face turns beet red faster than usual and my shins begin to ache at .8 of a mile. The distance from the bridge at the beginning of the hill to the entrance of the park seems huge. It feels good to be outside away from 880 and Santa Clara University (the normal 5 miler) I think about the story about the person who was attacked at this very park by a man with a rock and I hope he was caught. When I read the article initially I envisioned a guy throwing a rock at a jogging girl and with very good aim taking her out with one throw. I realize now he probably hit her at close range she must have been within arms reach. It is safe today, the sun and people are out.
I'm a nature person. I like being outside. I like different scenery when I am running and after a few month hiatus hills feel pretty good.Listed in: Anecdotes, Non Alcoholic Entertainment
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Review from Annie W.
5/13/2008
I am so lucky to live steps away from this park. When we bought our house last year the biggest selling point for us was having this as our backyard. First of all, I know everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion but this place is far from "ghetto." In its inception Alum Rock park was where the most affluent citizens of San Jose were able to play. They would soak in the sulfur baths for healing purposes, it was considered a high end health spa. There is also a story about the big rock right at the Penitencia entrance being a meteor. There is so much history here and as you walk through it you can feel it. It's in the old bridges and bathhouses.
Luckily for us the park is now public and open for all of us to enjoy. Bikers will be in heaven with the abundance of trails. Joggers, runners, walkers, and hikers can try a new route or trail everyday. One of my personal favorites is walking up to Eagle Rock, sitting on the bench, and looking out on to the bay area. Picnic space is plentiful and there are nice little unique areas such as the Log Cabin and the gazebo area. There is a nature center at the heart of the park where you can sometimes see falcons and owls and even handle them. They offer a summer camp for kids of all ages which is fairly reasonable and educational. There is plenty of wild life in the park such as deer, wild turkeys, banana slugs, lizards, etc. I did get some kind of poison oakish rash on my face after walking through the park one day. It was weird but only happened once out of the many many times going there.
Parking is a little pricey but they offer discounts for senior citizens and handicapped. A little secret one might not know is that you can park up at the old Alum Rock entrance and just walk down for free. That is how I found my house =) Just remember if you park under the trees where most people park, be sure to park parallel because they do ticket we see the sheriff there ALL THE TIME.
This is a San Jose gem if you haven't been yet check it out or you will be missing out.Listed in: Where I roll in ESSJ!
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Review from Lindsay D.
Sacramento, CA
5/14/2010
I can now understand why Alum Rock Park was dubbed as "little Yosemite." I love the idea of a naturalistic setting in an urban area. It was wet, it was dreary, but my buddies and I trudged on. At one point, it even down poured on us and I booked it as fast as I could on the trail trying to find shelter underneath a tree. Standing side by side next to wild turkeys....an adventure in itself!
The total hike was under 6 miles and when we reached the top, it was exhilarating. Definitely worth the drive from Elk Grove! -
Review from Lily R.
Updated - 2/12/2010 3 photos
Waking up to Narnia's back door is like no other.
Crossing paths with Mr. bob cat and an entourage of wild turkeys puts the humble smack down on!
It's another world out there beyond the city streets...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/4/2008
I cannot believe I haven't reviewed Alum Rock. (kick me)
I was awakened at the gym today as I ran… Read more »
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Review from Ann L.
4/6/2008
We went hiking at Alum Rock Park after we finished El Toro in Morgan Hill. We're crazy hikers I tell you. Since we were done around 10am at El Toro we rushed to Alum Rock Park to spend the rest of the day.
V. told us the views at Boccardo Trail were good plus he hadn't tried a new trail. So we went. Parking is $5, but for some weird reason the lady didn't collect the money from us. That doesn't happen often, so I'd bring money just in case if u want to go.
We parked near the Rusticlands Picnic Area - no bathrooms in the parking lot. Then we hiked to Eagle Rock Overlook - you can even climb Eagle Rock. I didn't, but A. did.
After Eagle Rock we went on the Boccardo Trail to do the 1.5 mi trail. It's pretty steep and felt hella long cuz I was hungry & tired. It's a 1,100 ft climb up from the top of the Todd Quick Trail, which is a climb from the parking lot. Boccardo Peak is at 1896 ft Elev.- a grassy knoll overlook of Silicon Valley. Lots of cows up there. Then we went back down another way to make a loop.
We then drove to another parking lot closer to the Visitor Center, which is Closed indefinitely - due to building renovation & staffing issues. Bathrooms available here. Playground & picnic tables. Alum Rock Bridge 1913-historic bridge is cool.
Many mineral springs & one mineral grotto here. It's stinky, but cool.
It's Calif. oldest municipal park & San Jose's largest.
Recommended.Listed in: places to hike
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Review from Bobby L.
Updated - 8/13/2008
I've been enjoying my weekly bike rides up on the north rim and finally attempted the Boccardo Trail, which is the newest trail (since 2002) that is connected atop the Todd Quick Loop Trail. There's over 2 miles worth of open space with gorgeous views to the north. On a clear day, you might even see as far as the Bay Bridge.
Be cautious hiking or biking to this higher elevation loop....hikers have told me they've seen rattlers in this area. Also expect a good couple of hours on this trek.....just getting to the front gate of this loop trail is a daunting task.
At the start of the summer I've noticed that the nearby stables were not in operation. I guess horse rides at Alum Rock are a thing of the past. Even though I hated their crap on the trails, I somewhat miss those friendly creatures roaming around the park.Listed in: Let's Get Physical...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/10/2008
When we were in high school, we used to play water war up here, hiding then ambushing our opponents… Read more »
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Review from Patty O.
1/16/2010
This park is great, lots of trails and shade! I use to run here all the time back in high school. Parkiang is free on weekdays, but there is a fee on weekends. if you want to avoid the fee, I would suggest parking in the first parking lot at the entrance, or parking in the residential area just before the park.
Keep in mind that, the park is now closed on Mondays due to budget cuts.Listed in: Places to Run
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Review from Jesseca T.
Los Alamos, NM
5/15/2007
This place is ~3 miles from my house and I love it there. Eagle Rock is the best 45 minute workout ever, and I like that there's lot of different levels of trails to check out.
Unfortunately someone told me JUST last night that I should NEVER GO THERE ALONE, that they find dead people and women get assaulted, etc. Does anyone know anything about this? I saw a sign up about 3 weeks ago saying there was an attempted assault on a woman by a man who hit her in the back of her head with a rock.
I travel with Mace, and sometimes my 6'2" husband, but I don't always want a chaperone and he doesn't like to run at 7am on the weekends. Heard anything? I don't know what to think now and am sad to miss out on this beautiful park if that's really the truth :(
Five stars for beauty and proximity to the city, one less for safey if it's the truth. Lemme Know-
11/16/07 update- went hiking here with my new hiking guide GurE and we saw: wild turkeys (magnificent), deer (one buck), banana slugs, hawks, and bunnies- this is right outside of the city and it's teeming with wildlife- so beautiful, we had a great hike-~ 4 miles of putzing around and taking in the scenery is like getting a massage for your head.Listed in: Hiking!!
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Review from Alena B.
4/11/2011
I LOVE this park. There are great trails that are fully stroller-compatible for my needs. The 4 mile loop I take is amazing and difficult without being too strenuous. I'd love to venture out without the baby and check out the trails that haven't been available to me thus far. They have great programs for kids too!
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Review from Delicia S.
Newark, CA
3/31/2008
Finally went to Alum Rock Park this past weekend after hearing so many great things about this oldest city park in San Jose.
Beautiful hills, view of the SJ city, sights of little creatures (squirrels, lizards, birds, ducks, caterpillars, butterflies, banana slugs), flowers, flowing river, and intriguing looking rocks are all over this park. The park provides all kinds of trails to fit your needs. There are open trails if you want to get tanned, trails covered in shades of trees if you don't want to get sun burns, wide flat trails if you just want to relax, and steep trails if you want some serious hike to the top. There are lots of picnic tables, BBQ racks, bathrooms and a volleyball court in the area which I appreciate. So many things you could do there and I had a wonderful time!
There are a lot of poison oaks in the park. My bf was walking in front of us and decided to hide in the bush to scare us when we walk by. Well, we got scared but he also ended up being covered in serious rashes (including his eyes and face) due to poison oak. He can't even make it to work this morning. So just in case if you plan to hide in the bushes, please BE AWARE of the poison oak!! -
Review from Veronica B.
Campbell, CA
3/9/2009
Besides the used rubber we saw along one of the trails (yuck!) the sulfur springs and variety of plants and footpaths here at Alum Rock Canyon Park provide an alternative source of scenery for nature lovers.
One of my favorite trails is walking along side the heavily woodsy and green creek path then zig-zagging up a hill to eagle rock. There you will find a gorgeous view of the south bay. You can even climb the rock if you'd like!
This park gets moderately crowded. Though not as bad as some of the Rancho San Antonio Trails. There are also picnic tables and a Youth Science Museum within the park.
Great for beginning and intermediate hikers.Listed in: Sweatin' to Nature
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Review from Michael H.
Hayward, CA
7/6/2009
I've been here several times for bbqs and hikes. It's a great park if you don't mind the $6 parking fee; yet, for some reason the parking attendant isn't 100% present so you might get free parking.
Recently we just had our July 4th bbq here. We snagged the best spot since my friends reserved a spot at 8AM. The park was very full of families. I think this is a very family friendly spot because they have a large play structure as well as a separate infant play structure down the way. There's also a volleyball court and a public restroom. Plenty of bbq pits as well. I assume there are many other things but I didn't have a chance to roam around.
I totally forgot how the hiking trails are but from emotional memory I remember having a great time.Listed in: Take a Hike
