On a beautiful Sunday in January, I decided to visit a park that I had never been to before. Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is actually located very close to San Jose, and I have driven through it a number of times, but I had never hiked there!
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
Deciding that I should visit somewhere close to home, it seemed like the perfect place to hike. Looking for something a bit longer than I had been doing previously, the hike to Bear Creek Summit seemed like a great fit.
At around 8 miles with just over 1500 feet of elevation gain, the hike would provide me with a challenge compared to the other hikes I had been doing at the time, but wouldn’t be overwhelming on my not yet in shape legs.
I’ve also been looking for more hikes that feature Redwoods. Since the fires of 2020, Big Basin State Park has been closed due to fire damage, and that was by far my favorite place to view Redwoods. Hopefully it will reopen soon, but the damage to the park is quite extensive, and in the meantime, I have to find alternative!
Miles/Elevation:
~8 miles
1500 feet vertical gain
About Bear Creek Redwoods
Featuring extensive second growth Redwood forests, Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve is located just south of San Jose along highway 17. It is a short drive from the city, and the main parking area is located only 1 mile from the highway.
This area was extensively logged, and changed hands a number of times before it was acquired and turned into a preserve. Now, the preserve contains hiking trails, significant second growth Redwoods, and a few massive old growth Redwoods.
The parking area fills up quickly, but it is free to park and there are no fees to use the preserve.
Getting There
Located only about 20 minutes from downtown San Jose and roughly 40 minutes from SFO, Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve is located just off of highway 17. It doesn’t appear that there is any public transit that will get you to the preserve, so you will either need to drive yourself, or take an Uber or Lyft. Fortunately, the preserve is not far from San Jose, so the ride should not be very expensive.
Bear Creek Summit Trail
The Ascent
From the parking lot, the trail immediately crosses the road and begins climbing. Almost immediately you will find yourself in a lush green forest. After a small set of switchbacks, the trail intersects with a fire road and continues climbing.
Don’t be rude; always following basic etiquette when on trail!
This section of trail is quite steep, and will get your heart racing if you are not in very good shape. The fire road continues climbing for about a mile until you come to an intersection.
At the intersection, a smaller trail branches to the right, and the main fire road continues straight. Continue straight to stay on the route. Shortly after, following a short descent, you will arrive at multiple old growth Redwoods.
They are hard to miss, and stand out as guardians of the forest. Each is hundreds of feet tall, and many feet thick. Historically, this forest would have been filled with grand trees like this, but the logging of the previous centuries has left just these giants.
Continuing on, the trail climbs out of the dense Redwood forest and into higher altitude meadows, and thinner forest. Giant Redwoods thrive at lower elevations in the damp valleys and gullies, so the higher you climb, the fewer you will see.
At about the 3 mile mark, the trail crosses a road which leads to some private property. Cross the road to continue on the trail. It is quite obvious where to go.
Hiking in the Santa Cruz Mountains? Be sure to check out Castle Rock State Park!
From here, it is a one mile hike to the end of the trail. The trail isn’t overly steep, but it will be a workout if you aren’t in good shape (I wasn’t!).
Eventually, you will arrive at the terminus of the trail. This is Bear Creek Summit, also known as Madrone Knoll. It is a rather unremarkable bump in the woods, and unfortunately, the views are obstructed by the dense forest around you. There is a short loop around the knoll, but there isn’t much to be seen.
The Descent
From here, the return to the trailhead is almost all downhill. Either, you can return the way you came exactly as you hiked in, or you can make the hike into a loop. Think back to the trail that branched off to the right just before the old growth Redwoods. This trail meets up again with the trail you ascended. It is a nice option for a loop.
If you elect to make the day into a loop rather than an out and back, the return trail is a much quieter hike. After a short descent back into the Redwood forest, the trail actually climbs for a short while. After a couple of switchbacks, the trail emerges into open terrain and continues through the higher altitude ecosystem.
Considering hiking in bear country? Be sure you are prepared to be bear safe.
This section is always either descending or travelling along flat ground, so it is an easy hike back. When you emerge to rejoin the initial fire road you began on, you will realize it is actually quite steep!
The grade of the descent caught me off guard, and was actually tougher than I expected. The final mile goes by fast, and quickly you will arrive back at the road and parking area.
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 7/10
Overall, it was a good day on trail, and you can never really complain about a good day on trail. While the hike was greater in difficulty than the hikes I had been doing in the weeks prior, it was manageable, and I think anyone in reasonable fitness could complete it, though you might be sore the next day!
While it was a nice day, this isn’t the best trail the Bay Area has to offer. It is a nice forest hike, though it is not the best Redwood hike, and there are no wide open views along the trail. The most you will see are glimpses through the trees.
Therefore, this is a nice hike if you have the time and have explored the best hikes in the area already. There are many that offer better Redwoods, and many that offer better views. Because this hike does nothing great, it is not one of the best I have done, but again, it was a very pleasant day!
Pros:
- Easily accessible from San Jose
- Well graded trail
- Redwoods
Cons:
- Much of trail is on fire roads
- Very few old growth Redwoods
- Busy parking, arrive early or you will have to wait
- Busy trails near parking area
Alternative Hikes:
Alma Trail and Redwood Springs Trail Loop – California
Lexington Reservoir Trail – California
Alma Trail and Redwood Springs Trail Loop – California
Mount El Sombroso via Kennedy Trail – California
Los Gatos Creek Trail to Saint Josephs Hill
When to Visit Bear Creek Redwoods
Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve really is a 4 season destination. In summer, you can expect to sweat on exposed sections of trails, and to be comfortable on the shaded sections. During winter, expect to be cool in the shaded areas, and still warm in exposed sections. Rain is most likely in winter and spring.
Links:
Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve page
Bear Creek Summit via Madrone Knoll Trail and Alma Trail
Best trails in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, California
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