Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve Hike – A Quiet Redwoods Hike

Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve is located just three miles south of Los Gatos and features shaded forests with incredible hiking trails and views. Its rich ecosystem is home to hundreds of acres of Redwoods. If you’re looking for the perfect destination for a day spent hiking and enjoying some time in nature, Bear Creek is the park to go. The rangers take great care of the site which makes the park all the more enjoyable. Bear Creek has modern facilities and signage throughout the park. Today I am going to share with you everything you need to know to plan a day out to Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve.

Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve – What to Expect

• Parking – Parking is free with well-marked paved spaces.
• Hikes – In total, there are about six miles of trails to explore. You can combine the main trails to complete a round trip loop, and there is also an easy access 0.2-mile loop around the lake.
• Park Hours – Open every day from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset
• Admissions – Bear Creek is free and there is no admission fee

Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve History

Bear Creek Redwoods is rich in cultural history. The Ohlone people lived in this region for thousands of years. You will still see several Ohlone rock mortars in the preserve, which they used to make food. In the 1850s there was heavy logging activity in the area but luckily, some of those Redwoods were spared. From 1934 to 1969, Alma College, a Jesuit seminary, was located on the site until it moved to Berkeley in 1969.

In 1999, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District acquired the college site, after many years of consideration. At one point, the site was being considered for development as a golf course or luxury homes. Ultimately it was decided that the site would be developed as a public open space preserve, which is now Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. Santa Clara County is still renovating the park for the public and is planning to open in different phases. They opened the first phase in June 2019, and there are two additional phases currently planned to open in the next five years.

Getting To Bear Creek

Getting to Bear Creek Redwoods is rather straightforward. It is a short drive on Bear Creek Road right after you exit Hwy. 17. There are sharp turns while exiting Hwy. 17, so be careful. If you’re heading south on Hwy. 17, you’ll need to take the first left to get onto Bear Creek Road. If you are heading north on Hwy. 17, you’ll need to take the first right, onto the overpass, to get on Bear Creek Road. Bear Creek Redwoods will be approximately 1 mile in, and you’ll see signs for the park. The entrance will be on the left-hand side.

Parking at Bear Creek Redwoods

The park has well marked and paved roads with plenty of parking spots. However, the parking spots can all fill up very quickly. If you are visiting on the weekends, expect parking to get full very quickly. I’ve seen the lot fill up by 9 AM on the weekends. Unfortunately, there is no off-site parking nearby or along Bear Creek Road.

Activities

The main attraction at Bear Creek Redwoods is hiking, with its six miles of beautiful trails. The park has an easy paved road suitable for wheelchairs to reach a nearby lake from the parking lot. There is also a permit-only equestrian trail and a designated equestrian parking area on site. If you are a keen animal spotter, keep an eye out on your visit for black-tailed deer, newts, and banana slugs. You’ll find restroom facilities on the site, and it’s the perfect place to visit with the whole family.

Hiking at Bear Creek Redwoods

There are two main trails on the site, the Alma Trail and the Redwood Springs Trail. If you are looking for an easier, accessible walk, the Upper Lake Trail is available, which is just 0.2 miles in total. See below for more details about the trails available. Most visitors combine the Alma Trail and the Redwood Springs trail, which allows for a couple of hours of exploring the area. As with anywhere, trail conditions vary depending on the time of year you visit, and trails may close in unpredictable weather conditions.

Popular Trails

 1. Alma Trail – The park has a new pedestrian crossing that brings you to the Alma Trail, which is 2.5-miles long. You will walk through the dense forests of fir and Redwood trees, and it will eventually link with the Madrone Knoll Trail. This trail is fairly challenging and consistently goes uphill from the start. If you decide to take this trail, the round trip will be over 5 miles from start to finish, and then you can take the Redwood Springs Trail back to create a loop.

2. Madrone Knoll Trail – This is an optional addition halfway around the Alma Trail, about 1.1 miles in length. It will take you to an elevation of 2,400 feet at the top. If you are an ambitious hiker, I definitely recommend this trail, which will reward you with beautiful views and scenery.

 3. Upper Lake Loop Trail – This 0.2-mile path begins at the parking lot and is a pleasant and accessible route around the lake. You’ll see historical artifacts like the Ohlone mortars and habitat restoration sites on your walk.

Birding/Wildlife

If you are a keen wildlife spotter, you’ll appreciate the wildlife who call the reserve home. If you are lucky on your visit you might see mountain lions, black-tailed deer, bobcats, bullfrogs, coyotes and many more animals. As far as bird spotting, many migratory bird species and even bald eagles can be seen overhead, as well as belted kingfishers and red-shouldered hawks.

Additional information and tips for visiting the preserve

Picnicking – You are welcome to bring a picnic to the site, but will need to provide your own blanket or something to sit on

Biking – Bear Creek Redwoods does not allow biking

Are dogs allowed at Bear Creek Redwoods? – No, dogs are not allowed

Tips for visiting – We recommend arriving nice and early, especially on the weekends when the parking lot fills up quickly. It is a great idea to carpool since parking spaces are limited. Restrooms are available on site. Make sure you pack water and snacks, as you won’t be able to purchase anything here.

Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve is a fantastic addition to the local area and the perfect place for a few hours of hiking in nature. The site is extremely well kept and has modern facilities, making it the perfect day out for the whole family.

More Bay Area Redwood Hikes

Coast Redwoods are a specialty of California’s foggy coastline. There are many redwoods hike north and south of Bear Creek Redwoods. Here are a few other Redwood Hikes you can visit.

Henry Cowell State Park – Half an hour south from Bear Creek, Henry Cowell is one of the few remaining old-growth (undisturbed & centuries-old) Redwood Groves in the Bay Area.

Purisima Creek Redwoods – About an hour north, and 30 min. south of SF, it has a larger trail system varied ecosystem. Free to park and enter.