Nice park with multiple choices for trail.Penitencia creek trail is relatively wide and flat for small kids. You may saw “mine hole” on this trial with a little bit sulfur smell near the trail entrance. Some parts of this trail closed for some reasons.N Rim trail is the good choice for hiking with sunshine along the whole road in current season. The beautiful scenery hold in your eye made you even closer to the sky. We saw woodpeckers in this trail.The park will not charge till next year, as well as the parking fee. You may passed three parking lots from entrance of the park to the end. We parked in the last one.Nice day and Happy Thanksgiving day!

A lot of hikes, good for families and small kids (4 yrs loves it). A open park space for families to get together. Space for small-ish events with reservation. Some of these dont apply in the Covid era, but you get the idea. Biking, hiking, playing in a small hidden stream as you walk deeper into the park, multiple parking lots. You can park before the toll booth and walk all the way through the park.

Beautiful scenery, long winding trails. Mineral springs and picnicking areas. Good for walking and mountain biking

Nice trails with some really beautiful views. Be sure to download a map before you go because they dont have there. There is one set of bathrooms open at the youth science center because of covid. Right now parking is free but usually it wasnt more than $6. They have picnic areas and a playground as well, but all are closed. Its still can make for a nice walk or you can do a more strenuous hike up the mountain for a great view.

Always enjoy hiking at Alum Rock Park. The bathrooms are well maintained. Very grateful for that. So many trails to choose from.

Nice view! The signage is not clear.

Beautiful place for trails, cycling, running, bird watching, hiking and picnic. Loved to see nature, few deers, listening to birds and water. Much peaceful and relaxing place.

Many trails. Lots of them shaded. Some are tougher than others. Great for families.

Great paths, pretty time consuming and hard but theres something for most people... Quite beautiful as well. I enjoyed it, and I hope you will too!

Has a great variety of hikes - free parking during the pandemic is a plus too

An interesting park with a rich history going back to the early 1900s. Great place. Researching adds to the experience.

We came for a morning hike while visiting San Jose.We arrived around 8:30 on a Tuesday morning and the first parking lot was already full. Luckily we were able to get free parking in the Eagle Rock parking lot.From the parking lot we started on the Penitencia Creek Trail and took that to the North Rim Trail. We turned right on that. We took a couple of additional trails off of it—the Eagle Rock Trail, the Weather Loop, and the Todd Quick Trail. We turned around at the end of the North Rim Trail at the other parking lot.Our hiked ended up being about 4-5 miles. Much of it was easy with a few steep sections.The views were gorgeous and the trails were well marked and well maintained.This is a great place to come hiking in San Jose!

ATTENTION!!! Several cars that were parked along the street had windows smashed and luggage stolen. There also are homeless people along some of the trails. However, the park itself is very beautiful with many different kinds of plants and attractions. If you go, hide your valuables just in case (bring them with you physically if you can). Tinted windows are a plus too. Avoid leaving bags in the car since a backpack was stolen from the car right behind ours.

Good local park to get in some decent mountain biking. Todd Quick Loop a must. And from the top of Todd Quick, enter the Sierra Vista OSP and ride the Boccardo Loop - a lot of climbing! On the down side, my tires always get at least one puncture from thorns whenever I ride here. Always!

Nice mountain scene and good hiking trails for fall winter seasons.

We arrived at the gate about 9:40am, but the park ranger already put a truck to block anyone going inside. Many people have to park their cars in the neighborhoods nearby and walk a long distance into the park. I dont know whether the inside is full or not. The website told us there are several parkings inside and do not park your car in the neighborhood and residential community. However, it seems to be opposite to what the park ranger did. If you park your car outside, you have to walk a long distance to get into the trails. I dont think this is appropriate for senior people or kids. Maybe this park is too popular. But I am not interested in it from now on.

A variety of terrain, from bright meandering meadows, to rolling golden hills, forested creeksides, and treacherous mountainous climbs; this space never ceases to disappoint.

It is a family treat!! I used to run the hills being a basketball player. Its the fastest way to get in shape. Biking is a thrill and has lots of trails. If you walk, run or bike all the way to Eagle Rock then you are in for a sight to see all the way around the valley.Also its a great place to hang out with your love ones

Nice trails. Eagle rock is moderately tough trail but you can relax later in the park which is around 2 miles from there

Park is open as of 7/2/2020, all park lots are free right now. We did the Inspiration point loop trail, is really nice and shaded.

Great place for a picnic.Good hikes.

A wonderful place to hike. I especially enjoy the early mornings where you can spot some wildlife. Beautiful and local. As easy or as challenging as you make it. A fitness level for everyone. Great parking.

Its beautiful. I love this park so much, part of it because I used to hike with my friends, and family, and family friends. The other part is that its big, pushy green with tons of wildlife to see. If you want to see the deer, take trail 7. If you want to observe the beautiful Steller Jays, California Quails, Acorn Woodpeckers, go to the Eagle Rock parking. Scrub Jays, Creepers, Brown-headed Nuthatches, Mockingbird, Bushtit, and Wrens are everywhere in the park. And watch out for the snakes.

Really a nice local place to connect with nature. Trails are clean and easy. Great view of Silicon valley.

Always a nice hike! A horseback rider was kind enough to offer us to ride the horse.But people keep feeding the squirrels.. And although theres a great debate whether humans should feed wild squirrels or not, I think it would be helpful for any park to have signs put up about the dangers of doing this or better ways of doing this if feeding them cannot be helped.

It was really great. Nice trails with lots of shadows. Options for small and long hikes

Hiking, picnic, exploring a world away from any cell phone reception, this is the place. You can pay 6$for parking or park in the free parking areas on your way to the visitor center. ebbey is at the visitor center to let you know the dos and dont while you are at the park. The youth science center has some owls which come in to rest, you can see them live. there is a park for kids around the visitor center and a volleyball court. Amazing and must visit place during the weekends. :)

Tons of parking. Some free and some pay. Many good walking trails and paved paths. Playgrounds and horseshoe pits. Restrooms old but well maintained. Close to the city but feels far away.

One of the best places to go for a hike, cycling or a picnic. It’s a beautiful green hike following a stream uphill. The view from the top is breathtaking!

Great place for hiking. There are picnic areas as well if you are planning for small gathering. Enough restroom availability.

Really great view of the Silicon Valley just a short hike away! There was enough free parking even though it was a Saturday. Several well-maintained multi-use trails. Only about 1 mile from the first parking lot is Eagle Rock. Moderate grade. Would definitely recommend this hike to visitors. (If this review was helpful place at the like button below)

Have never met anyone that is rude or in a bad mood. Nature and scenery are great. Its clean and its only a few blocks away. Cant get ne better.

Good serene spot for hiking trips with the family. Felt charged up!

There also are homeless people along some of the trails. However, the park itself is very beautiful with many different kinds of plants and …

A great park!

Lots of squirrels every where. This park is a gem. Too bad it gets over run by noisy people in groups. Its best at quiet times.

Well maintained and managed. Plenty of trails for a good hike.

This place is absolutely gorgeous. Nature is beautiful and Alum Rock Park sure has everything you need. Hiking trails, streams, mineral springs, and beautiful scenery as well as countless wildlife.

Spring is definitely a great time to visit, hike,explore and have fun at the park.. they have opened the extended area of the park. Now theres also Pay n park apart from the multiple free parking lots near Eagle rock. Definitely worth visiting and the vibes are very family oriented. Love the calmness around. Overall hikers paradise and a great picnic spot extremely close to the city. Eagle rock has great views. Theres a river that runs by the lower trails.Theres also a small museum of dead animals and birds which great for all age groups. The same location also has certain live snakes and wild rodents to look at. Great attraction for kids.

Great place for an afternoon. Wide open spaces and shady areas to lounge on a blanket if you have one.Usually a parking fee ($10 I think) but when I went (Tuesday) they were waving it and it was free :)

Great trekking routes and views. Lots of fun and great number of trails to choose from. Has picnic tables too.

I am visiting from Canada and wanted to go for a hike. I mainly went here due to the comments about seeing wildlife, and I was NOT disappointed!! Walking down one trail, a mother deer and babies came out of the woods. I stood still and they walked towards me before going down a hill.The views are amazing! Highly recommended!!

Very pretty park with miles of trails!! The only problem you will have is choosing which one to take!

A nice hike, easy uphill. Inspiration Point was a relatively small area, the view was alright. There are a few benches at the top that do not face the view.

A nice park with a variety of hiking trails that range from flat paths to ascending up hills for the best views of the south bay. The different environments within the park make it truly unique in my opinion. The history of the park is also interesting to discover while you hike and explore. A great place for a day hike or a family gathering. Very relaxing atmosphere and not crowded on weekdays.

Good park to go to with a toddler. We took the trail near the eagle rock picnic area and it was almost completely flat with minimum hand holding necessary. The entire path was covered with shade.

My retreat creek. This place is a very well preserved. The freshness of rosemary scent in the Spring time is healing. I personally preferred this place over mt umunhum and mission peak due to the stream along the creek and lotta picnic places. Great place for family day hike. They have small museum where you can bring kid explore local inhabitants. Lotta parking spot unless you choose to go on mother day or other holiday weekend.

This is a wonderful place for easy and moderate hikes in a very lovely setting. I hiked up the Penitencia Creek Trail from the highest and last parking lot ($6 per car for parking). This short hike featured mineral spring grottoes, stone bridges, lush greenery, lots of wildflowers, a fast moving mountain stream and even a baby rattlesnake. Could not have asked for more in a late afternoon hike, placed close to Silicon Valley.

As far as the paid parks that have been to this is my favorite thus far. The trails are magnificent, with a wide variety of difficulties to choose from, and an Adventure level to fit most people. Meaning some of the Trails can really make you feel like youre mountain lion bait . To be honest though if youre on those type of trails you should probably be with a group, just for safety purposes. Theres really a lot to do here. There are several stages that you can park at the furthest one up is what I would consider to be the main attraction. You have a ranger station that has a small Museum in it, and a few extra little stations that give some information about the park and the Animals within the park. There are plenty of benches, grills, and well-maintained open areas to have a picnic or a small cookout. Im not sure if this is allowed here, but there are quite a few open well-maintained areas with trees just perfect for hammocks. I would ask a park ranger before doing so just in case. From what I saw there is also to play areas for small children, along with a few vending machines for sodas, Waters, and sports drinks. Just a heads up there is a $6 parking fee to come to this park but its completely worth it!

Beautiful park in close proximity to Bay area. A easy getaway for a relaxing weekend.

Wonderful gem. We walked the Penitencia Creek Trail. So many great places to picnic and rest. A fun playground for kids too. Highly recommend!

Great trails for hiking, some with views cool views of south bay.

Free parking. Multiple trails. Nice shady trees. Bike friendly.

There are parking restrictions and no signs that there there. The pay meter is difficult to find especially after dark. Citations are $40 but difficult to pay. I found the people rude and they lie. No access to mineral water pools. No mineral bathing. No water access without citation. They have ruined this place. Ill never go here again. An old resort for soaking in mineral water beneficial for human health * Band* Google (Tecopa) best free Springs.

Best location in San Jose for a good hike. Still due to Covid 19 no PICNICS and none of the play areas are open to protect the children. All suggested covid rules are in force and most people are wearing masks. Bathrooms are ancient but clean. Really enjoyed the day.

I love the variety of experience this park offers. It has flat shaded trails, playgrounds, and also offers more strenuous hikes with great views.

Very beautiful and less crowded.it is easy hiking place with a creek

Such a beautiful park!! Great for hiking and one of the best places to watch the sunset!

Nice hiking trails with elevation and flat ground as well. Went there with family and friends and thoroughly enjoyed. Nice Cool breeze with sunny weather. We saw couple of deers too munching fearlessly on grass. Dont forget to take your water bottles as theres no place to refill. Trails are mostly open with some portion shaded but youll enjoy it every bit.

My family of four loves this park! Its close to our house and its perfect for Sunday after church walks!

Is amazing that place nice trails for bikes and walks

Nice little park with couple trails. Even though the trails are not difficult you still can see great views from up there. You can face deers and small little things like ground hogs and squirrels. Also there are some big birds are flying around starting from the top of these little mountains so you can see them few yards away when up on the hills.There is nice playground in the park so you can keep kids busy while grilling.

Easy Access. Very Clean Trails, Picnic Areas. Plenty of Bathrooms throughout the park with sinks, paper towel. People ( rangers & visitors ) are friendly.Main trail that follows creek is wide most of trail for easy Social Distancing. Its fairly easy to hike from beginning to end, not steep nor difficult. Lots of shade as most of the main trail is covered by canopy of trees...I was very fortunate on one day to see Wild Turkeys, Deers, Mountain Lion & Eagles...Ive visited park many times thereafter & have never seen mountain lion again...

Wow, some many trails and selection of places to stop along the way. Bike, hike, picnic, shade, sun, water, mineral springs. If u are active there are at least two full days of trails for all levels.

Not a good place to bring kids for bike riding. Very rocky, steep, often narrow paths

Love hiking to top and smoking a blunt with a view of the bay area

Little shade, steep trails. Gets muddy after rain. Recommend Boccardo Loop for MTB.

Not a lot of shade so bring water! Lots of elevation if you start from the main parking lot.

Can get crowded on weekends. Beautiful, shady, easy trails. Great for going for a stroll with the little ones .

Easy parking and great views. Theparking is free and they are nowopen.

This trail is beautiful, alongside a waterfall. If you go during spring, you will see beautiful flowers. This is one of most shaded trails I have been to, so you know where to go if you woke up late some day :D. Although I wouldnt say that difficulty is of moderate level, its more of an easy trail.

Great, unique park with easy parking and nice trails on the rolling hills. Great views from Eagle Rock!

We went there at 4PM when the sunset time was 5:05. We had some snacks in the picnic area and hiked the small mountain which had about 1200 ft elevation. The view from up there was amazing. We saw the sunset with a pinkish color from the top of the mountain and lost light when we started walking down. The hike was pretty quick and took us only about 15 minutes to get down.

Gorgeous views from a neighborhood park. Lots to do, even without paying for parking.

I love Alum Rock Park...i use to go with my parents..an it had a zoo an a indoor swimming pool..an a Carousel..it was wonderful...its still beautiful the park...what God makes..

God give this beauty for free to peopleBut some a..h..s taking money and doing nothing

Nice tree covered paths and grassy areas. Just wish some of the paths were wider given the amount of people passing on the paths.

One of the best hiking spots for hiking lovers. Plenty of Parking is available and different trails to hike. Beautiful and green views everywhere with many hills and mountains surroundings the area. It is amazing place to bike but with mountain bike or hybrid ones. Need more than 2 times to complete all trails.

Kind of a mess Right now due to the heavy rain this season. The park has great potential. Unfortunately I drove to the last to parking lot paid $6 to park. Only to realize that most of the trail was closed. This park is plenty of picnic and other nice shady areas. My favorite thing to do here is to hike the road up to Eagle rock.

Beautiful place for a hike, bike ride, picnic, or just taking in the natural beauty of Mother Nature. Opportunities for photos as well. Multiple free parking or $6 paid lots that accept credit card. Being your water when u are hiking.FYI. No cell reception

Old park with mineral springs and plenty of deer.

Picnic areas, plenty of paved and dirt paths, both shaded strolls and exposed hillsides. A great place for a quick hike or a gathering.

Great park- lots of parking. Some lots are free but some of the lots further in are $6. Great education center. Has a variety of trails both dirt and hilly and paved and flat. Some great interpretation panels about the park history as a tourist spot for the mineral springs there. Lots of restrooms

It is a great place to visit.Good hiking trails and free parking spots available.

Accessible gem of the bay. Free parking, nice bike and hike trails, nearly endless enjoyment of the beauty of nature. Very wild/ungroomed hiking trails were very enjoyable compared to the tamed and flattened trails elsewhere. Definitely coming back here

Very beautiful hidden stock at the foothills of Alum Rock this place has picnic BBQ areas and 2 free parking lots. There is hiking and a small creek nearby. Lots of trees!

This historic park is a wealth of beautiful scenery and pleasant trails, often along a creek. At the turn of the century into the 1930s the park offered a huge natatorium, zoo and grottoes with mineral water springs. The large buildings are gone giving the park back to the natural setting that made it popular. Walkways turn into trails as they leave the canyon floor. There are lovely places to picnic and even a small childrens play area amid walkways and gazebos from the past. The Youth Science Institute has a small facility with an aviary and a historic log cabin. Check to see when they are open. The spectacular areas of the park require a little more walking and climbing the hillside to the ridge trail. This is a trail to take as the weather cools as much is without shade as you ascend and to have a complete view of the Santa Clara Valley. Some of the grottoes still have a trickle of mineral water- but most need repair. Animal life is abundant but elusive during the day. If you look at the cliffs and are lucky Owl nests can be seen with fluffy little heads poking out. The creek is pleasant and can take a small boat made of twigs and leaves for a ride that will delight children on the bank. Walkers are in the park from early morning to late afternoon. The Ridge Trail takes a couple of hours. There are no concessions so bring your water and a snack. Bring a jacket for under the trees.

Great place to take quick lovely walks or a hike around the sycamore switchbacks trail. The mineral springs are pretty interesting to see as well.

Very beautiful park, I went with some of my friends and hiked up eagle rock which was tiring but super fun! They have a nice playground for kids and a cool discovery center with animals inside. We happened to pass by when they were talking the turtle for a walk and let us touch it, very fun!

Good trails, beautiful scenery.

Best park ever! Mini science museum for kids, great playgrounds & picnic areas ...& beyond beautiful- great photo opps!

Many accessible hiking trails. Ran into 3 young dears during the hike on north rim trail.

Alum Rock park thd first park in which we went on a hike 4 years ego after moving to San Jose. Since then, we have always loved to spend time here.

Great place to hike...beautiful environment

Took the hike with my wife and kid. We all loved it. Got a good workout and saw some amazing views. Would definitely go again someday.

Great park to picnic, hike or just to relax.

Is an amazing experience for kids and adults, relaxing for hikers and walks as well

Expect wait times during weekends, from 930 am - 11am. due to covid social distancing, park is only allowing 175 cars in the park at a time.

Nice to home and had multiple trails. Easy to moderate ones.

A great place to come and hike. THey have free parking, you just have to hike a little big longer to get to the main park. Its worth it, you get more exercise and the path to get to the main park is shaded and mostly under trees. The hike is moderately easy, not too hard. I definitely recommend this hike to anyone because it is a fairly easy hike that isnt too long. They also have public bathrooms here