A running list of half-day outings around San Jose. Mostly so I stop forgetting where the parking is.
Penitencia Creek Trail and back by the mineral springs · 2 hours · mostly flat
Enter from Penitencia Creek Road before nine and the lower lot still has space. The old stone grottos around the springs are the reason to come; the south rim trail adds a climb and a view of the valley if the morning is clear.
Arena Green north to Airport Parkway · 6 miles round trip · paved
Good for a bike or a long walk when the hills are too hot. Planes come in low over the last mile. Bring water, there is very little shade past Coleman Avenue.
Peak Trail from the college lot · 4 hours · steep, exposed
The Stanford Avenue side is shorter but the lot fills by sunrise. From the college the grade is kinder and there are trees for the first third. Start early in summer and expect wind at the top in every season.
Campbell Park to Vasona · 7 miles round trip · flat
An easy one for visitors. Coffee in downtown Los Gatos is a short detour from the south end, and the lake has picnic tables that are usually free on weekday afternoons.
Rocky Ridge and Coyote Peak loop · 2.5 hours · moderate
Best in March and April when the hills are green and the wildflowers are out. By July it is brown and hot by ten. The peak looks straight down the valley toward Morgan Hill.