The best walks and hikes around Woodside

Most of the major parks in the Woodside area, such as Wunderlich and Huddart Parks, do not permit dogs on their trails to protect wildlife. However, some trails within the Town of Woodside's network may allow dogs on a leash. It's always best to check the specific regulations for the trail you plan to hike before you go.

Huddart Park is an excellent choice for families, offering several gentle trails through shady redwood groves. The Chickadee Nature Trail, in particular, is an easy, short loop perfect for little legs. Another option is the Mackintosh at the Willow – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall loop from Kelvinbridge, which is a relatively flat and manageable walk.

Woodside is renowned for its beautiful redwood groves. You can find towering redwoods in several local parks. Huddart Park is famous for its dense, shady redwood forests, especially along the Crystal Springs and Dean Trails. Wunderlich County Park also features impressive redwoods, including the park's largest known specimen along the Alambique Trail. For a more immersive experience, the nearby Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is almost entirely forested with magnificent second-growth redwoods.

Both are excellent local parks, but they offer slightly different experiences. Huddart Park is known for its deep, shady canyons filled with towering redwoods and ferns, providing a cooler environment and a sense of solitude. Wunderlich County Park offers more variety in its landscape, with a mix of redwood groves, sunny open meadows, and oak woodlands. Wunderlich also has a more extensive trail network and is very popular with equestrians due to the historic Folger Stable.

Yes, for those seeking a longer challenge, you can connect trails between parks using the Skyline Trail, which is part of the larger Bay Area Ridge Trail network. This allows you to create extended hikes that link parks like Huddart and Wunderlich. A good moderate-distance option to start with is the Kelvin Aqueduct – Glasgow Botanic Gardens loop from St George's Cross, which covers over 6 miles.

Most of the major parks, including Wunderlich County Park and Huddart Park, have dedicated parking lots near their main entrances and trailheads. Be aware that these parks are very popular, especially on weekends, and lots can fill up early. Some parks may also charge a vehicle entry fee. For smaller preserves, parking may be limited to small roadside pullouts.

For panoramic views, you'll want to take trails that climb up to the ridges. In Wunderlich County Park, the Meadow Trail opens up to sweeping views of the southern San Francisco Bay. The challenging Bear Gulch Trail also rewards hikers with stunning vistas as it climbs towards Skyline Boulevard. Trails along the Skyline Trail section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail consistently offer breathtaking views over the peninsula.

Yes, Woodside's parks have many trails that can be combined to form enjoyable loops. A popular easy loop is the Kelvin Walkway loop from Kelvinbridge, which offers a pleasant walk. In the parks, you can often combine trails like the Alambique, Bear Gulch, and Meadow trails in Wunderlich Park to create loops of varying difficulty and length.

Thornewood Preserve offers a more rugged and remote hiking experience compared to the county parks. The terrain is characterized by steep hillsides and dense forests of second and third-growth redwoods. The main trail descends to Schilling Lake, providing a quiet and serene environment. It's a great choice for hikers looking for a more challenging and less crowded outing.

Yes, Woodside is a very equestrian-friendly area. Many of the trails in Wunderlich County Park and Huddart Park are multi-use and open to horseback riders. Wunderlich is particularly popular with equestrians, as it is home to the historic Folger Stable, which offers boarding and programs.

The hiking trails around Woodside are highly regarded by the komoot community, with an average rating of 4.5 stars. Hikers frequently praise the region's stunning redwood forests, the well-maintained trail networks, and the variety of landscapes, from shady canyons to open meadows with expansive views.