Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails & Nature Walks
Explore the best kid-friendly hiking trails & nature walks options for kids and families in Santa Cruz
Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic trail
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Enchanted Trail Trailhead
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Pogonip Open Space
Scenic sloped park with hiking & biking. Scenic open space offering a hiking & biking trail network amid redwood & oak forests & slopes.
Natural Bridges Monarch Trail
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Moore Creek Preserve
Open meadows with trails & scenic views. This 246-acre greenbelt offers hiking trails through grassy plains with views of the Monterey Bay.
Powder Mill Trail
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UCSC Upper Campus Natural Reserve
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Wilder Ranch State Park
Picnic areas, trails & horseback riding. Natural landscape with diverse activities including hiking trails, picnic areas & horseback riding.
Wilder Beach Overlook
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Garden of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwood State Park
Wooded hiking area with a swimming hole. Picturesque wilderness area featuring a riverside loop trail & a natural swimming hole.
Bear Mountain
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Redwood Grove Loop Trail
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East Glenwood Preserve
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West Glenwood Preserve
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Coast Dairies State Beaches
Beaches & bluffs along the Coastal Trail. A series of small beaches with bluffs & rock formations following a stretch of the Coastal Trail.
Fall Creek Unit
Forest hiking trails in a canyon. State park offers hiking & other outdoor activities among redwoods & Douglas firs in a wild canyon.
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Outdoor destination for hiking & biking. Hiking, biking & jogging trails on varied terrain rising from sea level to steep coastal mountains.
Loch Lomond Recreation Area
Reservoir park for fishing & boating. Scenic 175-acre reservoir park for fishing, boating & hiking (seasonal & can be closed by drought).
Soquel Demonstration State Forest
Natural area with mountain biking trails. Scenic forested park featuring redwoods, natural springs & a series of cycling trails.
Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve
Hiking trails, wildlife & dramatic views. 18,000-acre wilderness area in mountainous terrain with hiking trails, wildlife & valley views.
Lexington Reservoir County Park
Hiking, boating & fishing destination. Scenic park & reservoir featuring hiking trails, picnic areas, a boat launch & shoreline fishing.
St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve
Demanding trails in a dog-friendly space. This 270-acre site welcomes dogs & provides challenging trails for hikers, bikers & equestrians.
Trailhead, Lexington Dam Loop
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Almaden Quicksilver County Park
Natural landscape with pedestrian trails. County park with a history of mining offers hiking, biking & equestrian trails amid wildflowers.
Castle Rock Trail
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Sanborn County Park
Lush forested park with camping & hiking. Verdant wooded park featuring RV/tent campsites, plus picnic areas & over 15 miles of hiking trails.
Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve
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Villa Montalvo Lookout Point
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Castle Rock State Park
Camping, hiking & horseback riding. Park offering 34 miles of hiking & horseback riding trails among redwoods & other regional trees.
Rancho San Vicente Open Space Preserve
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Elkhorn Slough Reserve
Marsh preserve with trails & ample fauna. Tidal salt marsh that is home to birds, otters, seals & many other animals, with boardwalk trails.
Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve
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Los Gatos Creek Trail
Creekside trail through parkland. Paved track for walkers, cyclists & other non-motorized transport alongside the Los Gatos Creek.
Los Gatos Creek County Park
Dog-friendly outdoor spot with AstroTurf. Dog-friendly public space with an AstroTurf lawn, hiking trails, bicycle paths & fishing ponds.
Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve
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Fremont Older Open Space Preserve
Year-round hiking & biking with vistas. Scenic spread on 739 acres with rolling views & trails for hiking, biking & horseback riding.
Long Ridge Open Space Preserve
Tree-filled space with hiking & biking. Lush, hilly park with multiple hiking & biking opportunities along with long-distance views.
Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve
Winery & hiking trails through orchards. 308-acre park offering 3.7 miles of trails amid orchards & woodlands, a winery & weekly activities.
Parker Ranch Trailhead
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Marina Dunes Preserve
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Stevens Creek Reservoir
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McClellan Ranch Preserve
Former horse ranch with a nature museum. Former horse ranch from the 1930s featuring a nature museum, community garden & historic buildings.
Los Gatos Creek Trail, St. Elizabeth Dr Entrance
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Heart Shaped Rock-Love Rock
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Asilomar Trail
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Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve
Lake, scenic vistas & miles of trails. Varied landscape including 11 miles of trails, lake, meadows & ridge views in a 2,143-acre preserve.
Fort Ord Dunes State Park
Park with ocean beach & bluff-top views. A trail leads to the beach in this park with a bluff-top platform offering views of Monterey Bay.
Coyote Creek Trail
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Lovers Point Park
Small beachside recreation spot. Petite beach park with swimming, surfing & other water recreation, plus kayak & bike rentals & more.
Fort Ord Dunes Trail
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Deer Hollow Farm Trailhead
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Berwick Park
Ocean views, picnic spots & wildlife. 1-acre park boasting ocean vistas, picnic spots & a grassy lawn, plus hiking & biking trails.
Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve
Hiking area featuring a working farm. Rural nature preserve with 25 miles of hiking trails, plus a working farm & a model plane launch.
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
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Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
Destination for scenic views & trails. Large area with views of Santa Clara Valley & trails, including one for biking & horseback riding.
Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
3,137-acre park with diverse plant life. Massive 3,137-acre green space with many trails & a wide range of plant life & wildflowers.
Eolian Dunes Preserve
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Monterey peninsula recreational trail
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Huckleberry Hill Loop Trailhead
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SFB Morse Botanical Reserve
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Hidden Villa Hiking Trails
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Huckleberry Hill
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Byrne Preserve
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Foothills Nature Preserve
1,400-acre nature preserve with trails. Miles of trails guide visitors through woodlands & fields, past streams & lakes in this vast park.
Redwood Grove Nature Preserve
Redwood forest with a boardwalk. This 6-acre Redwood forest features a boardwalk, observation decks, picnic tables & a rose garden.
Arastradero Preserve Vista Point
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Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
Forested fields for hiking & picnicking. Open grasslands & forest area with 12 miles of trails for hiking, bicycling & horseback-riding.
ZQP Trail to Beach
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Other Things to See
Best Sports & Fitness Activities for Kids
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Top Public Schools & School Districts
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Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants & Cafes
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Things to Do with Kids at Night
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Best After-School Programs & Activities
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Best Parks for Outdoor Fun
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Top Private Schools for Kids
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Best Places for Birthday Parties
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Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids
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Things to Do with Toddlers
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Music Lessons & Performing Arts Programs
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Best Camping Spots & Outdoor Adventures
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Best Family-Friendly Attractions
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Best Kids Camps & Summer Programs
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Unique & Hidden Gem Activities for Families
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Language Classes for Children
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Best Theaters & Live Shows for Kids
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Best Tutoring Centers & Academic Support
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Best Museums & Educational Spots for Kids
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Best Indoor Play Areas for Kids
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Best Water Parks & Splash Pads
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Top Amusement Parks & Fun Centers
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Best Sports Leagues & Youth Athletics
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Best Science Centers & Discovery Zones
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Best Zoos, Aquariums & Animal Encounters
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Explore More Activities
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