Bear Creek Redwoods Equestrian Trail is a 2.6 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Los Gatos, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, bird watching, and horses and is accessible year-round. Horses are also able to use this trail.
This trail is primarily for equestrian use but is a shared use trail with hikers. Hikers may enjoy better access from the main parking near the historic Alma College site rather than starting from the Bear Creek Stables as marked here.
Locked gate; you'll need a permit from the Open Space District. Room for about 7 or 8 cars but I've never seen more than 3.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Take highway 17 South from Los Gatos, turn onto Bear Creek Road across from Lexington Reservoir. Go away from the reservoir about a mile, the locked gate is on the left.
February 4, 2021October 1, 2020July 29, 2020Trail is being restored. Closed to pedestrians, equestrian access only with permit
April 25, 2020Nice trail for a short easy/moderate hike, in a beautiful spot. Trails are not marked, so using the routing is helpful. Some trails overgrown with poison oak...we’ll see how that works out for me
March 21, 2020September 28, 2019Part of Bear Creek trail.
September 28, 2019Trail is closed for the most part other than where the horses go. Went hiking through and connected to Alma College Road and saw the abandoned college. Walked down to where Bear Creek is open to public
February 13, 2018You need a permit to hike here. Permit was easy to get and free. Trails are not marked at all. It's kind of creepy hiking at a abandoned college. Felt like I was in the Walking Dead. Sad that the buildings has graffiti on it. Over all really enjoyed hiking here. When done hiking do a body check. My boyfriend got bit my a tick on his chest. Didn't notice it till he took a shower.
December 28, 2017Trail is currently under construction and closed to hikers
May 28, 2017There is horse manure everywhere in the trail. Better go horse back riding rather than on foot.
December 31, 2016This was a mellow hike with only a couple of other people on it. You could hear the noise of Hwy 17 part of the time which was a little distracting and the first section was very muddy.
August 8, 2016For the permit http://www.openspace.org/visit-a-preserve/permits/general-access-permits
May 30, 2016
First to ReviewBecause you need to get a permit (easy), there won't be many (or any) other hikers. It's an interesting place, with an abandoned college and a couple of ponds. Stick with the area bounded by Bear Creek, 17, and the pond that is NOT at the entry/ trail head for the most interested hiking. Hilly but not too.
February 28, 2021February 28, 2021February 28, 2021January 10, 2021June 13, 2020May 2, 2020April 11, 2020November 19, 2019August 18, 2019June 16, 2019June 16, 2019May 10, 2019April 22, 2019January 12, 2019
