01
Best close-to-home pick
Lexington Reservoir County Park
Along Alma Bridge Road Below Highway 17 • Lakeside County Park With Oak Woodlands And Chaparral • Closest Trail Network To Lexington Hills
A go-to option for quick loops and steady climbs right above the waterline.
Lexington Reservoir is the obvious starting point for hiking out of Lexington Hills, with trailheads strung along Alma Bridge Road and views back over the lake almost the entire way. The popular Los Gatos Creek and Jones Trail climbs give you a solid workout without committing to an all‑day outing. Expect exposed stretches, so this is a great cool‑season or early‑morning choice.
02
Best for big ridge views
Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve
Santa Cruz Mountains Ridgeline Above Lexington Hills • Backcountry-Style Open Space With Long Fire Roads And Singletrack • All-Day Adventure Pick
Steep climbs pay off with sweeping views toward both the bay and the deep Santa Cruz Mountains.
Sierra Azul begins just south of the reservoir and quickly feels wilder and more remote than its proximity to town suggests. Routes like the Kennedy and Priest Rock trails gain serious elevation, making this preserve a favorite training ground for locals who like long, leg‑burning climbs. Bring plenty of water and plan your loop; once you commit to the ridge, turnarounds are long and sunny.
03
Best for rocky scenery
Castle Rock State Park
Skyline Boulevard Above Los Gatos And Saratoga • High-Elevation State Park With Sandstone Outcrops And Mixed Forest • Scenic Day-Trip Destination
Short drives up Highway 9 and Skyline deliver cliffside vistas, sculpted rock formations, and shaded forest paths.
Castle Rock is where many locals take out-of-town visitors when they want to show off the Santa Cruz Mountains in one hike. Trails wind past caves, bouldering areas, and prominent overlooks where you can see ridges rolling away toward the ocean on clear days. The network ranges from quick viewpoint loops to longer connections toward the Skyline-to-the-Sea corridor.
04
Best for history-rich hills
Almaden Quicksilver County Park
Foothills Above South San Jose • Rolling Grassland And Oak Forest With Historic Mine Sites • History And Hiking Combo
Wide, view-filled trails wind past old mining relics, providing both a workout and a sense of place.
Almaden Quicksilver sits just over the hill from Lexington Hills and offers a more open, grassy landscape with constant moderate climbs. As you hike, you pass crumbling foundations, rusted equipment, and interpretive signs that trace the area’s mercury mining past. Spring brings wildflowers along the ridges, while winter and fall offer the clearest views toward downtown San Jose and the Diablo Range.
05
Best for redwood shade
Sanborn County Park
Redwood Canyon Off Highway 9 Near Saratoga • Shaded County Park With Redwoods And Creekside Trails • Cool-Weather Refuge
Tucked in a deep canyon, Sanborn trades open vistas for towering redwoods and cool, quiet ravines.
When the exposed slopes around Lexington feel too hot, locals often head up to Sanborn for a cooler, more tranquil hike. The main routes follow a small creek and then climb into dense redwood and fir forest, with switchbacks that feel far removed from nearby suburbs and highways. It is an easy park to explore in shorter segments, making it friendly for newer hikers or mixed‑ability groups.