Scenic overlooks around San Jose, CA - Silicon Valley

[fuzzybabybunny]

Hey, does anyone know of any scenic overlooks that I can drive to in the Silicon Valley area? Nice chill out places?

 

[thegimp03]

There's a few off of 280. Head up Montebello Rd. and hit Ridge Vineyards.

 

[AreaCode707]

How far out? I got totally frigging lost in the Santa Cruz mountains last week and wound up at a spot with a beautiful vista of Monterey Bay on one side and the Silicon Valley on the other. Was a lot of driving on a dirt road though.

 

[dr150]

The vineyard recommendation is good for a car. Drink wine and veg.


For a scenic and easy hike -- Rancho San Antonio (climb up the trail hill). Very popular!



/thread

 

[paulney]

Mount Hamilton if you are up for it.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

There's a few off of 280. Head up Montebello Rd. and hit Ridge Vineyards.

Would this be good for chilling out at night? Or is it more of a daytime spot?

 

[zinfamous]

Skyline Dr.

try not to be murdered by speeding bikers.

 

[Kadarin]

Another vote for Skyline. It's hwy 35... Take 9 from Saratoga up to 35 and turn right at the top... There's a fantastic place to park and look at the bay from a vista point just north of Page Mill Road. There are also a lot of trails up there.

 

[GoSharks]

Would this be good for chilling out at night? Or is it more of a daytime spot?

Never been to that winery, but I assume that it has business hours. Montebello Road in general isn't that great for an anytime chill spot. It's all private property. If you do drive up Montebello, please be careful as it is a popular road bike ride.

 

[Drako]

Mountain Winery in the summertime is nice. Concert season was just announced.

Nice views of the South Bay from there at night.

 

[Dirigible]

Another vote for Skyline. It's hwy 35... Take 9 from Saratoga up to 35 and turn right at the top... There's a fantastic place to park and look at the bay from a vista point just north of Page Mill Road. There are also a lot of trails up there.

Note that trails in the mid peninsula district lands (Saratoga gap, Russian ridge, montebello, el corte de madera, etc.) are not open at night and the ticket is expensive.

 

[Drako]

Note that trails in the mid peninsula district lands (Saratoga gap, Russian ridge, montebello, el corte de madera, etc.) are not open at night and the ticket is expensive.

This, and the views up there are great for Silicon Valley viewing.


As Pualney mentioned, Mount Hamilton is great for viewing, and if you are into music, take a concert in at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Nice views of the Airship hangers 1, 2 and 3 across the valley to the bay .

edit: just realized I responded to Dirigable post with a Moffett Field reference.

 

[SSSnail]

Take skyline drive to highway 1, turn left towards big sur...

 

[schneiderguy]

More East Bay, but Mt. Diablo is nice.

Or go up the hill at Las Trampas.

 

[Kadarin]

Also, if you're into hiking or mountain biking, check out the trails down by Santa Teresa County Park. Some nice views there from the very south end of the valley.

 

[Drako]

Also, if you're into hiking or mountain biking, check out the trails down by Santa Teresa County Park. Some nice views there from the very south end of the valley.

:thumbsdown: Too low elevation. Good biking and hiking this time of year, but hellish in the Summer.

I live in the Almaden Valley area, so I go up there a lot.

 

[Red Dawn]

:thumbsdown: Too low elevation. Good biking and hiking this time of year, but hellish in the Summer.

I live in the Almaden Valley area, so I go up there a lot.

I grew up and lived there until I was 40. Mt Umanum(sp) was still an AF base in my earlier years there.

Never thought those trails were hellish in the summer, use to hike them all the time. The most scenic part of those trail is overlooking Guadalupie Resevior and it's Emeral Green Water from all the mercury from the old Quick Silver Mines nearbye

 

[zoiks]

Foothills park in Palo Alto. Go up Page Mill to find it (You need to be a Palo Alto resident or accompany a Palo Altan to access this area)
If you are adventurous then go to Alpine lake in Marin. Point Reyes, Stinson beach and adjacent areas.

 

[Drako]

I grew up and lived there until I was 40. Mt Umanum(sp) was still an AF base in my earlier years there.

Never thought those trails were hellish in the summer, use to hike them all the time. The most scenic part of those trail is overlooking Guadalupie Resevior and it's Emeral Green Water from all the mercury from the old Quick Silver Mines nearbye

Mount Umanhum is not part of Santa Teresa county park, it's part of Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. Santa Teresa park is across the Almaden valley to the east, and gets much warmer in the summer time than Sierra Azul, and even Almaden Quicksilver parks.

 

[Drako]

Here are links to some Hiking places that might interest you:

Almaden Qucksilver Park

http://www.sccgov.org/SCC/docs/Park...tment of (DEP)/AlmadenQuicksilverGuideMap.pdf

Siera Azul Open Space

http://www.openspace.org/preserves/maps/pr_sierra_azul.pdf

Santa Teresa County Park

http://www.sccgov.org/SCC/docs/Parks and Recreation, Department of (DEP)/Santa Teresa map.pdf

 

[zinfamous]

also, OP, you should consider heading up to Point Reyes in North Bay area. some of the most fantastic vistas in the area. not quite Big Sur, but maybe the best in the Bay Area.

My buddy came in from out of town a year ago with his new medium format camera and pt. Reyes was his main destination. Totally worthwhile. Great spot for whales when they are in the area.

 

[Red Dawn]

Mount Umanhum is not part of Santa Teresa county park.

No Shit Sherlock, never said it was.

That said I did have Alamaden Quicksilver Park and Santa Teresa confused.

 

[Drako]

No Shit Sherlock, never said it was

You responded to my post which was in reference to Santa Teresa County Park, so one might actually assume that was what you were referring to.

Carry on angry old man.

 

[Red Dawn]

You responded to my post which was in reference to Santa Teresa County Park, so one might actually assume that was what you were referring to.

Carry on angry old man.

Get off my lawn!!! D:

Actually I just mentioned Umanhum to reference what an old fart I am and how long ago I was living in that area.

I remember the only was to get to the Almaden Valley from the Cambrian Park area was to get there via Redmond Ave and the Expressway was just a two lane road

 

[SSSnail]

I just remembered this http://www.lateralg.org/roads/cennwest/1.htm (shhhhh)