BEAR CREEK REDWOODS PRESERVE
Redwood Springs to Alma Trail | Los Gatos, CA
★★★☆☆
Giant refrigerator trees. Gianter redwoods.
Last hiked 12/20/20
Length: 7.3 mi.
Gain: 1400 ft.
Type: Double lollipop
Difficulty: Moderate
Crowds: Low, but parking is limited
Dogs: No
THE RUNDOWN
Just minutes away from Los Gatos, this trail provides an enchanting escape into the woods.
This lot fills up quickly, and there’s no overflow parking. If you’re planning to hike on a weekend, aim to arrive before 9am.
Park Hours: Half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset
Fees: None
Trailhead: At the parking lot off Bear Creek Rd.
Restroom: Yes
Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve map with trail overlay generated via caltopo.com. We approached the loops in a counterclockwise direction.
Like life, hikes are much more interesting with ups and downs.
Parking is located off Bear Creek Road.
Note: At time of posting, this street view is outdated; you should see the Bear Creek Redwoods park sign at this entrance.
STEP BY STEP
We approached the loops in a counterclockwise direction:↑ Cross the street from the parking lot to enter Alma Trail.
Note: throughout the park, you will pass several private roads that look like trails but are marked with subtle “Area Closed” signs. Watch for signs to ensure you remain on the designated trail.
→ Make a right onto Redwood Springs Trail.
→ Make a right onto Madrone Knoll Trail.
At the end of the trail, make a small loop around Madrone Knoll Peak.
↓ Double back down Madrone Knoll Trail.
→ Make a right onto Alma Trail. Continue until you return to the trailhead.
Also known as "refrigerator trees," madrones are cool to the touch. Madrone Knoll boasts a particularly impressive grove of these unique trees.
Can someone tell us what's going on here?
Mushrooms seemed to pop out of every corner on this hike.
MUSINGS
This preserve was recently opened to the public in 2019. We immediately noticed how nice and well-maintained the trails are. The vast majority are wide and spacious, and they curve tastefully around the trees and hillsides. This trail is perfect for solo hikers and families alike.
This is a photogenic hike from start to finish, and we think it’s mainly due to the way the trees filter sunlight to create a warm aura that gently illuminates the trail. This also produces an excellent natural lens flare for you photography folk out there.
We’ve never seen such large madrones before (you may have heard of these referred to as “refrigerator trees,” known for their cold-to-the-touch, reddish, peely bark), and this trail has plenty of them, particularly near the aptly named Madrone Knoll.
We were also surprised by the number of coast redwoods we saw along the way, most of them second-growth but some of them old-growth gems.
This is an underrated trail that we anticipate will boom in popularity. The park is set to expand in the next few years, so take advantage of these more lightly trafficked trails while they last!
An enchanted forest, if we'd ever met one.
Keep your eye on the trail, but don't forget to look up every once in awhile.
We love a good tree arch.
MORE INFO
Some Reminders
Arrive early to guarantee parking!
Stay alert and stick to designated trails as the trails sometimes cross over private drives.
Bring layers. Winter mornings can be quite damp and chilly.
Helpful Resources
Official park page and trail map here.
Good Eats
We know they look appetizing, but do not eat the mushrooms.