HIKES

Explore Santa Clara County's open spaces and enjoy lakes, mineral springs, migrating birds, wildflowers and more while learning about Silicon Valley's rich culture, history and wildlife.

If you missed any of BAO's virtual park tours, you can watch them by clicking this link BAO Videos

BAO members receive a discount on the events. BAO Premium Members receive up to 50% discount and Basic Members (free) receive up to a 25% discount on BAO events. If you are not already a BAO member, and want to join to receive discounts, please Click Here before registering for the events.

**REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED** and space is limited, so please sign up as soon as possible using the registration button below. Detailed information, such as directions, will be sent one week and one day before the event date.

Waitlist only Hike 5 Birding at Lake Cunningham

Wednesday April 8, 2026 from 10:30 AM to 01:30 PM

Today we head to Lake Cunningham Regional Park for a leisurely walk around the lake in search of birds. Our expert guide is a city of San Jose Park Ranger. Afterwards, we enjoy a social picnic lunch. This special program is hosted in partnership with Valley Water. Image by JaGa CC BY-SA 4.0.

Level of Difficulty: : Easy
Number of Miles: : 2.0
Location: Meeting location San Jose CA 95148
Additional Benefits: Parking fee and picnic lunch are included

WAITLIST ONLY Hike 22 Wildflowers and Birds of Calero Lake

Friday April 17, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Enjoy a Spring hike led by a Santa Clara County Parks expert along a creek, up grassy meadows, past a pond with views of Calero reservoir, birds and spectacular wildflowers. This special program is hosted in partnership with Valley Water. Image by Anne Ferguson.

Level of Difficulty: : Moderate with 250 ft ascent over 0.75 mile
Number of Miles: : 3.0
Location: Meeting location is Saratoga CA 95070 or San Jose CA 95120
Additional Benefits: Transportation and picnic lunch are included

WAITLIST ONLY Hike 6 Russian Ridge Wildflower Trek

Wednesday April 22, 2026 from 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM

This spring walk will be led by a wildflower expert and takes us on a journey on the best trails to find as many wildflowers as we can! Russian Ridge is known for its spectacular display of colors. We end the day with a social picnic lunch with a view. This special program is hosted in partnership with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Images by Anne Ferguson.

Level of Difficulty: : Moderate with two 350 foot hills
Number of Miles: : 4.0
Location: Meeting location is Saratoga CA 95070
Additional Benefits: Transportation and picnic lunch are included

Waitlist only Hike 7 Rancho Canada Del Oro Wildlife Adventure

Wednesday May 13, 2026 from 09:00 AM to 02:00 PM

We are lucky to have a wildlife expert lead us on a colorful hike in the Santa Cruz foothills where we will pass a creek, through grasslands and oak woodlands. Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve is a property managed by our partner, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, and it is known for its diversity of serpentine wildflowers. Along the way, we will find, identify and learn about the wildflowers, plants and the special properties of serpentine soils. We end the afternoon with a picnic lunch. This special program is hosted with the support of Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. Images by Anne Ferguson.

Level of Difficulty: : Moderate with a 1.5-mile 600 foot elevation gain and descent
Number of Miles: : 4.0
Location: Meeting location is Saratoga CA 95070
Additional Benefits: Transportation and picnic lunch are included

Waitlist only Hike 8 Exclusive! Discover Laguna Seca Walk

Wednesday May 27, 2026 from 08:00 AM to 02:30 PM

Join us for an exclusive walking tour in a unique, biodiverse private preserve that is managed and protected by our partner, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (SCVOSA). It is San Jose’s largest remaining freshwater wetland and a critical ecosystem for endangered wildlife such as the California red-legged frog and tiger salamander. We will learn about the diversity of wildlife this preserve protects and how it’s importance in maintaining our clean water supply and sequestering carbon to reduce the effects of climate change. One of SCVOSA’s important projects is to restore these wetlands to their natural state after its destruction in 1916 to use for agriculture. After the walk, we stop for a picnic lunch. This special program is hosted in partnership with Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. Images by Derek Neumann.

Level of Difficulty: : Easy flat
Number of Miles: : 2.0
Location: Meeting location is Saratoga CA 95070
Additional Benefits: Transportation and picnic lunch are included

Hike 9 Shoreline Birding

Wednesday June 10, 2026 from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Join us for a two-mile shoreline walk to learn about how climate change and sea-level rise threatens both bayshore communities and the Bay’s shallow water habitats. Enjoy the beauty of the Bay and marsh while learning how the Sierra Clubs Bay Alive Campaign is ensuring that city and county shoreline adaptation plans prioritize nature-based solutions to address sea level rise, require clean-up of shoreline contamination and include community input. We end the day with a social picnic lunch. This special program is hosted in partnership with Valley Water.

Level of Difficulty: : Easy flat
Number of Miles: : 2.0
Location: Meeting location is Saratoga CA 95070
Additional Benefits: Transportation and picnic lunch are included

Hike 11 Redwood Canopy

Wednesday June 17, 2026 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM

El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve is located in the upper headwaters of the San Gregorio Creek Watershed and a great spot for redwoods. As we journey one-way downhill from Skyline Boulevard, we will learn about the wildlife that thrives in redwood forests. We end the walk with a social picnic lunch. This special program is in partnership with Midpen.

Level of Difficulty: : Moderate with 840 ft descent over 2 miles then 500 ft ascent over 1.3 miles
Number of Miles: : 4.3
Location: Meeting location is Saratoga CA 95070
Additional Benefits: Transportation and picnic lunch are included

Hike 10 California Wine Walk

Wednesday June 24, 2026 from 08:30 AM to 01:30 PM

Join us for a peaceful journey through four miles of Picchetti Ranch Preserve. We will walk on shady trails lush with ferns, large Oak and California Bay trees and Madrones, which lead to views of Stevens Creek Reservoir and the hillside to the east. After passing an old Apricot, Plum, and Pear orchard and a petite pond, we reach the winery where will eat a leisurely lunch at the historic Picchetti estate before our gradual downhill return trip. Wine tasting is self-funded and optional. This special program is hosted in partnership with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen). Image by Anne Ferguson.

Level of Difficulty: : Moderate with 360 ft elevation gain over 0.7 miles
Number of Miles: : 4.0
Location: Meeting location is Saratoga CA 95070
Additional Benefits: Transportation and picnic lunch are included

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