Alum Rock

Location

Alum Rock Park is located in San Jose. To get there, take Highway 280 South to Highway 680 North. Take the McKee Road exit and turn right. Turn left on White Road, then right onto Penitencia Creek Road. Penitencia Creek Road passes directly into the park.
Park at the first parking lot if you would like to do the Penitencia Creek Trail that includes some coarse gravel and fine gravel.

If you'd like to shorten that route or hike along pavement only, continue into the park to one of the later parking lots. The parking lot for the main park office is nearest to where the paved part of the Penitencia Creek Trail starts. This parking lot is also a suitable starting point for Youth Science Institute to Alum Rock Avenue Trail.

If you would like to complete Youth Science Institute to Alum Rock Avenue Trail backwards or one-way only (turn-around point in the park), you can park at Alum Rock Avenue just outside the park.

Attractions:

Beautiful meadows, riparian zones, lawns, and creek. Great views from the hillside trails.
There is some lovely geology in this park - sandstone and sedimentary rocks.
Interesting historic area just East of the main park office, along Penitencia Creek that includes beautiful stone ruins of a spa made around the natural mineral springs that flow here. You can still smell the minerals like sulfur!
Youth Science Institute is in the middle of the park. It offers classes for youth and is open to the public when classes aren't in session. It includes various wildlife displays as well as an aviary. Admission is less than a dollar, and the Institute is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon until 4 or 4:30. They sell snacks like ice cream.
There are some great trail running and mountain biking trails in the park, as well as equine access (nut be sure to check signs - some areas are restricted).
The center of the park has a huge area including lawns, benches, picnic / bbq spots, play structures, bathrooms, and water fountains.
All along Penitencia Creek Trail, there are picnic areas, benches, and horseshoe game pits.
Wildlife includes deer, bobcats, coyotes, lizards, red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, blue jays, and squirrels.

Limitations:

No dogs allowed.
Bicycles are restricted in some paved areas - watch out for signs.
Stay on the trails to avoid ticks and poison oak!

Season:

Year round, about 8 am to sunset

Fees:

$6 per car on weekends and holidays, and daily from mid-June through Labor Day. Other times, free.

Maps & More Information:

Maps are available at lower parking lot trailheads, although trails are very well marked.
http://www.sjparks.org/Parks/Regional%20Parks/AlumRockPark.asp - City of San Jose's Website for Alum Rock Park
http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/Penitencia/Penitencia.asp - City of San Jose's Website for Penitencia Creek Trail
http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/Penitencia/PenitenciaMap.asp - City of San Jose's Map for Penitencia Creek Trail - click it for a pdf file
http://www.ysi-ca.org/AlumRock/ARHome.html - Youth Science Institute Webpage

Handicapped Access:

There are handicapped parking spots and bathrooms (though bathrooms are locked during the week). The Creek Trail and adjacent park trails from the picnic area by the main park office East to the historic mineral springs area are paved and flat, so are well suited for a wheelchair.

Recommended routes:

Full Length Penitencia Creek Trail (in Alum Rock Park):
Penitencia Creek Trail actually extends significantly outside the park, as a lovely greenway through much of San Jose. Portions are in disrepair (and should be repaired soon), but when linked up, the trail goes for miles! The trail outside the park is very popular with residents as a dog-walking trail. For more information about the trail outside the park, see the San Jose Website about the trail, above.

The portion of Penitencia Creek Trail in the park begins just East of the first parking lot. Ascend a small hill of coarse gravel and continue straight. The coarse gravel gives way to dirt and fine gravel, after a few hundred feet, but there are some jagged rocks poking through the surface of the trail that make it a bumpy ride for a small-wheeled stroller.

Enjoy the view of the creek along the path. Occasionally, a beach to the creek enables creek access, for those looking for snails, insects, or wanting to float a leaf. The trail continues alongside a steep hill that recently gave way; the landslide narrows the trail somewhat and adds some bumps. Small trails uphill (often with stairs) to view platforms or locations like Inspiration Point (a bit farther East) are fun excursions for those with a baby backpack. Penitencia Creek Trail crosses the stream via a bridge, then the road, resuming East along the hill that runs parallel to the road. You can climb a steep path to resume it, or walk along Eagle Rock Picnic Area's paved parking lot, resuming the trail at a gate with a less steep and finer gravel path. The trail will continue and cross the road again, eventually reaching the park at the main park office.

Take a break here in the ample shade of oak trees on a bench or picnic table, play in the playground, linger on a lawn, or take advantage of the bathrooms or water fountains. The trail continues East to the mineral springs that were once the epicenter of a popular spa. Enjoy the beautiful stone work and take a tour of the area along the very narrow footpaths to the left of the creek, if you have a baby backpack.

The trail eventually becomes fine gravel again as you continue East of the mineral springs. The trail will eventually end at the junction of Aquague and Penitencia Creeks, where there is an option to return West along a smaller trail (South Rim Switchbacks) or hike uphill to the Upper Meadow Rest Area, along the same trail (but veering left when given the option). Do this smaller trail only with a baby backpack. Turn around whenever it suits you, and return the way you came. Total distance about 5 miles.

Paved Penitencia Creek Trail (in Alum Rock Park):
Begin the hike at the large parking lot at the main park office. Begin at the West edge of the green park (pavement ends just West of here), and head East. Enjoy the amenities of the park and science institute, and linger around the stone relics of the mineral spring area. Turn back when the pavement ends, just beyond the last picnic area. Total distance about 1.3 miles.

Youth Science Institute to Alum Rock Avenue Trail
This trail begins on the South side of the paved Penitencia Creek Trail in the park, just Southeast of the Youth Science Institute. It ascends a long, moderate hill, West along a paved path, to eventually follow a ridgeline and side of hills, looking over the valley. It runs just South of Inspiration Point, so some of the smaller trails intersect it. Peacock Gap is another narrower, but interesting trail that intersects it and runs Southwest to the residential area that borders the park (not recommended for small-wheeled strollers). The paved trail eventually meets up with a service road (head West) then Alum Rock Avenue just South of the landslide that closed the road for park access. Follow Alum Rock Avenue South and outside the park, to end in the residential area, or walk North, then take the Creek Trail back to the first parking lot. You can return back the way you came, or if you plan ahead, arrange for transportation at the end of the hike so you can do the hike one-way. Total (round trip) is about 3 miles.