Fremont Older

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Location

From Hwy 85, take De Anza Exit, turning towards Saratoga (West). Turn right onto Prospect Road. In about a block, turn left at the stop sign as Prospect meets Stelling Road, to continue on Prospect Road. Follow Prospect until it ends at the park. There is a small parking lot at the park entrance. Park at your own risk - on occasion golf balls fly in from the Saratoga Country Club! If you want to park farther from the park, park at the base of the hill where Prospect becomes a one-lane road, and carpool into the park. DO NOT HIKE ALONG PROSPECT ROAD - this is not safe!

For directions, use Mapquest's Map of [22467-22899] Prospect Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070, US.

Attractions:

Beautiful meadows, oak groves, and hills!
Bikes are allowed; this is a popular mountain biking spot.
Wildlife includes deer, rabbits, bobcats, coyotes, squirrels, various birds, lizards, and grasshoppers.
Great hilly trails for those seeking a hill workout.
The residents of Prospect Road beyond the park gates keep their gardens rural and rustic, maintaining the natural beauty of the area.
Dogs allowed on leash.
Portapottie at the parking lot.

Limitations:

Trails can be steep and rough; use brakes and keep an eye out for roots, ruts, and rocks.
As this is a popular mountain biking area, be wary of fast bikes and always leave some room for them to pass. Around sharp corners on single track paths (as on Seven Springs Loop), announce yourself so as to give oncoming bikers warning!
Stay on the trails to avoid ticks and poison oak!

Season:

Year round, 8am to sunset

Fees:

None.

Maps & More Information:

Maps are available at parking lot trailhead, although signs point to major areas of interest at many trail junctions.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's Webpage for Fremont Older
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's Map for Fremont Older

Handicapped Access:

Prospect Road beyond the park gate / parking lot is paved and wide. Its grade and occasional holes in the tarmac may make it unsuitable for wheelchairs. The parking lot and portapottie are suitable for people with handicaps.

Recommended routes:

Prospect Road to Hunters Point: Icon Legend
From parking lot, hike along the paved Prospect Road. The road curves uphill past several private residences. Continue until the road ends (where a private residence with some very creative automobiles is) and the trailhead for a dirt fire road begins, to the right.

Start down the trail as it passes downhill, then uphill (at the junction with the Cora Older Trail from the parking lot). At the top of the hill, continue left on the wide fire road, passing the junction with Seven Springs Trail, following signs to Hunter's Point. The trail will dip then rise up to the other junction with Seven Springs Loop before heading up a string of three steep hills to Hunter's Point. Take a break at the point and take in the view. You can sit on the little fence at the point as if it were a bench. Return:
- the way you came.
- the way you came, except turn a sharp left along Cora Older Trail to the Prospect Road Parking (there is a signpost) where the trail you initially took is marked "no bikes" and flattens out for the final short stretch of dirt before pavement. Along this route, enjoy flat trails with slight grades that are narrower than the fire road. The trail has a few sharp turns and rough patches, but is lovely as it passes through shaded oak groves. This path ends at the parking lot.
Alternatively, this route can be done in reverse or completed solely on the dirt / gravel paths directly from the parking lot. Total distance is 2 to 2.4 miles.

Seven Springs Loop: Icon Legend
From the parking lot, take any route towards Hunter's Point, as described above.

At the first Seven Springs Trailhead (after the first steep hill on the fire road), turn right. Seven Springs Trail begins with several ruts, but then flattens out considerably. This is a single-track trail; share the trail with others and announce yourself around blind corners.

Enjoy the descent along the edge of the hills, into the valley, beneath huge oak trees. Continue perpendicular to the valley floor, travelling uphill into more exposed grasslands. The trail becomes quite rutted at the top of the first hill, before a small grove of pine trees, where the trail widens (this is a good break spot).

Continue up rolling hills, following the trail until a flat area with a long, low fence along the side of the trail. The trail forks as the trail descends slightly. Take the central trail that veers to the left and hugs the side of the hill (avoid the leftmost trail that goes downhill!). This trail makes a junction with the large fire road that leads to Hunter's Point (right, uphill) and Prospect Road Parking (left, downhill).

Continue for a quick stop over at Hunter's Point before returning to the parking lot, or begin your return immediately. To return, follow the fire road downhill, then uphill, then down again. Veer left at the junction with other trails like Coyote Ridge, following signs to the parking lot. Finally, turn right and head downhill, from the junction with the Seven Springs Loop trailhead that you took. Continue towards the parking lot, along Cora Older Trail or Prospect Road. Total distance is 3.2 to 3.8 miles.