Badlands Ranch Store is a must stop when headed to Badlands National Park. For just $1 a bag for peanuts, you can get up close to feed a friendly colony of chubby prairie dogs. Wild prairie dogs are much slimmer and fast moving. At the store site, you’re able to walk around freely and see the prairie dog sites, one open and one fenced.
Author: Vanda
Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is located in South Dakota and is notable for its sediment rock layers eroded by wind and water. I started the Badlands Loop Road drive from Interior, SD since it was closer to the visitor center and hiking trails.
Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park
Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park is a large park with hiking trails that provide great view of Coyote lake and the cities of Gilroy and San Martin. The featured trail starts at the 3rd parking lot with the boating launch ramp at Bear Ranch entrance.
The Borax Visitor Center
This attraction is dedicated to borax, a white mineral powder used in various cleaning products. The visitor center is a perfect rest stop if you’re headed to Las Vegas or Death Valley from Bakersfield.
Santa Teresa County Park
Santa Teresa County Park is located in San Jose and has great views of the Bay from Santa Teresa Peak and is a popular place to see wildflowers on the Rocky Ridge Trail. Adjacent to the park is an archery range and a historic park called Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch.
Sanborn County Park
Sanborn County Park is a good place to go in Saratoga if you’re looking for shady trails with redwood trees. There is ample parking which makes this a popular place for gatherings. The trail I took was part of the 2020 PixInParks challenge which is the Petersen + Sanborn Trail Loop.
Joseph D. Grant County Park
This park requires a windy drive up a mountain. I recommend taking a smaller car since the two lane road is narrow and there are many bikers sharing the road with you. This is the largest Santa Clara county park and there are a variety of trails to explore. For an easy trail, Hotel Trail is very flat and wide.
Mt Madonna County Park
If you don’t want to see too many people, Mt Madonna County Park is a great place to walk in hot weather. The area was once owned by a cattle lord named Henry Miller and there are cool remains of his estate on the Nature Trail.
Vargas Plateau Regional Park
Vargas Plateau has great views of Fremont and is a good place to take a relaxing walk. This is definitely a nice park to go to when its cloudy and green.
Don Edwards – Coyote Creek Lagoon
Coyote Creek Lagoon Trail is 2.5 miles long (one-way). There are two entrances and it is part of Don Edwards San Francisco National Wildlife Refuge. Along with being a great place to visit during a lunch break, this is great spot for birding.