Saratoga Small Wonder

Hike at Saratoga Quarry Park

10.11.2023

Saratoga Quarry Park features beautiful views, ample picnic space, a labyrinth, and plenty of kid-friendly activities, all within a 2-mile loop.


From the parking lot, keep left to ascend into the park. Signs for the pond will lead hikers to an exercise station where they can practice dips and pull-ups, or get a good stretch for the hike ahead. A seasonal pond is located just beyond the exercise station, where sharp-eyed visitors can spot lizards and frogs hidden among the cattails.

Continue uphill to the picnic tables nestled among the fragrant eucalyptus trees. This is a perfect spot for a snack break overlooking the nearby vineyards. Enjoy the deep red-violet of the Bay Area’s prettiest fall foliage: poison oak. (Look, but of course don’t touch!) Just beyond the picnic tables is a stone maze for children.


Hikers continuing up the trail will pass by the Saratoga To The Skyline Trail. This new trail extension connects to Skyline To The Sea to create a whopping 40-mile trail to the ocean. Continue past this turnoff for another 0.3 mile. This is the steepest section of the hike, but explorers are rewarded with gorgeous views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley.



At the dead end, retrace your steps to the stone maze, then keep left to descend the wooden steps. The large picnic area contains historical artifacts from the park’s early days as well as barbecue pits, picnic platforms, and the giant vine-covered water bucket. Descending to the parking lot you can walk through the old loading tunnel, where freight was once moved out of the quarry. A photo exhibit inside the tunnel details the park’s history.


COFFEE SHOP BONUS: Need a pick-me-up after a day on the trails? Head northeast on Big Basin Way toward downtown Saratoga to visit Big Basin Cafe. This buzzing coffeeshop is a locals' favorite, and the perfect spot for a sweet treat (Heather recommends the chocolate eclairs) and a hot cup of joe.

Saratoga Quarry Park is located at 22000 Congress Springs Rd. in Saratoga. From CA-85, exit onto Saratoga Ave. south. Continue onto Big Basin Way. After passing Hakone Gardens, turn left into the parking lot. Quarry Park is open from dawn until dusk. Leashed dogs are permitted on trails. Big Basin Cafe is located at 14471 Big Basin Way in Saratoga.

Story and photos by Heather Werner, @heath.er.wer.ner

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) standing in front of his wood-fire oven at the Sonoma Valley Farmers' Market

    NEW! Walkin' and Talkin': Break Bread, Go On a Panoramic Hike

    What’s a world-traveling, medal-winning baker’s favorite local hike? Weekend Sherpa co-founder Brad Day caught up with Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) at Sonoma’s Friday farmers' market, where his wood-fired loaves draw loyal crowds. Between bites of fresh-baked bread, they talk baking, travel, and why Sonoma's Overlook Trail is one of his favorite quick, panoramic hikes.

    View

  2. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View

  3. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  4. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

    View

  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

    View

  4. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

    View