Kid-friendly hikes and nature walks around the South Bay
These are hikes measured in toddler steps: short loops, flat paths, and a payoff — farm animals, a lake, a creek, giant redwoods — before anyone needs to be carried. Each listing notes whether the trail works with a stroller or calls for a carrier.
The classic first hike is the flat path to Deer Hollow Farm at Rancho San Antonio. Shoreline Lake and the Palo Alto Baylands boardwalk are great for wheels. For redwoods, Henry Cowell's paved 0.8-mile Redwood Grove Loop starts right by the parking lot; Big Basin and Purisima Creek are better once kids can walk a mile or two.
- 17 places
- 7 free
- 12 stroller-friendly
- closest is 12 min away
17 places
Drive times from Sunnyvale
Rancho San Antonio + Deer Hollow Farm
5.0Los Altos Hills · 12 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free, but full by 7:30-8:00 on weekends; arrive early or go on a weekday
Shoreline Park & Lake
5.0Mountain View · 12 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free large lots (by the boathouse and Rengstorff House)
Henry Cowell Redwoods (Redwood Grove Loop)
5.0Felton · 45 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: $10 parking (main entrance)
Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve
4.0Palo Alto · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free (by the Lucy Evans Nature Center / duck pond)
Los Gatos Creek Trail (Campbell Section)
4.0Campbell · 18 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free at Campbell Park; $6 at Los Gatos Creek County Park
Sanborn County Park
4.0Saratoga · 25 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: $6 parking (main entrance)
Alum Rock Park
4.0San Jose · 30 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: $6 inside the park; free spots before the entrance
Coyote Hills Regional Park
4.0Fremont · 30 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: $5 parking, card only
Muir Woods National Monument
4.0Mill Valley · 75 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$ · Parking: Parking must be reserved online in advance ($9.5), or take the shuttle
Ulistac Natural Area
3.0Santa Clara · 12 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking / lot on Lick Mill Blvd
Picchetti Ranch
3.0Cupertino · 15 min drive
1.5 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Free lot shared with Picchetti Winery
Stevens Creek County Park Reservoir
3.0Cupertino · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: $6 parking
Ed R. Levin County Park
3.0Milpitas · 25 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: $6 parking
Purisima Creek Redwoods (Higgins Canyon Entrance)
3.0Half Moon Bay · 45 min drive
2 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Small lot at the end of Higgins Canyon Rd, fills up on weekends
Uvas Canyon Waterfall Loop
3.0Morgan Hill · 45 min drive
2 h · carrier recommended · reservation needed
$ · Parking: $6 plus an entry reservation required every day of the week
Big Basin Redwoods (Redwood Loop)
3.0Boulder Creek · 70 min drive
2.5 h · carrier recommended · reservation needed
$ · Parking: Reserve parking online for $8 (guaranteed spot); limited first-come $10 spots; summer weekend shuttle available
Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Reserve
2.0Pescadero · 65 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended · reservation needed
$$ · Parking: $10 parking
💡 Good to know
- Weekend parking at Rancho San Antonio fills by about 8am.
- Many county parks charge a day-use parking fee; bring a card.