Alum Rock Park

Location

Alum Rock Park is located in the east foothills of San José, accessed from Penitencia Creek Road. The Penitencia Creek Trail is partially developed and offers limited off-street pedestrian and bike access to the park.

Description

Alum Rock Park is one of California’s oldest municipal parks. Located within the Alum Rock Canyon in the foothills of the Diablo Mountain Range, the park’s 740 acres of natural, rugged, beauty provide visitors with many leisure outdoor activities including, hiking, jogging, bicycling and picnicking. Due to its proximity to rural, natural lands, the park is home to many wild animals. Those animals include mountain lions, bobcats, deer and a number of other smaller animals.

Special features of the park include Penitencia Creek which transects the entire park, the Mineral Springs area that contains active mineral springs and grottos, the Gazebo and the Log Cabin which was constructed in 1913. Nine reservable group picnic areas provide barbecue pits, picnic tables and nearby restrooms for groups ranging in size from 30 to 300. Information on reservations can be obtained at (408) 794-7275.

Visit the park's webpage for more information. Looking for more trail adventures in San José? Check out our Trail Tourism page.

No Dogs and Pets Allowed

Dogs and pets are not allowed in Alum Rock Park. The park offers great access to natural and open spaces with a wide variety of wildlife ranging from small rodents, birds, turkeys, bobcats and mountain lions. The restriction is for your safety and that of your pet and the park's wildlife. NEW: video of Bobcat crossing stream in the park.

Distance

13 miles along several unpaved hiking trails

Map

Alum Rock Park Hiking Map (High Res PDF, 7MB)
Alum Rock Park Hiking Map (Low Res JPG, 1MB)
Jr Ranger Explorer Guide (for children ages 7 to 9)

Parking

The park is served by multiple lots within the park. Get current information on available parking lots and parking fees on the park's main web page. For additional information, please call 408-259-5477.