Looking at these amazing views, can you recognize them right here in the backyard of Cupertino? Many thanks to my friend Cathy Chen for capturing these beautiful photos along Tony Look Trail around the reservoir in the Stevens Creek County Park.
This summer, my family also went hiking to enjoy the nature around the reservoir. So happy to know that Stevens Creek County Park celebrated its 100th birthday early this year.
With 9 miles of multi-use trails, 87 acres of reservoir, and 1,063 acres of land, Stevens Creek County Park offers many fun activities, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, picnicking, archery, disc golf, and birding. Note, no swimming or wading is allowed in the reservoir, but dogs are allowed on leash.
Location & Access Info
The Main Entrance of Stevens Creek County Park is located at 11401 Stevens Canyon Rd Cupertino, CA. If you would like to start your hike closer to the reservoir, the most convenient location is at 11997 Stevens Canyon Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014, closest to the boating/fishing sites. Paid parking is available on both locations with a $6 fee per vehicle charged at the ranger station or at a machine. Limited free parking spots are available along Stevens Canyon Road. Note, restrooms are not available in the boat launch parking lot, but available in the “Main Entrance” area shown in the map (click to view the original map).
Our Hike: Tony Look Trail
One of our favorite trails is Tony Look Trail that offers the best view of the reservoir. We parked at the boat launch parking lot, then walked towards the dam. In the past when water level was low, we could walk on the paved crossing near the dam and climb up the wall to reach Tony Look Trail. This year, the water level is so high that the paved crossing is all covered by water, so we walked to Rim Trail then connected to Tony Look Trail after 0.3 miles.
Tony Look Trail is a relaxing hike with 2.5 miles and 164 elevation. It takes about one hour to complete the hike. The AllTrails site summarized hikers’ review as below.
Along the trail, flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and the reservoir looks so calming. Here is a 8-second video recorded by my friend Cathy Chen. Some sections of the trail are shaded by large trees, but some are quite exposed under the sun, so wearing hats and sunscreen is highly recommended. Please wear shoes with good traction, because the trail is unpaved.
To Hike More
Stevens Creek County Park is located in between Fremont Older Open Space Preserve and Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve, part of Mid-Peninsula Open Space, also known as Midpen. You can extend your hike to the Midpen trails to make it longer and more challenging. Below are three articles published by our Walk Bike community members who explored these Midpen open spaces. Click on any of the photos to learn more.
AllTrails also recommends Stevens Canyon Loop Trail, which is about 6.4 miles and 1,089 ft of elevation,
Let Us Know
Maybe you have already explored this historic county park many times. We’d love to hear from you and publish your most memorable experience, hiking, biking, horseback riding, or even birding. According to the park’s website, “Stevens Creek County Park is also one of the most popular birding parks in the Bay Area. Over 125 species have been sighted and recorded to date“.
You can look up the bird sightings on E-bird, “one of the world’s largest biodiversity-related science projects, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed annually by eBirders around the world”. Looking forward to receiving your article with photos at info@walkbikecupertino.org.