Madrone Trail, Sanborn County Park CA


• 4-star hikes
• 5 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 1,510 to 1,690 feet
• Saratoga, CA | San Francisco Region
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A person walks their dog along a forest trail. The path winds through tall trees and dense greenery. A small stream flows gently over rocks, creating a modest waterfall. The scene is tranquil, emphasizing the serenity of nature and the companionship between human and animal. The perspective highlights depth, drawing the eye along the trail into the wooded surroundings.
Walking astride Sanborn Creek near the lower trailhead.

Sanborn County Park offers a peaceful retreat into the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, just minutes from the suburbs of San Jose. This shady hillside loop, accessible from both above and below, provides hikers with a moderate workout surrounded by tranquil, natural scenery.

Our article outlines two ways to reach the loop trail: from the lower Sanborn Creek trailhead or from a small trailhead on Skyline Boulevard. We prefer starting at the lower elevation, which begins with a scenic hike along the picturesque creekside Sanborn Narrows Trail. This route requires some scrambling across a creek where a washed-out bridge once stood, followed by a steep section between Sanborn Road and the hillside amphitheater. If these obstacles make you hesitate, you could alternatively approach the loop from the San Andreas Trail using the AllTrails link at the end of this article. However, that route bypasses the Sanborn Narrows section—our favorite part of the trail.
⬤ 4★ Sanborn Narrows to Madrone Trail   5.7 mi part-loop, moderate, gain 1,690 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?
⬤ 4★ Skyline Blvd to Sanborn Park   5.2 mi part-loop, moderate, gain 1,510 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions
 P  Free parking

If you're starting your hike from Skyline Boulevard and descending into the loop, you'll pass through one of the trail’s highlights — the Todd Creek redwood grove. However, there are other redwood groves along the loop, so missing Todd Creek isn’t a major drawback if you're approaching from below, as you'll still experience the park’s towering redwoods elsewhere.

The core experience of this loop involves hiking through the heart of Sanborn County Park, where contrasting landscapes create distinct microclimates that support diverse plant communities. Large second-growth redwoods dominate the canyon sections, while madrone and oak woodlands flourish at higher elevations. The trail’s inclines are moderate in both directions, so we don’t favor one approach over the other.

A person stands on a wooden bridge in a dense forest, leaning on the railing and gazing into the surroundings. Sunlight filters through the towering trees, casting dappled light onto the bridge and the ferns below. The bridge spans a rocky stream, adding to the sense of natural tranquility. The lush greenery envelops the scene, creating a peaceful contrast between human presence and the untouched wilderness.
Sanborn Creek trail bridge on Sanborn Narrows Trail.

Woodland shade blankets almost every part of this park, and aside from a few brief bayside views along the southern Sanborn Trail, you’d hardly know you're so close to a major metropolitan area.

Unintentionally, both routes we describe begin at trailheads with free parking. The lower Sanborn Creek trailhead has a moderately sized roadside pull-off, while the Skyline Boulevard parking area can only accommodate a couple of vehicles. Paid parking in support of the county park is available along Sanborn Road within its grounds, though starting from this lot means missing the creekside Sanborn Narrows Trail.

A person walks along a dirt trail surrounded by towering trees in a dense forest. The trees have thick trunks, their branches forming a leafy canopy overhead. Sunlight filters through, casting dappled light onto the forest floor, which is covered with ferns and fallen leaves. The hiker, dressed in a blue shirt, dark pants, and a cap, moves away from the camera, blending into the serene natural environment.
Among the redwoods on the Madrone Trail.

Tangents:
• Santa Clara County: Sanborn County Park
• AllTrails Public: San Andreas-Peterson Memorial Trail


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