Belgatos Park — Attraction in Los Gatos

This park shares space with Heinz open space (once you get on the trail). I came this morning after having no luck at Rancho San Antonio and Sanborn County Park. The parking lot is small but there were not a lot of people here at 7:30/8 am on a Saturday which was just what I was looking for.

The trails are easy to find but they are short. I chose to do the Santa Rosa Trail which is the longest contiguous trail (abt 1.1 miles from the start of the park) There are no maps to take with you but there is a wooden stand with a map of the area that you could take a picture of and refer to. The top of the Santa Rosa Trail connects to Sierra Azul Road and there's some way to go on the roads and do a loop back to Belgatos park but I am not that map savvy and hadn't taken a picture.

The trails are well maintained with nice views of the valley once you get higher up. There are plenty of shade trees, which helps when you're dealing with hills. Come prepared if you have any knee issues ( walking sticks, braces, physical therapy, take breaks) I have patellafemoral syndrome and going DOWN hills can aggravate it. I think because this trail was so short I was able to manage just fine without needing any help.

Restrooms at trail head are flush toilets and well maintained ,however, there are NO changing tables for people with small children in diapers.

Overall just what I needed this morning. Would come here again and figure out how to...

This is always a great park. I've been going here since I was six years old, and highly recommend it to families or folks who like a bit of low difficulty hiking. The horse trail to the very rear of the park will take you up to the top of Santa Rosa Rd, where you can then take windy two lane roads to access Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve (left on Shannon Rd, and right on Kennedy Rd, until just before you reach Top of the Hill Rd at the... uhhhh, top of the hill... where you'll see the trailhead on the left side of).

If you can actually make it up Sierra Azul's 4.5 miles of steep fire trail, you have access to the trail that will take you to the Cold War satellite building atop Mt Unanum. You can also go right at the fork to get to the trails around Lexington Reservoir. But fair warning, although 4.5 miles doesn't seem like a lot, there is almost no areas where you're not climbing up pretty steep fire road. Only the second half has a small number of very quick little downhills, which you'd best take advantage of if you want to make it up the hills directly after them... and there are not many. It is probably one of the hardest trails in the vicinity, and not what most people would consider "fun". Certainly a great ride...

I was looking up parks in the area and happend to scroll apon this little gem nestled in the middle of civilization but to see it with your own eyes you would never guess you were a stones throw from busy intersections and traffic. After a long drive i was in dire need of some leg stretching and i was relieved to have pulled off in Los Gatos in my search of an ideal rest area and after searching Google Maps i conluded this was my destination but to my dismay i found the daylight quickly fading. I pulled down a residential side street wondering where the directions were leading me but like a mirage Los Gatos Park emerged from the pathment and blacktop like a green emerald beconing me forth into its plush green natural bosom. I enterd through a narrow passage and into the parking area however my eyes were already straining to take in the welcoming sights of undisturbed natrual habitation with a beautiful park, accessible public restrooms, water fountains, it was a good experience that i recomend to any road weary traveler or in this case hikers, scenic buffs, parents, and all...