Glenwood Open Space Preserve — Attraction in Scotts Valley

I took my 6 month old puppy for her first hike. I read it was pretty quiet and it was pretty quiet. There is some up and down hill work on the blue loop. We stopped about midway on top of a hill in a clearing. I took off my backpack and gave my puppy some water out of her water dispenser. I had poo bags and a treat bag on the ground. A loose dog came running up to us with no owner in sight. I didn't feel like the dog was a threat but I was trying to gather everything together and the dog was all over us. I told the dog to go away while getting situated. It kept coming. Still no owner in sight. Then another larger dog came bounding up. I said go away. I don't know if these dogs have shots and vaccinations up to date or if they can be temperamental. My puppy is only 6 months old. Then finally an older man came into sight. I asked if those were his dogs and mentioned that they should be on a leash. He told me no they didn't. I told him it's a leashed area. He told me I was uptight. Meanwhile his dogs are still bothering my puppy. I shouldn't have to deal with that. He was an older man who felt entitled to do whatever he wanted to do with no regards to how his loose dogs impacted others. I was having a great walk before this happened. We continued on the trail and came across another dog who was on a leash. The owner told me to come ahead while he stood to the side. I mentioned the loose dogs and he said he told the older man the same thing of the dogs needing to be on a leash. The two dogs had upset his dog and he had trouble holding his dog and separating them. This was a nice trail but I will not be returning. I prefer areas where people abide by the leash law and don't feel like they are entitled. It makes encounters friendly and controlled. Nobody wants to be bombarded by a loose dog....

I had the chance to visit for the first time last week. Super easy, well-cut trails and beautiful lupines and poppies everywhere!

I found easy parking a little bit down the street, and then walked in. The entire space has a combination of open meadows and shaded forest areas. Lots of beautiful plants and fun critters to see if you’re taking it slow. There’s a fair amount of elevation, yet I saw some parents able to push strollers through the trails with kids or pets inside.

The path is super easy to walk on, and the park is dog-friendly and kid friendly (please clean up after your pets!).

There are maps at every fork in the road, so it’s easy to go around almost every loop for about a 4-mile walk, or lots of 0.5 mile walks. Some great views at the top!

There is tons of poison oak and blackberry immediately next to the path so keep an eye on little ones or pets.

I could not see any restrooms on the trail, but there is one porta potty in the parking lot with a pump sink (I don’t know if there’s...

Really beautiful and peaceful. It's sooooo quiet. And barely anyone there. Hard to find private, quiet places nowadays. Also gives freedom to walk wherever you want over the hills. It's a special place. Pond has turtles, fish,...