Great Walks: Putting Your Best Foot Forward
Sprig Lake Day Use area: wide even trails that wind up the east side of Mt Madonna. Moderate to challenging climbs, amazing views, ample shade along most of the paths. The Sprig trail is a steep and narrow climb. The Merry Go Round trail is wider and more moderate. Ridge Trail and Blackhawk trails all end up at Mount Madonna Park. A great place to spend the morning or early evening.
Other Gilroy neighborhoods:
• Central Gilroy is a great walk where you can take in great older homes, tree-lines streets, and very little traffic.
• Old Gilroy / Downtown has great older neighborhoods and a downtown area that is sometimes popping and sometimes sleeping. Lots of colorful blooming trees in the residential areas. The hanging planters in downtown teem with vibrant flowers thanks to Cheryl Hurlbut, who has been maintaining them out of pocket for years.
• Uptown / West Central area is busy on the main streets. This is where commerce happens with several coffee shops, a bagel shop, grocries, banks, and restaurants. There are lots of quiet neighborhoods adjacent to the business that are great to meander through. One thing all these places have in common: there ' s more to notice than most people realize.
Morgan Hill neighborhoods:
• Downtown / Third Street is the center of downtown. There is always something happening on Third Street or on Railroad. From street fairs to farmer ' s markets, open air dining to ice cream shops, and an amazing children’ s park. To the south is the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center, where something is always happening. Just to the north there are more shops in the Granary building, including coffee, restaurants, retail and more.
• The Civic Center / westside will take you through quiet neighborhoods with views of hills and rooftops at the base of El Toro.
• Jackson Oaks / Jackson Meadows on the east side has enough challenging hills to make your pet goat question his abilities. All areas are pleasant, walkable, and worth exploring.
A little further out, and worth every minute of the drive:
San Juan Bautista: A beautifully preserved historic town that practically begs to be walked. The mission, the old adobes, the quiet streets. Flat and lovely, with good food nearby when you ' re done. Read our story“ A Day in San Juan Bautista” for much more on this gem of a town.
Fremont Peak State Park: A short, steep climb followed by some moderate rock climbing to get to the top. The views that stretch from Hollister to Gilroy, to Capitola and Monterey Bay are worth the climb!
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16 SPRING 2026 Gilroy • Morgan Hill TODAY Magazine: Go. Make history... gmhtoday. com