Best Fishing Camp San Jose Near Me

4worldlovers:
Welcome to Joseph D. Grant County Park, the largest of Santa Clara County's regional park and recreation areas. This 10,882 acre park includes some of the County's finest open space resources, as well as rich environmental, cultural and recreational assets. The landscape is characteristic of the east foothills of the Santa Clara Valley with grasslands and majestic oak trees. As part of the park's tradition and history, cattle grazing currently takes place in some areas, and is monitored under a resource management plan. Enjoy your visit today, and return often to experience the many features of Joseph D. Grant County Park.


Joseph D. Grant County Park is located in the east of Santa Clara Valley.

Please take note that Quimby Road is very narrow and is not suitable for RV's and large trailers. When all roads are open travel to the park by taking Highway 101 or Highway 680 to Alum Rock Avenue eastbound in San Jose. Turn right onto Mt. Hamilton Road and travel 8 miles to reach the park entrance.

Hikers and equestrians have access to an extensive 51 mile trail system. Mountain bikes are permitted on over 75% of the park's trails as designated. The diverse trail system at the park makes this a popular place to stage large-scale organized trail events such as equestrian endurance rides, mountain bike events and foot races. Dogs are also allowed on the trails, picnic areas, and campgrounds as long as they are on a 6 ft. leash.

Shaded picnic areas are available on a first-come first-served basis. Campers can choose from almost forty (40) reservable family campsites. Hot showers are available with paid campsite use. Group picnic and youth camping areas are available by reservation. One large lake and several smaller ponds are accessible for warm water fishing. Fires are permitted in designated fire rings only. Do not gather wood. Extinguish fires when unattended. When posted "NO FIRES", only camp stoves or gas grills are permitted. For further questions please call the park office: (408) 274-6121.

Get more information about summer astronomy programs, or to see images of Grant's wildflowers.

Be sure to check our online historical collections to see photos, documents, and artifacts related to Joseph D. Grant County Park. You can also view artifacts from Martial Cottle County Park or Almaden Quicksilver County Park and can request images from us.

The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. until sunset. Vehicle entry fees are collected year-round. Fees are required for camping, and for use of group picnic areas. Fees are posted at the entrance kiosk.

In compliance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ('ADA'),the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its programs, services, or activities. The Department will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disability have an equal opportunity to enjoy our programs, services, facilities, and activities. If you need assistance with an ADA request, please contact our ADA Coordinator.​​​​

4worldlovers: Naturalist staff at the Sunol Visitor Center welcome you to the park. Ask for trail suggestions, learn about recent animal sightings, purchase an Ohlone Wilderness Trail permit, and meet our animal ambassadors – a gopher snake, rattle snake, western toad, western pond turtle, and a tarantula. You can also take a peek at the Sunol Herbarium, samples of over 600 plant specimens found in the park!

Exploration will reveal sandstone outcrops with fossils deposited in what was once ancient seabed. Great boulders of greenstone, schist and metachert indicate a turbulent past. The massive basalt outcrop at Indian Joe Cave Rocks provides sport and challenge to rock climbers.

Alameda Creek, Alameda County's largest stream, harbors an inviting creekside community of alder, willow and sycamore. Coast live oaks abound along with valley and blue oak, elderberry, madrone and gray pine. Spring brings wildflowers, including California poppies, mustard, goldfields and lupines, which carpet vast areas in yellow, orange and blue. A wildflower identification kit may be checked out at the Visitor Center.

Ground squirrels, yellow-billed magpies and red-tailed hawks share this wilderness with raccoons, skunks and black-tailed deer. Mountain lions are uncommon, but are occasionally sighted. Birding is superb along Alameda Creek with acorn woodpecker, black phoebe, titmouse, turkey vulture, and golden eagle commonly sighted. As many as 20 to 40 bird species are often seen in a single morning.

Camping is by advance reservation only (5 business days); phone 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757 press option 2, or visit the Camping page for details. The backpack area is open year round. An Ohlone Wilderness Permit is required for each person age 12 years or older.

Hikers who cross into the San Francisco Water Department lands that connect Mission Peak Regional Preserve, Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness and Del Valle Regional Park, must carry the Ohlone Wilderness Trail map/permit. Each person age 12 years or older is required to have their own permit. Hikers must sign in at trailheads as they enter these lands.

You may purchase your permit in one of the following ways:

In–person Locations: Sunol (Saturdays, Sundays and major Holidays at Kiosk) and Del Valle Park entrance kiosks.

By Phone: call the Reservations Department at 1-888-327-2757, option 2. (Monday-Friday 10am-3pm)

By Mail: Send your name, address, phone number and check payable to EBRPD to The Reservations Department, EBRPD, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, P.O. Box 5381, Oakland, CA 94605-0381. (Permit(s) will be mailed within 3-5 business days).

Fee for in-person purchase is $2/person/year; by mail/phone/online $4/person/year for first five permits and $3/person/year for each additional permit after five.

The permit covers foot and equestrian use of the trail only. Camping at designated campsites along the Ohlone Wilderness Trail is allowed by advance reservation only (5 business days), and separate arrangements should be made by phoning 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2. For general information about the Ohlone Wilderness, phone 1-888-EBPARKS option 3 x4559. Separate arrangements may be made for overnight camping at Del Valle Regional Park (outside the Ohlone Wilderness and at the north end of the Ohlone Trail) by calling 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2.

The Alameda Creek Overlook is a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek about two miles upstream from the Visitor Center. It is open to the public through a lease agreement with the San Francisco Water Department, which owns the property. Please abide by the boundary signs and do not trespass onto Water Department lands that are not part of the lease arrangement.

Notice: Swimming or wading is NOT allowed in Alameda Creek or any other area in Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve due to the endangered species that call these waters home.

Naturalist-led activities include walks, hikes, birding outings, family activities, nature arts and crafts, virtual programs and various other adventures. Visit the Sunol Visitor Center for information about these programs. View all naturalist-led programs.

Please do not short cut trails in steep areas or slide in the grass on hillsides or banks. Erosion is ugly and expensive to control. See Trail Mileage for a description of selected hikes.

There are picnic sites available on a first come, first served basis. Alameda Grove picnic area is available for reservation. To make group picnic reservations, call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2.

4worldlovers:
This location both reservable and non-reservable picnic areas. Non-reservable picnic areas are occupied at a first-come, first-serve basis.

Reservation permit holders must arrive at the reservation site on the date reserved prior to 10:00 a.m. and remain at the site with a copy of the approved picnic application. The site will be opened to the public for general use at 10:00 a.m. if the reservation holder is not present. An adult representative from the group must be present at all times.

Visit the picnic areas' individual pages to view its amenities and fees:

Effective April 1, 2021, City of San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) will resume paid parking at regional parks and destinations.

All city payment machines will display multilingual signage reminding customers to wear a mask and maintain a safe distance from others while paying. Employees will follow safe cash handling procedures as well as routine machine cleaning.

Parking fees are $6 per day, and subject to change as normal operations resume. Discount cards and hangtags issued from April 2019 through March 2020 will be honored to receive a full year of value.

Parking fees are collected daily. Each automated machine accepts exact cash (change is not dispensed) and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and Discover Card). Parking space is not guaranteed and re-entry may not be allowed when space is unavailable. Annual passes honored at Alum Rock Park, Lake Cunningham, Almaden Lake, Kelley Park and Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.

The park has two parking lots. The east side parking lot is located off Winfield Boulevard, just south of Coleman Road. The east lot allows access to Quicksilver, Southpoint and Arroyo picnic areas and the Los Alamitos Creek Trail. The west side parking lot located off Almaden Expressway.

Open on a seasonal basis and offers beverages, light foods and refreshments.

This ideal wedding location provides comfortable grass and cement seating for guests and is handicapped accessible. For more wedding information, visit our PRNS Wedding Webpage.

A public telephone is located on each side of the park; at the snack bar building on the west and at the east restroom. There is a trail call box to allow access to emergency services located by the bocce ball courts along the parking lot on the east side.

Fishing conditions vary from week to week. Contact the park off at 408-277-5130 for latest information.

Due to risk of invasive mussel infestation, personal boating and other watercrafts are not allowed at Almaden Lake Park.

The water feature is currently turned off due to the drought until further notice.

Photo permits are required for all commercial photo shoots. This includes professional wedding photographers.

Vehicle Access: Vehicles ARE NOT permitted on service roads or paths. All picnic areas are within a short walking distance from the parking lots. Illegally parked vehicles or vehicles operated on paths and service roads are subject to citation.

Beer and wine are allowed in the designated picnic areas only.

Fish may be caught and released, but should not be eaten. This lake contains fish and sediment that may be contaminated with mercury, which may be harmful if ingested by humans. Fishing licenses must be displayed at all times.

Weapons, guns, including air guns, paintball guns, or any dangerous instruments are not allowed in this park.

Skating is allowed only on paved sidewalks and pathways. Skateboarding, roller skating, or inline skating on park structures, furniture or hard courts is prohibited.

Littering/unauthorized dumping or dumping of residential garbage is not allowed.

It is unlawful to damage, deface, vandalize or otherwise alter City park property.

Air jumper with City-approved vendor is permitted only at Quicksilver and Arroyo picnic areas upon approval by Parks Division office.

Party/Costume characters are not allowed to collect money on City property.