On this page
Driving north on Interstate 680 through Milpitas, look east and you will often see bright wings floating above the grassy hills. They belong to hang gliders and paragliders launching at Ed R. Levin County Park, the biggest park in Milpitas. Santa Clara County Parks manages 1,558 acres here, rising from two small lakes on the valley edge to the ridge below Monument Peak.
The park suits several kinds of visitors. Dog owners come for the large off-leash dog park. Hikers climb toward Monument Peak and the ridge trails that continue north to Mission Peak. Families picnic and fish at Sandy Wool Lake. Golfers head to the course across the road. This guide covers the layout, fees, trails, rules and safety.
Getting there and layout
From Palo Alto, take Highway 101 south to Highway 237 east, then Interstate 880 or 680 north to the Calaveras Road exit in Milpitas. Head east on Calaveras Road into the hills. Allow about 30 minutes in light traffic. Our Milpitas guide covers food stops on the way.
Calaveras Road splits the park in two. The county's directions follow that split:
- Sandy Wool Lake area (north of Calaveras Road): turn left on Downing Road. This side has the hang gliding launches, the lake, the dog park and the main trailheads.
- Spring Valley area (south of Calaveras Road): continue past Downing Road and turn right. This side has the ranger station, the visitor center, Spring Valley Pond and the golf course.
Hours and fees
The county says the park is open year-round from 8 a.m. until sunset. It collects vehicle entry fees all year and posts the amount at the kiosk. The park page does not list the figure. The county's fee schedule lists $6 for day-use vehicle entry in most parks and a $95 annual vehicle pass ($48 for seniors 60 and older). Vehicles with a permanent disabled placard or disabled person plates are exempt from the daily entry fee.
Check the county's park page before you go; the county site refuses automated checks, so read it in a browser. The park office is (408) 262-6980.
Trails and Monument Peak
The county counts a 20.6-mile trail system for hikers, horseback riders and cyclists. It does not publish distances for individual trails on its park page. Sections of the Agua Caliente Trail and the Calera Creek Trail are open to bikes. Both are part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Some East Bay Regional Park District trails connect to the park from the north.
The big goal is Monument Peak, which the county says offers views over the valley floor and San Francisco Bay. Monument Peak Road is closed to vehicles. The county asks other users to take care on the road and plan alternate trail routes. Expect steady climbing on open grassland with very little shade. From the ridge, Wikipedia notes, trails reach Mission Peak, the northern summit on the same ridge, with Mount Allison between them.
For a gentle walk, circle Sandy Wool Lake or wander the lawns near Spring Valley Pond. Wikipedia also mentions a stretch of the mysterious East Bay Walls, low stone walls of unknown origin, inside the park.
The park is a good spring wildflower hike when the grass is green; our wildflowers guide has bloom timing elsewhere.
Hang gliding and paragliding
Ed Levin is home to the Wings of Rogallo hang gliding club. The county lists three launch points named for their elevation. On November 1, 2026 its page said the 1,750-foot and 600-foot launch points were closed to vehicle traffic and the 300-foot launch point was open. Spectators can watch from the trails. Stay clear of launch and landing zones.
Sandy Wool Lake and Spring Valley Pond
Both lakes are small reservoirs that collect runoff from the hills, Wikipedia says.
- Sandy Wool Lake: the county stocks it with fish from November through May. Swimming is prohibited. A county notice on invasive quagga and zebra mussels describes boat inspection procedures; call the county's reservation line at 408-355-2201 before bringing any craft.
- Spring Valley Pond: named for the area's many springs, it is a kids-only fishing pond for ages 5 through 12.
Anglers 16 and older need a California fishing license. Our fishing guide has license prices and other spots.
The dog park and dog rules
The park has a large off-leash dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs, operated by the City of Milpitas. The county calls it expansive. It is a good place to let a dog run before or after a leashed hike.
Outside the dog park, the county requires dogs to be leashed in parking lots, picnic areas and on all trails north of Calaveras Road. Its general rules set a 6-foot maximum leash and require owners to pick up after their dogs. Carry water for your dog; the trails are hot and exposed in summer. Our dog-friendly hikes guide lists more trails.
Golf, picnics and history
- Spring Valley Golf Course: an 18-hole course south of Calaveras Road, across from the visitor center, with its own parking and clubhouse.
- Picnics and play: the park has picnic areas, a playground and three lawns for kite flying and frisbee.
- Youth campground: the county lists it as open.
- Laguna Cemetery: a pioneer cemetery in the Spring Valley area, used from 1863 to 1912. The county says it was vandalized and neglected for years and has been renovated.
The park is named for Edgar R. Levin (1908 to 1965), an open space advocate and Santa Clara County supervisor for the Third District, according to Wikipedia.
When to go
Winter and spring are the best seasons. After the first rains the hills turn green, Sandy Wool Lake is stocked from November and the air is often clear enough to see across the bay to the Peninsula. Summer brings dry gold grass and heat; come early in the morning or in the last hours before sunset. Remember that the park closes at sunset. In fall, Red Flag warnings can bring fire restrictions to Santa Clara County parks, including bans on wood and charcoal fires. Our heat waves guide lists the warning signs of heat illness.
Bikes, horses and safety
- Bikes: only on trails open to bikes, including sections of the Agua Caliente and Calera Creek trails. County rules require helmets on unpaved trails for riders of every age and ban fully electric bicycles in county parks. See our mountain biking guide.
- Horses: the county calls horseback riding a popular activity here. Riders may use the trail system.
Good to know
- Heat: the hills have little shade. In summer, hike early and carry plenty of water.
- Rattlesnakes are present; Wikipedia's photo gallery for the park includes one. Watch the trail edges on warm days.
- Ticks wait in tall grass from fall through spring. Check yourself and your dog.
- Poison oak grows in the creek canyons. Learn to recognize it.
- Mountain lions live in the Diablo Range. Keep children close; if you meet a lion, stand tall and back away.
- Cell coverage can drop in the canyons. Call 911 in an emergency.
What pairs nearby
- Milpitas: Asian food and the Great Mall a few minutes away.
- Mission Peak: the steep summit hike a short drive north in Fremont.
- Alum Rock Park: creekside trails and old spring grottos 20 minutes south in San Jose.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a dog park at Ed R. Levin County Park?
Yes. The park has a large off-leash dog park with areas for large and small dogs, operated by the City of Milpitas. Elsewhere, Santa Clara County requires dogs to be leashed in parking lots and picnic areas and on all trails north of Calaveras Road.
How do you hike to Monument Peak?
Trails climb from the Sandy Wool Lake area, north of Calaveras Road off Downing Road, toward Monument Peak, which the county says offers views of the valley floor and San Francisco Bay. Monument Peak Road is closed to vehicles. The county does not publish a distance on its park page, so carry the trail map.
How much does Ed R. Levin County Park cost?
Santa Clara County collects a vehicle entry fee year-round and posts the amount at the kiosk. Its fee schedule lists $6 for day use in most parks and a $95 annual vehicle pass. The off-leash dog park and the golf course are inside the park.
Can you fish at Sandy Wool Lake?
Yes. The county says Sandy Wool Lake is stocked with fish from November through May. Anglers 16 and older need a California fishing license. Spring Valley Pond, south of Calaveras Road, is a kids-only fishing pond for ages 5 through 12. Swimming is not allowed.
Where do the hang gliders launch at Ed Levin?
The park is home to the Wings of Rogallo hang gliding club. The county says the 1,750-foot and 600-foot launch points are closed to vehicle traffic and the 300-foot launch point is open. The club sets its own flying rules for pilots.