The best MTB trails around Emerald Lake Hills

A nice pocket of multi-use, natural-surface trails. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on leash.

At the top of the John Brooks Trail, you're treated to peaceful views of the surrounding San Francisco Peninsula Watershed.

Borel Hill is my favorite place to watch spring flowers. The western slope near ancient oaks (5-10min west of Borel Hill) are covered with orange California Poppies and purple flowers starting in April. Borel Hill itself peaks around mid May and has a wide variety of flowers. The show lasts only a few weeks until end of May. The peak time and flower intensity varies from year to year, so come several times between April and May. There is small summit NW of Borel Hill and a narrow dirt trail leads you to a rock within 2 min. The rock is big enough for 2-3 to sit on. On a sunny day, the rock is nice warm even if the air is cold. Good views on the ocean and the Bay.

Here, the Steve's Creek Nature Trail and the Canyon Trail intersect. A lovely patch of grass surrounds the junction, making it an ideal spot for a break.

Woodside Store was built back in the 1850s by two pioneers who came to California for the gold rush. At the time it was the only stagecoach stop between San Francisco and Santa Clara, and it carried all the essential items that travelers riding between cities might need. The store has been restored, inside and out, to look exactly as it did centuries ago. You can call the museum ahead of your trip to book tours.

Water Dog Lake, also known as the John Brooks Memorial Open Space, is located in Belmont, California. The park features a network of trails open for hiking and mountain biking, but dogs must be kept on leash at all times.

This lake is actually an obstructed stream, once dammed up to provide water to nearby Belmont. Now it's a fantastic recreation site, with several loops of trails that are good for hiking, running and biking.

The Woodside Store, also known as Tripp Store, is located at 3300 Tripp Road at Kings Mountain Road in Woodside, San Mateo County, California. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985 and was designated a California Historical Landmark in 1949. The store's history dates back to October 1849 when Matthias Alfred Parkhurst purchased land in the area and began a shingle-making and lumber business with his partners, including Robert Orville Tripp. The store was established in 1853, originally serving the needs of lumbermen and settlers during the Gold Rush era. Dr. Tripp became the sole operator of the store after Parkhurst's death in 1863, running it until his own death in 1909. He was a well-known figure in Woodside, holding various public offices. The San Mateo County Historical Association acquired the store in the 1940s, and it was restored to its 1880s condition by 1994.