What we’re about
We organize 3 to 5-day long weekend trips to National Parks in the US, in a comfortable mode with economy hotels' accommodations and getting around in a locally rented van with no more than 6 people in a group.
We also organize weekly local hikes such as an easy hike/walk at Alviso Marina county park, Baylands Nature Preserve, Rancho San Antonio C.P., etc.
Our events are usually cross-posted with tech pros' Meetup groups: Silicon Valley Indian Professionals Association (SIPA), California Software Professional Association (CSPA), Global Online Tech & Startup Networking & Training Meetup and others. We want to network and build a community of good people!
As such , our local events will be complemented by after-hike networking time at the picnic tables or group gathering areas. Participants are asked to voluntary chip in for beverages /snacks.
Other NPQ's California favorites are: Almaden Quicksilver County Park, Alum Rock Park, Santa Teresa County Park, Joseph Grant County Park, Hellyer County Park. We will organize moderate-level hikes in these parks on some Sundays.
NPQ also organizes:
- Backpacking trips to beautiful locations in California. Our picks are Desolation Wilderness, and Emigrant Wilderness.
- Tent-camping plus hiking events in California's state parks, county parks and beaches.
- Yosemite National Park four-seasons tent-camping and hiking events: April – for water galore, November – for fall foliage, December – for solitary, February – for The Firefall. Our awesome leader for all Yosemite events, Skip, is a true appreciator of the park and its life-long supporter through Yosemite Conservancy, the park's philanthropic partner.
- Starting from 2023 we will also organize sightseeing trips, cultural and social events like visiting museums, concerts, performances, dining, movie discussions and so on.
Here are National Parks that we visited in the past (ATTN: missing photo albums will be RESTORED during Aug 2023):
- Death Valley, Yosemite, Redwood, Lassen Volcanic and Pinnacles in California,
- Saguaro and Petrified Forest, and Grand Canyon in Arizona,
- White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and Guadalupe Mountain in Texas,
- Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and Mammoth Cave in Kentucky,
- Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde in Colorado,
- Wind Cave, Badlands, and Mountain Rushmore Monument in South Dakota,
- Yellowstone and Grand Teton in Wyoming,
- Indiana Dunes in Indiana and Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio, Niagara Falls in New York,
- Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef in Utah,
- Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades in Washington,
- Denali and Kenai Fjords in Alaska,
- Crater Lake in Oregon,
- Glacier in Montana,
- Acadia in Maine,
- Shenandoah in Virginia,
- Congaree in South Carolina,
- Big Bend in Texas,
- Everglades, Biscayne NPs and Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida.
And we plan to add to the list: Hawaii Volcanoes, Haleakalā in Hawaii with, possibly, the National Park of American Samoa, and Voyageurs and Isle Royale National Parks in Minnesota.
in 2023 and 2024 we want to go and explore again in depth the amazing parks of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California, Alaska, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Texas and Mid-Atlantic.
In space-limited events (like small group multi-day trips) the preference is given to members who previously attended other NPQ's events and met their fellow group members in-person.
Please sign up to WAIT-LIST when the event if full - chances are you eventually get to the main list: some people in the main list happen to change their mind as the dates coming up. Or they do not respond the organizers' messages about the event. In this case they got moved out and people from the wait list go to the main list.
By accepting membership in this group you acknowledge you have fully read, understand, and agree to the Disclaimer located by the following link.
Disclaimer: https://4142298.xyz/u-s-national-parks-quest-group/messages/boards/thread/53973560#133769659
Happy trails! 🏔 🚶♀️🚶♂️
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Hike at Alviso Marina County Park, ~4.5mi, 1.5-hour, easy hikeAlviso Marina County Park, Alviso, CA
This hike at the serene and colorful area of Alviso Marina will repeat two Saturday mornings per month. We will hike along salt ponds, channel of the Guadalupe river and a network of levees. These easy hikes can be a way to train ourselves for longer hiking trips, and to meet your group members in person.
We will take Alviso Slough Trail. This is a flat, fast-paced hike and it can serve as a warm-up for your other activities later on this day. But if everybody in the group wants to do a longer hike, there are choices of trails at Alviso to extend our activities ))
The construction of that part of Alviso Slough Trail is scheduled to be finished by summer 2025. Until then we will hike the trail out and back, up to the old pump station. After construction is finally over we will be hiking the loop.
Please, bring:
* layered cloths/windbreaker,
* shoes appropriate for a rough trail,
* water,
* hat,
* sunglasses
* sunscreen.The weather forecast in the area: http://bit.ly/3qhmXih
Please be aware that in the case of precipitation in the area the day before the hike - the trail can get muddy here and there. So, put on appropriate shoes, do not wear nice textile shoes..
No parking fee is charged currently at Alviso.
The Park is 100% open space and a good setting for cognitive respite by relaxing and restoring the mind ))
We plan to complement these hikes with networking time AFTER a hike, 9:30am-10:30am so that group members could connect more directly.
This can be happening either at the picnic tables in the park, or at a eating place nearby. Here are some options:
El Taco de Oro , opens 9am
Vahl's Restaurant , opens 11am
Rosita's De Basilio Deli & Market , opens 11am.We found out that El Taco de Oro is a suitable place for after hike networking 👍 ($3.25/taco, friendly staff and plenty of space.) Her is the full menu: https://4142298.xyz/superfab/photos/33232901/510500797/
Depending on the group's mood, we can go on networking or not (it's up to everyone to decide to go on or not, no obligations/expectations.)This event is cross-posted with tech pro's Meetup groups: Silicon Valley Indian Professionals Association (SIPA), Global Online Tech & Startup Networking & Training Meetup and others.
Let's see each other at Alviso!
- Hike at Joseph Grant County Park 5.7mi/2.75h 754ft moderate, near Mount HamiltonJoseph D. Grant County Park, Mt Hamilton, CA
Let's hike a loop trail that gives a nice overview of Joseph D. Grant County Park (often called "Grant Ranch" because the land was once owned by prominent ranchers of the same name) and is vast swaths of open, wild terrain in the hills east of San Jose.
Trail's summary:
- Length: 5.7 mi
- Elevation gain: 754 ft.
- Just a few shaded parts, mostly open space.
Please, bring:
- layered cloths,
- shoes appropriate for a longer hike,
- hat,
- water,
- sunglasses.
- Dogs are allowed on leash.
Parking fee at the Park's parking lot is $6.
Park's brochure:
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Documents/Joseph%20D%20Grant%20Guide%20Map.pdfAnd here the Park's map with the place to meep marked with a RED arrow:
https://4142298.xyz/superfab/photos/33232850/510500539/
See comments to the photo for orientation. We will hike Dutch Flat and Dairy Trails loop.Be careful when driving to/from the Park, some part of the shortest road that leads to the Park (Quimby) is a bit narrow with a cliff at one side. (But this road opens great views over the valley!) Or instead, take Route 130 though it is quite longer (and needs to be checked on closures as well, before taking it.)
Let's meet and hike with views of Mount Hamilton!
- Hike at Alviso Marina County Park, ~4.5mi, 1.5-hour, easy hikeAlviso Marina County Park, Alviso, CA
This hike at the serene and colorful area of Alviso Marina will repeat two Saturday mornings per month. We will hike along salt ponds, channel of the Guadalupe river and a network of levees. These easy hikes can be a way to train ourselves for longer hiking trips, and to meet your group members in person.
We will take Alviso Slough Trail and make sure we are done by 9:30-9:45 am as the latest. This is a flat, fast-paced hike and it can serve as a warm-up for your other activities later on this day. But if everybody in the group wants to do a longer hike, there are choices of trails at Alviso to extend our activities ))
The construction of that part of Alviso Slough Trail is scheduled to be finished by February 2024. Until then we will hike the trail out and back, up to the old pump station. After construction is finally over we will be hiking the loop.
Please, bring:
* layered cloths/windbreaker,
* shoes appropriate for a rough trail,
* water,
* hat,
* sunglasses
* sunscreen.The weather forecast in the area: http://bit.ly/3qhmXih
Please be aware that in the case of precipitation in the area the day before the hike - the trail can get muddy here and there. So, put on appropriate shoes, do not wear nice textile shoes..
No parking fee is charged currently at Alviso.
The Park is 100% open space and a good setting for cognitive respite by relaxing and restoring the mind ))
We plan to complement these hikes with networking time AFTER a hike, 9:30am-10:30am so that group members could connect more directly.
This can be happening either at the picnic tables in the park, or at a eating place nearby. Here are some options:
El Taco de Oro , opens 9am
Vahl's Restaurant , opens 11am
Rosita's De Basilio Deli & Market , opens 11am.We found out that El Taco de Oro is a suitable place for after hike networking 👍 ($3.25/taco, friendly staff and plenty of space.) Her is the full menu: https://4142298.xyz/superfab/photos/33232901/510500797/
Depending on the group's mood, we can go on networking or not (it's up to everyone to decide to go on or not, no obligations/expectations.)This event is cross-posted with tech pro's Meetup groups: Silicon Valley Indian Professionals Association (SIPA), Global Online Tech & Startup Networking & Training Meetup and others.
Let's see each other at Alviso!
- Hike at Almaden Quicksilver County Park, 5.4mi/2.5hours 833 ft Moderate Hike7098 Webb Canyon Dr, San Jose, CA
Let's hike a moderate on elevation loop trail that has a nice views of the Guadalupe Reservoir, the South of San Jose and gorgeous rolling hills.
Trail's summary:
- Length: 5.4 mi, moderate loop,
- Elevation gain: 833 ft.
- Not much shade,
- Dogs are allowed on leash.
ATTN: This trail is a combination of four trails, with many intersections, so if you think you may want to separate from the group/slow down at some point, make sure you get the parks's map and get known (from the leader) on how to proceed on your own, otherwise a wrong turn can lead to a different part of this large park.
Please, bring:
- layered cloths,
- shoes appropriate for a unpaved trail,
- hat,
- water,
- sunglasses.
- sunscreen.
Where we meet:
7098-7072 Webb Canyon Dr, San Jose, CA 95120
We street-park there and proceed to Webb Canyon Trail. Here is the meeting place marked with a blue arrow on the map:
https://4142298.xyz/superfab/photos/33232850/513281651/The Park's brochure: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Documents/Almaden%20Quicksilver%20Guide%20Map.pdf
Let's meet each other and hike at Almaden Quicksilver!
