An excellent one-hour hike with fine views and great Spring wildflowers . After parking on the street, it is a short walk up to the true park entrance. This hike works well in either direction, but I will describe the counter-clockwise version. Head to the right, past the picnic table and port-a-potties. After about 0.2 miles, you will pass the historic settling towers of the Senador Mine, as the trail takes its first steep turn uphill. Another 0.6 miles of steady uphill brings you to your left turn, but head up the trail another 50 yards or so to the bench, to enjoy great views, both looking south to Mt. Umunhum and the Santa Cruz mountains, and north to views across San Jose to the Lick Observatory on the Mt. Hamilton Range.
Backtrack those 50 yards to the turn and shortly you will reach the high point of the hike. About half way along this 0.6 mile section there is a short path to a bench, with excellent views of San Jose. This section ends at yet another bench, which marks the final left turn. Head down the hill another 0.6 miles back to the start. This section can be quite slippery after heavy rains.
Wildflower tip: Great displays of Seep-Spring Monkeyflowers on the right side of the trail just up from the picnic table at the start. Arguably the best displays of California Poppies can be seen all along the rocky slopes, especially as the Senador Mine trail approaches the left turn onto the Guadalupe trail.