Alum Rock Park - Trail, San Jose, California
Alum Rock Park - Trail, San Jose, California
Latitude | 37.39845994620459 |
Longitude | -121.805419921875 |
City | San Jose |
State | California |
Zip/Postal Code | |
Country | United States |
Phone | |
Trail Length | approximately 4 miles |
Trail Level | Beginner |
Trail Type | Paved Path |
USER REVIEWS
[Feb 05, 2015]
garne2t
Weekend Warrior
There are additional trails beyond what the previous reviews wrote about.
Customer Service Start at Penitencia Creek Rd. just outside park. First trail to the right by the bathrooms at the park entrance is the Penitencia Creek trail and runs along the creek with a very slight uphill grade. When you hit the road, cross the road and head up the North Rim trail. The optional Eagle Rock trail is an out and back that branches off to the left and takes you to a nice look out point.
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[Jul 05, 2011]
Tjay
Cross Country Rider
All the trail below Eagle Rock are perfect trails for newer riders. Then when they feel ready to move up a level, hit up Todd Quick. It's a little steeper that requires a bit of technical skills and descending on this trail is super fun! It has a lot of flowy and tight switchbacks. If you want to up your level, go hit up Boccardo Loop (it's on top of Todd Quick) to the right and try to make it up there with out stopiing. It's about 1.8 miles of steep climb. Then descend the same way. You may also want to climb up Boccardo to the left. It's 1.6 mile but it's steeper. Descender here is fast so watch your speed and for the other hikers/bikers. Also, keep an eye out for rattle snakes, taratula and cows. They're everywhere in spring and summer season.
Similar Products Used: Grant Ranch up on Mt Hamilton |
[Jul 28, 2010]
Lost Biker
Weekend Warrior
Great trail for beginners. Close to my house so I am here twice a week for an after work ride. Small section of single track on Todd Quick trail that is fun. Large climb up Boccardo trail. First 1/8 mile is steep (20-30% grade) but levels off to about 8% most of the way up. Great view from the the top.
Customer Service All routes are good. Similar Products Used: Fremont Older in Saratoga |
[Mar 02, 2009]
AnewMadrid
Cross Country Rider
For the Beginner to the Advanced rider. You have nice steady climbing on pavement or can stay on the mountain and never touch the street.
Customer Service North Rim Trail to Todd Quick trail then up to the Boccardo Trail..it's a nice ride for sure and if you hitting some good jumps on the way back down..you will dig it.
Similar Products Used: Grant Ranch |
[May 29, 2007]
hkingkong
Weekend Warrior
Went there around 5pm on memorial day. I parked the car at the Berryessa community center and started my ride from there. The problem was the penetencia creek trail was CLOSED! So i just took the road until I reach the alum rock park entrance. As soon as you se the parking lot you keep right and enter the dirt trail. Very very easy trail I would bring my gf there next time. Problem is lots of hikers with kids so I rode slowly. After the bbq area you cross the main road again, and go up the Boccardo Trail fireroad all the way to the top where there is a radio tower of some kind. Very nice view, took a photo at the top. When I was coming down I took a right turn somewhere and damm it was impossible to ride. Part of that single trail was so narrow because of erosion(one side is cliff, you have 3/4 of a foot wide trail). Then the downhill with very tight hairpins was impossible to navigate(even had trouble walking through some of it with the bike) I had to carry the bike down. I feel that portion may be more suitable for uphill ride or a BMX...
Customer Service After you reach the bbq area, stay on the main Boccardo fireroad to reach the radio tower. Watch out for hikers. |
[Feb 16, 2007]
michael (Down Hill-o)
Weekend Warrior
the trail was long, but that was the first actual trail i even ridden Customer Service wet river pass Similar Products Used: the one with the wet river pass |
[Jan 30, 2007]
switchbaxr
Downhiller
When I used to live a mile and a half from the trailhead, I rode this trail network quite frequently and found this park to be a great weekday afternoon ride during the long days of summer and a nice early weekend ride with just enough of a fix to keep me a happy dad. You have to mix this type of ride in because you can't be gone the whole day riding every singele weekend or it can put a strain on the family. It's definitely no Soquel Demonstration Forest - Braille Trail ride, but if you live in East San Jose it's not a 45 minute drive to the trailhead either and when the demands of a young family require you to be home before 10AM, then this ride can be just the ticket. It can be moderately technical in some sections and very easy on others. There is a singletrack section off to the left of the paved road just past the parking lot entrance where there is a quick drop with a jutting rock right in the middle of the trail and a very steep and loose ascent that puts you about 80 feet above the paved road with a sheer cliff to the right. I clear this section most days, but during the summer when the trail can get very loose and powdery, it's very tough to climb without a dab. The Boccardo trail that is located at the top of the Todd Quick trail is a challenge for even the most fit riders...12-15% grade in some sections...definitely on an ass on the tip of the saddle with your chin low to the stem to maintain your cadence kind of climb in some sections of this climb.
Customer Service Take a look at a park map and ride every trail in the park, you can easily hit every trail in under 2 hours, even if you do the Boccardo climb. Similar Products Used: Grant Ranch, but it's another 6 miles up Mt. Hamilton road to get there and well worth it if you like to climb and downhill on fast wide open fireroads with sweeping hillside views.
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[Nov 20, 2006]
Gina
Cross Country Rider
Folks - the comments about 'thugs' on the trails? Those riders must live and work in Palo Alto...guess what? You are on the EAST Side folks! People here aren't wearing Tommy Hilfiger and driving beemers. Just because they dress or look a certain way doesn't mean they are thugs. I live right outside the park and ride there several times a week and never have had a problem.
Customer Service Park outside the park entrance in the lot at the end of Penitentia Creek. Ride the road, past the kiosk, wind along until you see a single track trail marker off to the left - take this. It runs straight, then dips, then climbs a short technical climb. Afer it flattens out, you come to a juncture veer left up the hill for a short gut-buster. At the top, turn right and continue on to the juncture with the main fire road - the North rim trail. Head up, take the lower trail at the next juncture, down a little drop, until you get to the Todd Quick Single track trail on your left. Go up. At the top, you can continue on Todd Quick which loops back down to the North Rim trail, or you can venture up the Boccardo trail...which is a great 1.5 mile climb where you come face to face with beautiful cows with huge horns. The view at the top is fantastic, and the descent is fast and fun, particularly when you are doing slalom around the cow pies.
Similar Products Used: Alum Rock is the only game in town in the north east area...it's eighter north to Misison Peak or South to Grant Ranch or Santa Teresa. |
[Mar 06, 2006]
Rex_Skidmore
Cross Country Rider
On a very rainy day, I wanted to test out my new Marmot PreCip Plus rainwear for waterproof and breathability performance. On the way in, a jogger commented that we wouldn't have to deal with crowds. He was right. Many people eating their lunches in their cars. Or wanting to hike, but waiting for the rain to stop? There are two entrances, but take only Penitencia Road to enter. The other on Alum Rock is frequently closed. From the Creek Trail, I crossed over (North or East) and then took the Todd Quick Memorial Trail to the Boccardo Trail. Mr. Boccardo set aside some land, and there's a two-way gate at the trailhead --- which is located almost at the top of the hill of the Todd Quick Memorial Trail. There were several bulls with horns checking me out. I was checking them out, too, looking for the Alpha male. We all got along OK. The clay/mud on the shared singletrack and fireroad trail (equines/peds/cyclists) was intense and I recommend a less wet day OR a 1.9" rear tire for your ride. I read the other review about the shady characters in the park. They're just getting high or whatever. I could outrun any of them I saw. It's not a technical ride, but if you're in the area for no other great reason, then I would check it once. Stunning views of Silicon Valley and the bottom of the SF Bay. |
[Feb 24, 2006]
Ty.S
Weekend Warrior
Not a bad climb up to eagle rock, but be selective in the times that you go. The trails up can get a little congested with hikers, and some... should I say, questionable looking people. My last trip there, I came across a couple of "thuggish" lookin fellas who were standing on the trail tossing rocks off the edge trying to hit some other thuggish lookin fellas in the picnic area. Riding can be dangerous enough without ending up in crossfire. This was a 3-4pm weekday ride, I haven't tried it on a weekend yet, but I'm hoping that it will be a little less tense. When you're on the fireroad at the bottom of the hill.. watch your speed there are several blind corners and lots of kids with parents. |
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