6.8 hr
Overview
Start from the parking lot in the main part of Joseph Grant park. You'll need to pay a parking fee at the entrance. If you don't want to pay the fee, you can try to find a parking spot nearby at Grant Lake, or even start at Twin Gates up the road (the highest point on this loop). <br><br>Start at Hotel Trail and turn left toward Grant Lake. When you get to Mt Hamilton Road, cross over onto Yerba Buena Trail, and start the first climb. Parts of Yerba Buena Trail are steep. If you like, you can take the road instead for a more gradual climb. When you get to Ca\u00f1ada de Pala Trail, turn right toward the Twin Gates. This section of the trail has great views over the valley.<br><br>When you get to the parking lot at Twin Gates, cross the road, through the gate, onto Bonhoff Trail. This has some steep parts too, especially just after the road, and some great downhill sections. If you look to the left, you can see Lick Observatory at the top of Mt Hamilton.<br><br>When you get to the crossroads, there will be a pond on the right. Turn right onto Foothill Trail, which heads down into the valley. After a mile or so, you'll get to Eagle Lake, which has many birds and cattails, very beautiful. You may see cows there too. Continue down onto Hotel Trail, which turns toward the parking lot.<br><br>If you like, you can take Hotel Trail all the way back to the parking lot, but if you want to continue, turn left at the crossroads, onto Ca\u00f1ada de Pala Trail. This will take you down to a wonderful river within the oak trees. In the summertime, the water is about a foot deep, and I just ride through.<br><br>Take the next left onto Dutch Flat Trail. This will be another extended climb, wonderfully beautiful within the oak trees, and it will take you all the way to the top of the ridge overlooking Silicon Valley. At this point, I'm walking through the steeper sections. <br><br>There is a scenic overlook about three miles on with a bench and a great view. Soon afterward, you start heading down back toward the parking lot.
Trail Stats
22.1 km
796 m
780 m
413 m
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Photos
A creek flows in the wooded valley below Canada de Pala Trail.
A creek flows in the wooded valley below Canada de Pala Trail.
Just a pretty place of spring green grass and wooded hills, and wildflowers - purple smooth vetch, along Hotel Trail.
Just a pretty place of spring green grass and wooded hills, and wildflowers - purple smooth vetch, along Hotel Trail.
Oak tree looking south
Oak tree looking south
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Gorgeous oak tree
Gorgeous oak tree
Electric lines
Electric lines
Cow fence
Cow fence
Reservoir
Reservoir
Winter landscape
Winter landscape
Cows grazing along the trail
Cows grazing along the trail
Spreading oak
Spreading oak
Sharing the trail with cows while winding through the Diablo Range hills on Yerba Buena Trail.
Sharing the trail with cows while winding through the Diablo Range hills on Yerba Buena Trail.
The San Francisco Bay is seen to the northwest in the far distance (center right) from high on Yerba Buena Trail as it travels through the spring green hills of Joseph D. Grant County Park. Grant Lake is straight ahead below the trail.
The San Francisco Bay is seen to the northwest in the far distance (center right) from high on Yerba Buena Trail as it travels through the spring green hills of Joseph D. Grant County Park. Grant Lake is straight ahead below the trail.
View of Lick Observatory
View of Lick Observatory
Winter trail
Winter trail
Looking down toward the valley
Looking down toward the valley
Bluebird
Bluebird
Looking back toward San Jose
Looking back toward San Jose