Santa Teresa County Park - Full Tour

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Some great riding in the South Bay. Almost equal parts fire road and singletrack with some nice technical sections and lots of climbing/descending. There are amazing views from a bunch of different points along the route so have a camera handy.

Start at Bernal Gulnac-Joice Ranch and head up Joice Trail for a tenth of a mile until you come to Norred Trail. Follow Norred trail which covers the park from the west to the east riding above the houses below. At the end of Norred you'll head down past the stables and end at Mine trail, which is a steep paved uphill section. At the first intersection stay right and continue up Mine Trail. This part of Mine trail has 5 steep hills to climb before you reach the bluffs overlooking the day use area. Head across the bluffs and across Bernal Rd. then turn right and past the upper parking lot.

The upper parking lot is the start of your first short downhill section towards the southern side of Santa Teresa Park. After 0.3 miles you'll come to a Y intersection which you want to go right at. This will loop you around to a mild climb towards the start of Stile Ranch Trail. Stile Ranch trail starts with a zig zag climb up to the top of one peak, down the other side and another climb up to the second peak.

The view from the top of the second peak lets you see down into Almaden valley and towards Calero Reservoir. The decent down to the south side of the park can get quite technical as you zoom through an endless rock garden with many switchbacks. Be careful here!

At the bottom of Stile Ranch Trail, just before the parking lot, go to the left to head onto Fortini trail. Fortini is a nice doubletrack that will gently climb back to the day use area. Circle around the day use area and cut off to your right past the gate and up the fire road. Be prepared for 10-15 mins of steep fire road climbing which will wind you to the top of Coyote Peak.

The views from Coyote Peak are stunning. You get a 360 degree view of the south bay from Morgan Hill all the way up to Moffat Field. Take a breather here before you decend down the gravel fire road towards the start of Rocky Ridge trail.

Rocky Ridge Trail is almost two miles of sweeping singletrack mixed together with some quite challenging rock garden sections. Enjoy the views as you speed your way back down to the valley below. When you get in sight of the bridge at the bottom be prepared to shift to an easy gear to get up the other side. Follow the trail until it turns into a fire road and meets up with Mine Trail to climb back to the day use area again.

You'll ride along some familiar terrain through the day use area and right past the gate and down the fire road past the Hidden Springs trail cutoff. At the top of the first steep fire road climb you'll turn left onto Ridge Trail. Ridge Trail continues as a steep fire road climb followed by a longer fire road descent towards the eastern edge of the park.

Be on the lookout for the Ohlone trail cutoff on your left and take that cutoff to wind along the hillside above the golf course. Ohlone trail consists of a bunch of hillside rollers and ends out near the bottom of Bernal Rd. As Bernal Rd. comes into view you'll see a cutoff to your left which is a continuation of Ohlone climbing back up the hillside. Have an easy gear ready for this climb and after a few minutes you'll be up at the other end of Hidden Springs trail.

Take Hidden Springs trail uphill towards the day use area and come out onto the road where you'll go right either on the road or the trail next to it. Eventually the road and trail meets up with Bernal Rd. Go left and climb back towards the upper parking lot. Near the upper parking lot you'll cut back onto Mine Trail and cross Bernal Rd. out to the bluffs again. When you meet up with the junction of your initial climb go left and climb along Bernal Hill Trail.

Follow Bernal Hill trail along the top edge of the hill for more great views of the south bay as you sweep down back towards the ranch entrance. Finally at the ranch you can sit down, have a drink and enjoy the farm.