On a beautiful spring day with wildflowers in bloom, it was the perfect day to do a moderate hike overlooking San Jose. The Sierra Road Loop in Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve has been on my to do list for awhile, and I was super excited to check it out.
As it turns out, it totally lived up to my expectations: great views, wildflowers, and tons of sunshine! Keep reading for all the details on this awesome Bay Area hike!
Miles/Elevation:
4.6 miles
1,000 feet vertical gain
About Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve:
Lying in the hills of the Diablo Range above San Jose, Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve is an area of rolling hills, deep valleys, and wide open spaces. Coming in at just over 1,600 acres, Sierra Vista is not the biggest park in the Bay Area, but it does pack a punch for its size! With 10 miles of trails, there are great day hiking options here, as well as opportunities for longer trips being located along the Bay Area Ridge Trail.
The only parking area to access the preserve is on Sierra Road. The parking lot is pretty small, and does fill up early on weekends, but on weekdays the lot is generally not super busy. The trails can also be accessed from Alum Rock Park by hiking up the Boccardo Trail but this will add some substantial climbing to your day!
Parking is free, and the lot opens at 7 am. There is usually a ranger onsite.
Getting to Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve:
To access the parking area on Sierra Road, simply enter “Sierra Vista Point” into Google Maps and follow the directions. This takes you to the main parking area for the park.
The lot is on Sierra Road which is a steep and winding drive up from the city and gains close to 2,000 feet from San Jose! Sierra Road is just a bit off of I-680 on the east side of San Jose. The parking area is about 25 minutes from Downtown San Jose and about an hour from San Francisco.
The Sierra Road Loop:
The Sierra Vista Trail:
Right from the parking lot, the views are already outstanding. This might be the best view point overlooking San Jose that I have been too. There are other good ones, but this is certainly up there!
The trail immediately heads downhill and takes a left turn. You’ll be hiking away from the city for the first half and going deeper into the hills. The trail here really is awesome. You’ll walk on a narrow single track trail on a wide open hillside as the valley falls away beneath you and San Jose looms further and further behind.
Head to Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve for more great views!
Looking down into the valley and across is Alum Rock Park. There is some great hiking here as well!
The trail continues on this slight downward trend along the hillside for about 1.2 miles, and the views throughout continually impress. As you progress, the views looking deeper into the hills open up, and you’ll be treated with new views of valleys and hills not visible from the early sections of trail.
About 1.2 miles in, you will come to an intersection in the trail and you will have a choice of going left or right. The hike is sort of a lollipop, there is a loop after the first section that is just out and back, so it doesn’t matter which way you go. I went right which was good, but it might actually be a bit easier hiking if you go left. Either way, you’ll get back to the same place!
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
After another mile or so, you will come to another intersection, this time with the Calaveras Fault Trail. If you want, you can shorten your hike by a bit by taking the cut off trail, otherwise, continue onto the Calaveras Fault Trail for the full loop! You’ll have a bit of shade here, so it makes a nice place to stop for a breather, which you might need since the trail begins climbing just after!
The Calaveras Fault Trail:
After starting on the Calaveras Fault Trail, your hike will really start to get steep! This section of trail heads further into the hills providing beautiful views hidden away from the city. You will hike through idyllic valleys and along open ridges providing panoramic views!
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
While the views are fantastic, the trail is steep! It’s not a secret to those that read closely that I hate hiking on fire roads, and this is a great example of why: they are steep! There is no finesse nor art in fire roads; they just blaze a path straight up and straight down!
For more great views of San Jose, head to Monte Bello Open Space Reserve!
After about three quarters of a mile, you’ll turn and start heading back towards the city. At this point you still will not be able to see back to San Jose, but you’re heading in that direction! It takes another three quarters of a mile, but eventually you’ll actually meet back up with the road and top out on your hike!
Once at the road, you’re actually at the highest elevation you will manage on this hike. Unfortunately, there is some climbing left to do at the end, but first, you’ll have a pleasant descend with huge views right in front of you to occupy your mind!
Almaden Quicksilver has more great hiking outside San Jose!
You’ll descend for about half a mile back down to the Sierra Vista Trail to the intersection you passed early in the hike. From here, it’s a short walk along the hillside back to the trailhead. There is some moderate climbing which is never a welcome sight at the end of a hike, but the views are awesome and the closing proximity to your car should spur you ahead!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 9/10
This was a hike I was really looking forward to doing, and after completing it I can honestly say it was one of my favorite hikes I’ve done in the Bay Area. The views are legitimately great, both overlooking the city and peering into some of the rural valleys. And the trail itself is smooth and easy to walk on, and for much of the hike is high on open ridgelines giving the illusion of being high in the sky!
All in all, this is one of the best easy to moderate day hikes in the Bay Area. While there are some steep sections of hiking directly up a hill along fire roads, the views and trail on this hike make it stand out among its peers!
Pros:
- Amazing views throughout hike
- Easily accessible
- Smooth trail
Cons:
- Small parking lot which fills up on weekends
- Some fire road hiking
Alternative Hikes:
Trip Report: Alum Rock Park, South Rim Trail – Top Down Lifestyle
Trip Report: Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve
Rancho San Vicente Open Space Preserve
Almaden Quicksilver County Park
When to Visit Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve:
The Bay Area is a 4 season destination, and the weather year round is suitable for hiking. In the summer and early fall expect high temperatures. In winter and spring, there is a chance of rain, but most days should be pretty nice. In my opinion, the best time to visit is late spring or early summer.
Keep in mind that this hike has very little tree cover, and is extremely exposed to the sun. Even if the highs are only in the 60s, you will likely be sweating. Always bring enough water and take the conditions into consideration when planning a hike.
Links for Further Reading:
Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve
Best trails in Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve, California
