Calero County Park and Reservoir (and Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve)

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Calero County Park and Reservoir is located in the Santa Teresa hills south of San Jose. When combined with the adjoining Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve, the two parks offer about 7,000 acres and 20 miles of challenging trails. In addition, the reservoir is open year-round for boating, sailing, fishing, water-skiing and jet-skiing. Calero also offers two first-come, first-serve picnic sites near the water's edge that include tables and barbecues. A reservable group picnic area is also available. Refer to the park website for more details or to make reservations. Equestrians are also allowed on the trails in the parks.

The trails in the two parks are challenging with steep climbs. Elevations in the parks ranges from about 400' at the reservoir to over 1,800' at the summit of Bald Peaks. Most of the trails are fire roads, with the exception of some very nice singletrack sections in the southern portion of Calero and the Rancho Canada del Oro area, including the Chisnantuck Peak Trail and Longwall Canyon Trail. Most of the trails are exposed to the sun, and can be scorching hot and dusty in the summer, so run/hike in the morning and bring plenty of water! (The best time to run/hike at Calero is in the spring before the weather is hot and when the hills are covered in wildflowers!).  
PictureThe strange Calero Bat Inn (or "Bat Box")
There are two trailheads for Calero County Park. The main parking area is off McKean Road in south San Jose. There is also a southern entrance to Calero and Rancho Canada del Oro off of Casa Loma Road. The runs on this page both start from the main parking area off McKean Road just south of the intersection with Bailey Ave.

The Dirt:
  • Click here for a printable trail map of the Favorite Runs listed below!
  • Click here for the official Calero County Park web site and trail map .
  • Click here for the official Rancho Canada del Oro web site and trail map. (Note: the link to the trail map is on the left-hand side of the page under the boot prints)
  • Click here for driving directions to the main parking lot off of McKean Road.
  • Dogs on leash are allowed on most trails in the park, EXCEPT for those within and surrounding Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve.  Refer to the trail map for details)

Extras:
  • The reservoir is open year-round for boating, sailing, fishing, water-skiing and jet-skiing.
  • Note that there is NO drinking water available in the park.

Favorite Run #1: "Bat Box" Figure-8 (6.2 mi, ~1000 feet elevation gain) ​🐾

This run is a nice introduction to challenging trails in Calero County Park. It is entirely on fire roads. One interesting oddity along the way is the Calero Bat Inn, or "bat box", which is like a condominium for bats built on stilts along the Javelina Loop Trail. 

The run starts from the main parking lot off of McKean Road. Cross over the paved road and head up the Access Trail past the trailhead sign.

GPX Track

Printable Trail Map

Driving Directions
Route Details:
  • 0.0 mi: From the parking lot, cross the paved road and start up the access trail.
  • 0.2 mi: Turn right onto the Los Cerritos Trail.
  • 0.6 mi: Turn left onto the Pena Trail and start a steep climb. You will climb for the next half mile or so.
  • 0.8 mi: Pass the Vallecito Trail on your left. Stay right to continue on the Pena Trail.
  • 1.0 mi: Pass the Los Cerritos Trail on your right. Stay left to continue on Pena Trail. You will climb to a large water tank and then descend.
  • 1.4 mi: (Confusing intersection!) Pena Trail ends at a 4-way intersection. Make a hard right turn onto the Javelina Loop Trail toward the Bat Box. (Note: Both the trail straight ahead and the one to the right will be designated as the "Javelina Loop Trail". To do this loop counter-clockwise, be sure to turn right.)
  • 2.0 mi: Pass the "Bat Box" on your right!
  • 2.5 mi: Intersection with Cottle Trail. Turn left and start climbing to continue on the Javelina Loop Trail.
  • 3.3 mi: Pass the tiny Fish Camp Lake. Keep climbing.
  • 4.0 mi: Back at the Javelina Trail/Pena Trail junction. Turn right onto the Figueroa Trail and begin a gradual creekside descent.
  • 4.7 mi: Pass the Vallecito Trail on your left. Stay on the Figueroa Trail (keep following the creek).
  • 4.8 mi: Pass the Canada del Oro Trail on your right. Stay on the Figueroa Trail (keep following the creek). The trail will eventually parallel the road. Just before the trail comes out to the road, take a left and climb over a small hill to stay on the Figueroa Trail.
  • 6.0 mi: Turn right on the access trail to head back to the car.
  • 6.2 mi: Back at the car!
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Calero Reservoir
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On the Javelina Loop Trail

Favorite Run #2: Bald Peaks Big Loop (13.1/15.1 mi, ~2500/2900 ft elevation gain)

This run is a challenging grand tour of both Calero Park and Rancho Canada del Oro OSP. You first climb steeply to the ridge behind the reservoir. After a relaxing rolling section, you then head up a very steep singletrack climb to Bald Peaks. At over 1,800', Bald Peaks offers stunning views of the entire South Bay Area. After a great 3-mile singletrack descent, it's time for more climbing back over the ridge and back to your car. There is also an option to add another 2 miles and 400' of climbing to the run if you want!  Note that some turns on this run can be confusing so we recommend printing out the trail map or downloading the GPX track to your GPS device!

The run starts from the main parking lot off of McKean Road. Cross over the paved road and head up the Access Trail past the trailhead sign.

GPX Track

Printable Trail Map

Driving Directions
Route Details:
  • 0.0 mi: From the parking lot, cross the paved road and start up the access trail.
  • 0.2 mi: Turn right onto Los Cerritos Trail.
  • 0.6 mi: Turn left onto Pena Trail and start a steep climb. You will climb for the next half mile or so.
  • 0.8 mi: Pass Vallecito Trail on your left. Stay right to continue on Pena Trail.
  • 1.0 mi: Pass Los Cerritos Trail on your right.  Stay left to continue on Pena Trail. You will climb up to a large water tank and then descend.
  • 1.4 mi: (Confusing intersection!) Pena Trail ends at a 4-way intersection. Make a hard right turn onto the Javelina Loop Trail toward the Bat Box. (Note: Both the trail straight ahead and the one to the right will be designated as the "Javelina Loop Trail". To do this loop counter-clockwise, be sure to turn right.)
  • 2.0 mi: Pass the "Bat Box" on your right.
  • 2.5 mi: Intersection with Cottle Trail. Turn right onto Cottle Trail and keep descending.
  • 2.7 mi: At the bottom of the hill you will pass Cherry Cove Trail on your right. Veer left to continue on Cottle Trail and start gradually climbing next to Cherry Canyon Creek. The climb will gradually get steeper over the next mile as you climb.
  • 3.7 mi: Turn left at the gate to head up toward the Cottle Rest Site. The trail will flatten out as you enter a grassy area with a horse trough and picnic table.
  • 3.8 mi: Continue past the Cottle Rest Site and get on Chisnantuck Peak Trail. This is a steep, narrow singletrack with many switchbacks. The next mile is tough!
  • 4.8 mi: Chisnantuck Peak Trail ends on Bald Peaks Trail (dirt road). Turn right onto Bald Peaks Trail and continue climbing for another mile.You will soon enter the Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve. Stay on Bald Peaks Trail for the next mile.
  • 5.7 mi: At the high point of the run! You will see the grassy Bald Peak to the right side of the trail with a small singletrack heading up to the actual summit. Head up the short trail and enjoy the view from the top! Then continue on the Bald Peaks Trail which will now start descending (finally!).
  • 6.0 mi: Just past the horse drinking fountain, veer onto Longwall Canyon Trail. This is a great downhill singletrack! You will descend for the next 2 miles.
  • 8.0 mi: Intersection with Mayfair Ranch Trail on your right. Stay left to continue on the Longwall Canyon Trail. (If you want to do the extended run, turn right on Mayfair Ranch Trail. You will descend briefly and then start a mile-long climb. Follow Mayfair Ranch Trail until it ends in the Casa Loma Road parking area. Cross Casa Loma Road and then continue from mile 9.3 below. This adds 2 miles and 400' climbing to the run.)
  • 8.5 mi: Intersection with Catamount Trail on your left. Continue on the Longwall Canyon Trail.
  • 8.7 mi: Intersection with Serpentine Loop Trail. Keep going straight ahead onto Serpentine Loop Trail.
  • 9.3 mi: Veer left onto a small singletrack to stay on Serpentine Loop Trail. You will soon parallel Casa Loma Road, and then start climbing up some switchbacks. The trail will turn into a fire road for the last half-mile of the climb.
  • 10.7 mi: Turn right onto the Canada del Oro Cut-Off Trail. You're almost at the top of the last climb!
  • 10.9 mi: Turn right onto the Canada del Oro Trail and start descending.
  • 11.7 mi: Trail ends on the Figueroa Trail. Veer right onto the Figueroa Trail to continue gradually descending next to the creek. The trail will eventually parallel the road. Just before the trail comes out to the road, take a left and climb over a small hill to stay on the Figueroa Trail.
  • 12.9 mi: Turn right on the access trail to head back to the car.
  • 13.1 mi: Back at the car!
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View from Chisnantuck Peak Trail
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View from Bald Peaks Trail
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The grassy Bald Peak summit
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Running along the backside of Bald Peaks

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