Bald Peaks Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Bald Peaks Trail is all about VIEWS! It is a wide, open, high-ridge trail through Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve and Calero County Park. The whole San Francisco Bay Area including farmland south of San Jose can be seen. To the right (southwest) are the Santa Cruz Mountains with views of Loma Prieta, Mt. Umunhum, and many more. To the left (northeast across the Bay) is the Diablo Range including Mt. Hamilton. Closer up, one can see the Santa Teresa Hills and Coyote Peak. Below the trail is Calero Reservoir and Almaden Valley. Enjoy!

The starting point of Bald Peaks Trail is accessed by Longwall Canyon Trail. From the Rancho Canada del Oro parking area, run 2.9 miles up Longwall Canyon Trail to its end at Bald Peaks Trail. From here, Bald Peaks Trail is a wide trail over grassy terrain. The trail climbs almost unnoticeably, because you'll be too busy marvelling at views to notice this one-third-mile uphill to the trail's high point.

From its high point, Bald Peaks Trail gradually descends, with continual awesome views in all directions, to its junction with Catamount Trail about one mile from the Bald Peaks Trail starting point. As the trail continues, so do the views. The trail soon crosses into Calero County Park and passes Chisnantuck Peak Trail to the left.

Continuing to descend gradually over the grassy terrain with views in all directions, Bald Peaks Trails then passes Needlegrass Trail to the right. After Needlegrass Trail, Bald Peaks Trail continues to descend, although now through sections of oak trees among the grassy terrain. After about another 0.6 miles, the trail passes Canada del Oro Trail and Canada del Oro Cutoff Trail to the left.

Bald Peaks Trail ends at Little Llagas Creek Trail. Run down Little Llagas Creek Trail and Little Llagas Creek Trail Access for a little over a mile to return to the Rancho Canada del Oro parking area.

Deer graze while hawks circle overhead on this trail. Grassy open terrain is punctuated by stands of oak trees. Spring wildflowers.