Charcoal Road

Dogs No Dogs

There are no services along this trail, so make sure to have plenty of water before starting your hike. Cyclists are not allowed on the trail from the junction of Table Mountain Fire Road Trail to the terminus, and only allowed to travel in an uphill direction on the rest of the trail.

The trail is steep, so it can be hard on the knees. There are some rocks and washouts in certain areas of the trail, so watch your footing.

The Charcoal Road Trail follows an old road that descends from Skyline Boulevard into the heart of Upper Stevens Creek County Park. The trail departs from the junction of the Table Mountain Trail and Saratoga Gap Trail and is a wide dirt and gravel trail. Remaining level or a slight incline for the first two tenths of a mile, the trail begins a steep descent through the woods for the next mile. There are a couple of areas where you get a view of the surrounding hills through the trees, but no sweeping vista points on this trail. At around eight tenths of a mile, there is a service road that breaks off to the right, but it really doesn't go anywhere, its a dead end. When you arrive at the junction with the Table Mountain Fire Road Trail, the Charcoal Road trail breaks off to the right and switches from a hiking, equestrian, and bike trail to a hiking only trail. The trail continues it descent to the terminus of the trail at the park boundary. If you go all the way to the park boundary, you have to retrace your steps back to the junction with the Table Mountain Fire Trail, and then can decide if you climb back up the hill you just descended, or walk down the fire road to the junction with the Table Mountain Trail and follow that trail, which is less steep, back to the start of the hike.

The trail meanders through a forest of oak and evergreen trees.