Trail Run Project Logo

A trail through the wooded grass hills of Calero County Park, with views of Calero Reservoir.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

5.5

Miles

8.9

KM

94%

Runnable

614' 187 m

High

499' 152 m

Low

600' 183 m

Up

587' 179 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

15%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Park open 8 a.m. to sunset. There is no fee when parking in the trailhead parking area.

Description

From the parking area, cross the road to the well marked Oak Cove Trail start.

Oak Cove Trail starts off flat as it goes through the grasslands of Calero County Park. After a short climb that reveals good views to the northeast, the trail is then relatively flat for the rest of its entire distance. To the right (northeast), the terrain is flat, providing unobstructed views of McKean Road in the distance. To the left, rise the wooded and grass hills of Calero County Park. After a short ways, Calero Reservoir comes into view ahead. At about the one mile mark, the trail reaches Calero Reservoir and above it, begins to follow its shoreline, providing great views of the reservoir.

As Oak Cove Trail runs beside the reservoir, the grass hills are wooded, primarily oak and California buckeye trees. A gradual U-turn, completed at the 2.3 mile mark, points the trail east as it follows Oak Cove and the creek valley that feeds into it. Deep in the grass and wooded hills of the park, the creek valley narrows and ends, as the trail does another U-turn at the 3.0 mile mark to cross the creek and head west. This side of the creek valley is more heavily wooded, and so nicely shaded.

At the 4.0 mile mark, Oak Cove Trail reaches the mouth of Oak Cove. The mouth of Cherry Cove is also here. Continuing in the woods, the trail turns left to wind around as it crosses a few seasonal creeks and follows Cherry Cove up to its source - Cherry Canyon Creek. At about the five mile mark, the trail descends gradually, crosses Cherry Canyon Creek, and ends at Cottle Trail.

Flora & Fauna

Wooded (primarily oak and California buckey trees) grass hills. Deer and turkeys. Spring wildflowers.

Contacts

Land Manager: Santa Clara County Parks

Shared By:

Joan Pendleton

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#14801

Overall
  4.0 from 1 vote
5 Star
0%
4 Star
100%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1,527

in California

#14,801

Overall
7 Views Last Month
1,369 Since Feb 26, 2020
Easy Easy

100%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

Oak Cove Trail is beautiful as it runs through a shaded section on a clear February day.
Feb 27, 2020 near Almaden…, CA
Calero Reservoir on the right, the Santa Cruz Mountains in the far distance with Mt Umunhum at 3,488 ft. center left, seen to the west-southwest when emerging from a wooded section of Oak Cove Trail.
Feb 27, 2020 near Almaden…, CA
The grass and wooded hills of Calero County Park in February, with Calero Reservoir in the distance.  The Santa Cruz Mountains are in the far distance with Mt. Umunhum (3,488 ft.) left center. looking west from Oak Cove Trail.
Feb 27, 2020 near Almaden…, CA
Lupine start to bloom in late February along Oak Cove Trail.
Feb 27, 2020 near Almaden…, CA
Leisurely hill climb on the west side of the loop heading toward Calero Reservoir. On a warm day, the open terrain makes you appreciate your bottle of water.
Apr 1, 2019 near Almaden…, CA
The grass hills with stands of oaks and California buckeyes, on a clear February day, along Oak Cove Trail
Feb 26, 2020 near Almaden…, CA

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

none

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.