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Short trail up the hillside that provides great view of San Jose and Silicon Valley.


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Map Key

0.9

Miles

1.5

KM

85%

Runnable

731' 223 m

High

390' 119 m

Low

351' 107 m

Up

10' 3 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

Heintz Open Space is open from sunrise to sunset throughout the year.

Need to Know

There are no services along this trail, so make sure you have any water or sunscreen you feel you need. The trail is shared with hikers, bikers, and equestrians, so be aware of what is going on around you.

Runner Notes

The trail is relatively free from obstacles, making it a nice running trail. This trail can be linked with other trails in the area, like the Santa Rosa Trail to make a nice run. You can also use the Sky Trail to create a lollipop loop.

Description

If you are looking for a nice trail that isn't too far from Los Gatos that provides nice views of the South Bay, then run up the Valley Vista trail to get great sweeping views without having to go too far from home. The trail starts along Ramohs way, where there is parking in pullouts along the road. You can also try parking along the side of the road where there are not pullouts if there are no spaces available. The trail works its way up a gravel trail for almost half a mile.

The trail is relatively steep, but its not terrible. You'll pass a fire pit and a covered picnic table before the trail breaks off to the left. If you got straight ahead, you'll follow the Sky Trail up the hill to the far side of the hill, where the Valley Vista Trail meets it. By going to the left, you'll begin to see sweeping views of the South Bay and San Jose off in the distance.

There is a bench here where you can sit for a rest and take in the gorgeous views. The trail is more dirt at this point, but still wide allowing hikers, bikers, and equestrians to pass each other with ease. The trail winds along the hillside, relatively flat that this point, until it goes around a corner and meets up with the Sky Trail and the Santa Rosa Trail. You can follow the Santa Rosa Trail down to Belgatos Park.

If you want to make your way back to the car, you can follow the Sky Trail to make a nice loop, or retrace your steps along the Valley View Trail.

Contacts

Shared By:

David Hitchcock

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#4

in San Jose

#16528

Overall
  4.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#4

in San Jose

#1,752

in California

#16,528

Overall
10 Views Last Month
179 Since Dec 30, 2020
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

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Photos

A covered picnic table offers great views and a nice place to grab a bite.
Dec 30, 2020 near Cambria…, CA
You can see the Vista Trail snaking its way up the hill from the Valley View Trail.
Dec 30, 2020 near Cambria…, CA
Views like this await you on the Valley View Trail.  You can see Los Gatos in the foreground and San Jose off in the distance.
Dec 30, 2020 near Cambria…, CA
As the trail descends toward the Valley View Trail, you can get views of the mountains and Los Gatos below you.
Dec 30, 2020 near Cambria…, CA
The gravel trail works its way up the hillside in the early evening.
Dec 30, 2020 near Cambria…, CA
The trail climbs from the entrance up the hill through a little valley between two hills.
Dec 30, 2020 near Cambria…, CA

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