Joseph D. Grant County Park


Hike Date: 10/02/11

Summer has just ended and fall was just starting. We chose secluded Joseph D. Grant County Park in eastern San Jose for hiking. We took Quimby Road in Evergreen area towards the hills. It goes over the hills and meets Mt. Hamilton drive (Route 130), where we took a right towards the park. We parked our car at the big parking lot near the picnic tables. The day was warm with temperatures in low 80s. The park has many trails. We decided to do a long loop hike towards Eagle Lake and returning around the hills via Yerba Buena Trail.

We started on Hotel trail and continued for next 3.2 miles. The park is little baron with no tree shade along the way. Most of the initial 1.5 miles walk is on a flat surface. After the Corral Circle, we crossed a dry creek. The trail starts ascending mildly around this place. We crossed a lazy garden snake that was sunbathing on the path. We reached the Eagle Lake in little over hour and half. Water was very quite and calm in the lake. We took left on Foothill Trail, where you get to see nice view of Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton. This part of the trail is well shaded. After walking 1.1 miles we came to a crossing of Bonhoff Trail and Manzanita Trail. We took a left on Bonhoff Trail. Initial part of this trail ascends very steep; we reached the highest point of our hike around 2600 feet elevation.


After continuing for a mile or so we were supposed to cross over the Route 130. But we misread the map and took a left on Cañada de Pala Trail that descends towards the Hotel trail over 1.6 miles. We returned back to the Trailhead by Hotel Trail. Near the trailhead we saw a handsome Egret. Overall we hiked for 9.7 miles with elevation changes approximating 1400 feet.


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