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Hellyer County Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 3,161 Google reviews · Running trail in San Jose, California · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Hellyer County Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendlyFlat & fastRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Green space featuring a 15-mile paved trail, plus picnicking, disc golf, a dog park & a velodrome.

What runners say about Hellyer County Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (3,161 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 12 mentions

“The park was clean, well-maintained, and offered plenty of open space to walk, exercise, or simply enjoy the outdoors.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 9 mentions

“Many people bring their dogs here because there's an off-leash dog parks within this big beautiful place.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“We kicked things off with a relaxed lunch under shaded picnic tables near the lake, where ducks wandered by and the breeze kept things cool.”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“The walking and biking trails were easy to follow, and the natural scenery made the visit peaceful and refreshing.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“The open layout made it easy to spread out, and the calm atmosphere gave us space to catch up without distractions.”

This is one of my favorite park in the bay area. I often came to this park at least 3 to 4 times a week for our morning walks with my boxer. Many people bring their dogs here because there's an off-leash dog parks within this big beautiful place.

★★★★☆ — Thia , Oct 2022

Very quiet place to run or get some fresh air. Parking is not free and have to pay when getting in. A lot of spots to park and has a big pond with ducks! Nice place to picnic, bike, roller skate or walk. Will definitely be back.

★★★★★ — Ellaine , Feb 2022

This is a beautiful place for Birthday parties or any even . They have large group areas and many grills to BBQ. There are really nice bike trails and a pond for fishing or viewing nature such as geese turtles,ducks and so much more. They have an awesome playground for all age groups.

★★★★★ — Sg , Apr 2023

Very nice park, the lake is beautiful and there are some nice walking paths. The playground is a highlight, modern design with lots of activities including a water jet play area, a three level tree house style play structure, musical squares, and more. My three year old loved it

★★★★★ — Mike , Aug 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 3,161 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 12 mentions

“Between the velodrome energy nearby and the quiet lake views, Hellyer gave us a full day of variety without ever feeling crowded.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 9 mentions

“Many people bring their dogs here because there's an off-leash dog parks within this big beautiful place.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 6 mentions

“The only issue is that you need to pay for parking and they don’t have apple pay , only physical card or cash.”

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🚻 Restrooms 5 mentions

“It has a good playground, lots of open field, picnic tables, restrooms, and a small lake to fish in.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Between the velodrome energy nearby and the quiet lake views, Hellyer gave us a full day of variety without ever feeling crowded.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“We kicked things off with a relaxed lunch under shaded picnic tables near the lake, where ducks wandered by and the breeze kept things cool.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“After lunch, a few of us hit the paved bike trails that loop around the lake and connect to the Coyote Creek Trail.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“The playground is a highlight, modern design with lots of activities including a water jet play area, a three level tree house style play structure, musical squares, and more.”

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Plan your run at Hellyer County Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteparks.sccgov.org
  • Phone+1 408-225-0225

Where to find Hellyer County Park

985 Hellyer Ave, San Jose, CA 95111

Get directions

Running trails near San Jose

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Coyote Creek

4.1 ★★★★☆ 104 reviews

San Jose, CA

PavedScenic

Trail beside namesake creek for walking, jogging & biking in a tranquil woodland setting.

1.5 miles away

Odette Morrow Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 40 reviews

San Jose, CA

LoopPavedShadedScenic

Trail-laden open area with an exercise area, plus a playground and shade-filled woods.

1.8 miles away

Coyote Creek Trail, San Jose, CA

4.7 ★★★★★ 137 reviews

San Jose, CA

PavedShadedScenic

Shaded hiking area offering paved trails, bird life, benches, squirrels and a pond.

2.1 miles away

Coyote Creek Parkway North

4.8 ★★★★★ 16 reviews

San Jose, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

2.1 miles away

Canyon Creek Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 132 reviews

San Jose, CA

ShadedScenic

Recreational area with a playground, picnic tables, and spots for soccer and other sports.

2.5 miles away

Communications Hill

4.7 ★★★★★ 93 reviews

San Jose, CA

Scenic

Neighborhood hiking area providing uphill and downhill trails that offer views.

2.5 miles away

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.