HomeCaliforniaSan Jose › Rancho San Vicente Open Space Preserve

Rancho San Vicente Open Space Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 149 Google reviews · Running trail in San Jose, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Rancho San Vicente Open Space Preserve'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.

LoopScenicHillyTrailhead parking

Nature preserve offering trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

What runners say about Rancho San Vicente Open Space Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (149 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Beautiful hike with moderate hills on the blue traisl.”

Great little park with amazing views. Best if your hike time is limited. Total trail length is like 3 miles, but it is connected to Calero park, which has tens of miles of trails.

★★★★★ — Anatoly , Jan 2022

I'm a new rider to the electric unicycle .I've been here on a bicycle, and I thought the trails were good. so my friend thought I should bring the EUC. We did a short ride, thankfully. I will return for a longer ride as my skills improve.

★★★★★ — Vincent , Jan 2025

Gently graded trails going through a variety of landscapes such as green meadows, oak forests and Calero Reservoir shoreline. Also, a great variety of wildflowers.

★★★★★ — Anda , Apr 2018

Rancho San Vicente Open Space Preserve is a great preserve to go hiking or mountain biking at. There is a mix of single track and fire roads. The loop trail is a great trail to ride or hike and offers views of the surrounding landscape and lake, but has a fairly mellow climb in elevation.

★★★★★ — Brendan , Sep 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 149 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 7 mentions

“The loop trail is a great trail to ride or hike and offers views of the surrounding landscape and lake, but has a fairly mellow climb in elevation.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 5 mentions

“The loop trail is a great trail to ride or hike and offers views of the surrounding landscape and lake, but has a fairly mellow climb in elevation.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“Great place and great hiking / running trails good parking and clean bathrooms.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“The loop trail is a great trail to ride or hike and offers views of the surrounding landscape and lake, but has a fairly mellow climb in elevation.”

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Plan your run at Rancho San Vicente Open Space Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Phone+1 408-535-4070

Hours

Monday 8 am–5 pm
Tuesday 8 am–5 pm
Wednesday 8 am–5 pm
Thursday 8 am–5 pm
Friday 8 am–5 pm
Saturday 8 am–5 pm
Sunday 8 am–5 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Rancho San Vicente Open Space Preserve

21151 McKean Rd, San Jose, CA 95120

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.

Santa Teresa County Park, Stile Ranch Entrance

4.6 ★★★★★ 39 reviews

San Jose, CA

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

under a mile away

Santa Teresa County Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,670 reviews

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3 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Diverse county park with a variety of hiking trails providing views of the numerous hills & valleys.

1.8 miles away

Coyote Peak

4.8 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

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Scenic

2.0 miles away

Almaden Quicksilver County Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,932 reviews

San Jose, CA

5 miLoopShadedScenic

County park with a history of mining offers hiking, biking & equestrian trails amid wildflowers.

2.8 miles away

Oak Cove Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 19 reviews

San Jose, CA

Scenic

2.8 miles away

Coyote Creek Parkway

4.5 ★★★★★ 692 reviews

Coyote, CA

PavedScenic

Paved creekside trail within Hellyer County Park, popular for hiking, running, cycling & skating.

4.3 miles away

All running trails in San Jose, CA →

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.