Review Date
June 11, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Almaden Mike ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Fire roads. The aerobic difficulty rating of 4 is for the Mockingbird entrance. I live about 1/4 mile from this entrance so I come here often for my evening workout rides. The trail drops a bit right out of the parking lot, skirts the edge of the park, and then begins to climb steeply. Despite what a previous reviewer said, this trail is definitely rideable, but it is a tough climb. I can make it up all the steep sections but not without stopping and gasping for air as each levels out a bit. Two thumbs up if you can do it clean. Once you get to the intersection with the Capehorn Pass trail you'll keep climbing for another 600' or so but you should be able to do the rest of the ride in your middle chainring.

Recommended Route:
From Mockingbird parking go left down Virl O. Norton, left on Hacienda, right on Capehorn Pass Trail, straight(not exactly, kinda like the 2nd right) throught the Capehorn Pass intersection and up Mine Hill Trail. At the top of Mine Hill go left on Castillero and go through the ghost town. Castillero will take you around the back of the mountian and one again join up with the Mine Hill Trail. Take a break at the picnic table here and enjoy the views of Mt. Umhunum.

Now decide if you want to head straight back to the trailhead or extend the ride another 6 miles or so. If it's the former go right on the Mine Hill Trail and once you hit the first intersection with Castillero backtrack to the start. If it's the latter go left on Mine Hill which will drop you 800' in a little over two miles. Go right on Randol Trail which rolls along at about the 1000' elevation level for 4 miles back to Capehorn Pass intersection. From here backtrack to the trailhead.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Rancho Canada Del Oro-Great Views, steep climbs on fire roads, and fun downhill on single/double track

Review Date
December 29, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: stiletto ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Park at Mockingbird entrance. You can be creative, sick, and come up with lots of loops to ride.

Recommended Route:
Park at Mockingbird. Climb up Virl O. Norton trail to the "bench" Go right, take Randall trail over to Guadalupe damn where the trail begins to climb to the left, take this (Mine Hill) all the way to the "horse trough" , go straight down Castillero trail back down to the bench, go back out Mockingbird, or, you can go down to Hacienda parking lot and ride Almaden road back to your car. (to the Mockingbird parking lot.) More pain? Take Castillero over to Woods (Sierra Azul) up to power poles, over to Kennedy, down Kennedy, to Shannon, to Hicks, back up Hicks, to Quicksilver.....hungry?

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Stiles, Rocky Ridge, U.C.S.C.

Review Date
August 16, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: tboneclement ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I have rode 3 times here in the past week. This park is great, at times it is crowded but everyone has been great towards me as a biker. I plan on spending more time here to ride more of the park. MY rides have been after work the entry from Almaden rd is steep and long. I rode in on the hicks entrance today must less of a climb new bikers will enjoy this route much more. As I ride more I will post, the views from the top of the peaks are very cool you can see for miles inot the South Bay and whne you look over towardds Hicks Rd it is nothing but canyons and trees very cool.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Sierra Azul ( open space park) , Pacheco Park on 152

Review Date
February 25, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Ty.S ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Nice trail, very clean fire roads, If its your first time.. follow the signage to English Camp.. there isn't much left, but its still pretty cool. I was very excited at the fact that there is a cemetary up there (Hidalgo Cemetary), took my camera thinking great photo op of some old headstones.. Well.. take my word for it.. you can skip that part. There ain't nothin left, except a sign that tells you what you're supposed to be looking at, and an old beat down picket fence that wouldn't deter even the most skittish critter.

I plan on doing this ride again, but I'll make sure to take some eyewear with lighter tint.. as ducking in and out of the tree canopy led me to roll through several rather large piles of Horsey Cookies (turds). Yeah.. its nature, but I can't think of an idea situation in which I'd enjoy that stuff being flung up on me.

There are several equestrian clubs that use the Hacienda Entrance, so pay attention to the yeilds and watch your speed coming down, or you'll end up jousting with a horse. Overall very nice ride, good for a group of mixed skill level. I'm only speaking of the fireroads, but I plan on getting more exploration time in, now that I know there ain't nobody hanging out at Hidalgo Cemetary :(

Review Date
October 12, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: rockhopper03 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Great workout. Not too technical. I would definitely ride it again, do a couple of runs. Great booster if you haven't ridden for a while.