Mount Umunhum Road – Mount Umunhum loop from Almaden Quicksilver County Park

Bike touring routes & trails

United States

California

Santa Clara County

Mount Umunhum Road – Mount Umunhum loop from Almaden Quicksilver County Park

Hard

4.6

(6311)

17,709

riders

Mount Umunhum Road – Mount Umunhum loop from Almaden Quicksilver County Park

01:34

17.6km

670m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: October 28, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

52 m

Mount Umunhum Road

Highlight • Trail

Hiker/biker trailhead parking at the bottom of the well-paved road reopened in September 2017, climbing sometimes steeply in switchbacks into the Sierra Azul preserve from Hicks Road to the former radar tower on the summit of Mt Umunhum

Tip by

89 m

Woods Trail Trailhead

Highlight • Trail

At the intersection of Mt Umunhum Rd and Hicks Road is the trailhead parking area for Woods Trail going west. Across Hicks road is the entrance to Woods rd trail going east.

Tip by

124 m

Mount Umunhum Road (climb)

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

One of the highest virtually car-free road climbs in the South Bay, Mount Umunhum became quickly one of the most popular biking destinations since opening to the public in 2017 after being closed several decades for military radar operations. The hard work is rewarded with spectacular 360 degree views of the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve and the surrounding hills, all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the West and the SF Bay to the north. Modern restrooms, drinking water fountains, and viewing terraces with benches welcome the weary.
Don't be afraid, or too overwhelmed by your superpowers if you look at komoot's 9800 ft uphill climb estimate for this highlight. Their software is off by a factor of 5x or more. The actual elevation difference is around 1800 feet (about 600 meters).
According to GoogleMaps the distance is only 5.2 miles, with about 2000 feet uphill. Even that is not bad, and you deserve to be proud ;-)

Tip by

8.76 km

Mount Umunhum Summit

Highlight • Summit

Long closed as a military radar station, the peak has now become one of the most popular biking destinations thanks to the excellent, albeit steep, paved road to the top. There are several vista points, restrooms, drinking water, and information panels at the top and near the old radar tower.

Tip by

8.77 km

Mount Umunhum

Highlight • Summit

Opened in 2018, on the top of Sierra Azul Open Space preserve the Vista points and the former radar tower on the summit of Mt Umunhum provide stunning 360° views

Tip by

9.03 km

Mount Umunhum Trailhead

Highlight • Trail

Top of the trail off the paved road with spectacular views; it's all the way downhill from here ;-)

Tip by

14.7 km

Sierra Azul OSP - Bald Mountain Trailhead

Highlight • Parking

Great views just off the Trailhead parking area, with restrooms and access to the trails: to Bald Mountain to the east, and Mt Umunhum Trail to the west.

Tip by

14.8 km

Lower Mount Umunhum Road

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

If you prefer loops, you can use the paved road for a quick efficient climb up to Mt Umunhum summit and use the excellent packed dirt and gravel mountain bike trail to come back down.

Tip by

17.6 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

17.5 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

17.5 km

< 100 m