Rocky Ridge Trail

Rocky Ridge Trail starts from Mine Trail, about a half mile from the Mine Trail trailhead. At first, Rocky Ridge Trail is flat as it traverses a grassy hillside, along a creek to the right of the trail. Although the hillside is covered with grass, the creek banks are wooded. As the trail follows the hillside, it soon bends to the left, leaving that creek behind, and picking up another creek, Santa Teresa Creek, to the right of the trail. The trail continues up the Santa Teresa Creek valley, with a grass and brush covered ridge rising steeply to the left of the trail. About .3 miles from the Rocky Ridge Trailhead, the trail crosses Santa Teresa Creek, and continues to follow the creek, up the creek valley, now on the other side of the creek. Grass and rock covered Rocky Ridge rises steeply to the right of the trail. After another .2 miles, a half mile from its trailhead, Rocky Ridge Trail does a U-turn and begins climbing Rocky Ridge, leaving Santa Teresa Creek below. After a second U-turn/switchback, the trail is on the ridge top. Big rocks are everywhere on this grass covered ridge. There are great views to the right of the trail - the Almaden Valley countryside below and the Santa Cruz Mountains in the distance to the south. To the left of the trail, one looks across the Santa Teresa Creek valley to a grass covered ridge on the other side. Rocky Ridge Trail climbs gradually along the top of Rocky Ridge to end at Coyote Peak Trail. The ridge is very rocky and grassy. The views can be enjoyed everywhere on this ridge-top trail section. To the left of the trail, the East Bay Hills and Diablo Range also come into view in the distance. As the trail approaches Coyote Peak Trail, one can also look down the Santa Teresa Creek valley below to the left of the trail, another great view.