Yerba Buena Trail

From the parking area at the Yerba Buena Trail start, head up the dirt road towards Halls Valley Trail. Almost immediately, on the right is a signpost marking the start of Yerba Buena Trail. Follow the signpost arrow and go right onto Yerba Buena Trail. The first mile of Yerba Buena Trail is fairly flat as it runs next to Mt. Hamilton Rd., in the grassy hills with clumps of oaks all around. Although the trail is close to the road, it is still scenic and far enough from the road to be quite nice. The hills across the San Felipe Creek Valley to the right/southwest are beautiful, and close by to the left, the hills rise up from the trail. Trail junctions to Hotel Trail and Loop Trail are passed. At the 1.0 mile mark, Yerba Buena Trail turns left and begins climbing into the grass and oak studded hills of Joseph D. Grant County Park. This climb lasts all the way to the end of Yerba Buena Trail, sometimes steeper and sometimes more gradual. As one climbs, sweeping views unfold from the north all the way around to the southwest. By the end of Yerba Buena Trail one can see the San Francisco Bay (distant northwest), Santa Cruz Mountains including Loma Prieta, 3,790 ft., and Mt. Umunhum, 3,486 ft. (distant southwest), and even the Monterey Peninsula across Monterey Bay (very distant southwest). Nearer by, one looks out over the Diablo Range hills of Joseph D. Grant County Park, Grant Lake, and the broad San Felipe Creek Valley. Truly awe inspiring views up here at the end of Yerba Buena Trail. Yerba Buena Trail ends at Canada de Pala Trail, after 2.4 miles.