Cerro Este Trail initially has a false start of the steep climbing. It gets steep for only a moment, but then returns to a brief gentle stretch that features nice views along the Alameda Creek valley from an open hillside. The longest segment of steep climbing starts right after this and doesn't let up for over a mile. The grade is uneven and the steepest part of this climb is its first half mile. The overall average grade is "only" 13.5%, but there is no shortage of 20% segments especially earlier on. As you get higher on Cerro Este, you transition from oak woodlands to open grassland. The scenery quotient also increases accordingly.