White Oak Trail – Turtle Rock Viewpoint loop from Los Trancos Woods

Mountain biking trails

White Oak Trail – Turtle Rock Viewpoint loop from Los Trancos Woods

Hard

2.8

(17)

riders

White Oak Trail – Turtle Rock Viewpoint loop from Los Trancos Woods

05:59

51.8km

1,520m

Mountain biking

Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 28, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 42.5 km for 343 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

6.30 km

White Oak Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

White Oak Trail has been recently re-routed (completed in late 2010). Before this work, the upper reaches of this trail consisted of a steep, wide, and badly rutted "fire road". This segment of the trail is now replaced by a nicely meandering singletrack; initially exposed to the sky, and later under partial oak cover. The second half of the trail (the lower elevations) still follows the older path, which was a decent singletrack to begin with, and still is. I think that this change of White Oak Trail raises the desirability of Monte Bello Open Space for riders who are interested in singletrack trails. In my opinion, this brings this park to the same level as, say, the nearby Russian Ridge in terms of the level of biking trail quality.

Before the White Oak Trail re-routing, I used to do this ride as a clockwise loop (and used to show it on this page in the same way), traversing White Oak Trail uphill. That was because I found White Oak too short, steep, and wide to be interesting for descent. (The ruts may have been an interesting descent challenge for some, but still...) I used to think that it was at least a good climbing challenge to test one's mettle. After the re-routing, I've changed this to a counter-clockwise loop, because the beautiful singletrack that's the newer White Oak Trail is much more fun to descend than to climb, in my opinion.

The new White Oak Trail has some more off-camber spots than I would have expected from a new trail. Nothing too sketchy, but it does discourage you a little bit from speeding. When I come to think of it, the only other major singletrack trail in this park, Bella Vista Trail, also has quite a few off-camber sections. Perhaps it's something about erosion control. Or speed control. There's also at least one particular hairpin turn on White Oak that's a little over the top in its tightness. But maybe that's a good thing; those of us with superhuman bike control skills need some spots where they can test themselves as well.

The last quarter mile of White Oak Trail (after crossing a minor tributary creek over a bridge) has you pedaling uphill at a moderate grade.

Tip by

12.4 km

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve

Highlight • Forest

This 3,436-acre expanse offers a vibrant tapestry of nature, just waiting to be explored. Millennia before Silicon Valley sprouted, Monte Bello Ridge and Black Mountain stood sentinel over the Santa Clara Valley. Native American tribes frequented the area, leaving behind petroglyphs and village sites whispering tales of the past.

Tip by

27.2 km

Saratoga Gap

Highlight • Trail

Saratoga Gap Trail here meets Skyline Trail after crossing Canyon Springs Rd, just east of the big intersection. The road and trailhead parking are the only interruption in otherwise pure bliss single track trails.

Tip by

27.4 km

Saratoga Gap Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Saratoga Gap Trail has enough technical features to entertain any mountain biker.

Tip by

30.8 km

Turtle Rock Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

Turtle Rock is the highest and most prominent mountain in the area. From this viewpoint, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, especially stunning at sunset. Be cautious, as the trail is popular and often busy with hikers.

Tip by

31.9 km

Long Ridge Open Space Preserve

Nature Reserve

34.1 km

Bodhidharma Cave

Cave Entrance

40.2 km

Horseshoe Lake

Highlight • Lake

Pleasant little lake formed by an earthen dam near Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve summit. Less than a mile from the handicapped parking lot along Ridge Trail.
Perfect bench in the sun, no swimming or fishing though.

Tip by

43.0 km