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Mount Hamilton Road – Mt. Hamilton Climb West loop from Lawrence

Mount Hamilton Road – Mt. Hamilton Climb West loop from Lawrence

Hard

4.8

(2313)

10,210

riders

Mount Hamilton Road – Mt. Hamilton Climb West loop from Lawrence

05:22

104km

1,670m

Road cycling

Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 27, 2026

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions.

After 7.09 km for 169 m

Permit required

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

10.3 km

Guadalupe River Trail Park & Gardens

Highlight • Trail

Along the Guadalupe River you will find a conglomeration of little scenic parks. There is Columbus Park, Taylor Street Rock Garden, a rose garden, a community garden, playgrounds, running trails by the river, and more. There is an interconnected network of bike paths and roads to explore here.

Tip by

15.2 km

Penitencia Creek Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

This is a great paved multi-use trail that takes you through a series of parks along Penitencia Creek all the way up out of the city past Mineral Springs. This is the eastern terminus and a great place to hop on the trail.

Tip by

34.4 km

JD Grant Park

Highlight • Forest

The Joseph D. Grant County Park is the largest country park in the Santa Clara area of California. Joseph was the wealthy son of a merchant who bought this land after the Mexican land grant. The Santa Clara County purchased the land in 1975 and created the park.

Tip by

34.4 km

Mount Hamilton Road

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Mount Hamilton Road is a road biker's delight - if you like climbs. Getting to JD Grant Park from the San Jose sea level is already a 1500 feet climb, though mostly mild. From Grant Park there's even less car traffic while the pitch is just getting steeper, with a little fun dip through Smith Creek valley, climbing to over 4000 feet at the Mount Hamilton observatories. In winter there can even be snow on the summit roadside.

Tip by

51.4 km

Lick Observatory

Nature Reserve

52.0 km

Mount Hamilton - Lick Observatory

Highlight • Monument

A wide range of space observatories on the highest mountain in the area, including the largest glass lens historic observatory from the 1880s, and several generations of subsequent observatory systems.
Very informative free tours. If visiting in winter bring warm clothes, as the elevation results in dramatically lower temperatures than in Silicon Valley just below, as indicated by the snow we encountered.

Tip by

52.4 km

Mt. Hamilton Climb West

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

Mount Hamilton climb from the west, starting in Alum Rock is a truly classic and popular road biking challenge leading to the iconic Lick Observatory. Over approximately 18.1 to 18.6 miles, you'll gain a significant 4,200 to 4,300 feet, with a moderate average gradient around 4-4.8%, though this includes some welcome short descents. The climbing portions are more consistently in the 5-7% range, making it a long, steady effort. As you wind your way up with seemingly endless switchbacks, the scenery is spectacular and constantly improving, offering expansive views of the Santa Clara Valley, the Bay Area, and surrounding mountains, providing plenty of visual reward during this enduring ascent in the Diablo Range.

Tip by

94.8 km

San Jose Municipal Rose Garden

Highlight • Natural

You can see over 180 different types of roses here from late spring to mid fall. The sculpted gardens surround a grand fountain at the center of the park. There are restrooms and bike racks on the north and south sides.

Tip by

101 km

Santa Clara Skatepark

Highlight • Structure

This is a great little park that lies just off the path from the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail. The park is supervised so be sure to check the hours of operation before you go. This is a great place for beginners learning how to skate. Helmet and pads are required.

Tip by

104 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

73.8 km

23.3 km

4.81 km

2.18 km

254 m

129 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

101 km

2.83 km

348 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (1,260 m)

Lowest point (10 m)

Weather

Today

Friday 3 July

27°C

13°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

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Mount Hamilton Road – Mt. Hamilton Climb West loop from Lawrence

Guadalupe River Trail Park & Gardens

Penitencia Creek Trail

JD Grant Park

Mount Hamilton Road

Mount Hamilton - Lick Observatory

Mt. Hamilton Climb West

San Jose Municipal Rose Garden

Santa Clara Skatepark

Nearby routes

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