Calero County Park is a large park in southern Santa Clara County. It is in a string of parks and open-space-preserves that stretch for 50 miles from San Francisco down to Gilroy.
The 4,000 acre park is in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and is comprised of the Pueblo lands of San Jose, the Rancho Canada de Oro, and the Rancho San Vicente land grant. The park has two areas: the reservoir, with water-oriented activities; and the back-country: a mixed environment of oak-woodlands, chaparral, and seasonal riparian plant communities. Elevation ranges from 400 to 1500 feet.
Animals include mountain lions, coyotes, mule-ear deer, bobcat,
The Calero back-country offers 25 miles of trails. Trails are single-track and fire-road.
Trails are very popular with mountain bikers and hikers. It can get very hot July through September. Rain normally is in December-March.
