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Ride Summary:
Long technical climbs with fast technical descents
Trail Description:
The ride starts with a good 4.1 mile climb that in places can get very steep. Just before reaching Priest Rock, the top of the climb you will hit some sections that are so steep that they will challenge even the best riders. Hike-a-bike is common here. At the Priest Rock Trail, head down toward Lexington Reservoir for another 4 miles. This is all down hill, and in some sections you can go just about as fast as you want to. The decants can get very fast. It is tempting to fly down this trial, but keep yourself and your bike under control. The trail surface can change without warning since rains have rutted the trail severely in sections. There are a few entrances to these trails, but the entrance on Kennedy Rd. is the most popular and offers the most trail riding.
How to get there:
From San Francisco:
Take 280 or 101 South to Hwy. 85 in Mountain View. Drive South on 85 to Hwy. 17 South. From Hwy 17 South take the Los Gatos East exit. Turn left on Los Gatos Blvd, then right onto Kennedy Rd. Go up Kennedy Rd. for about 4 miles. At the top of the hill, the trail head will be on your left.
From the East Bay:
Take Hwy. 880 to San Jose. Hwy. 880 changes to Hwy. 17 once you reach the Hwy. 280 intersection. Head South on Hwy. 17 to the Los Gatos East exit. Turn left on Los Gatos Blvd, then right onto Kennedy R. Go up Kennedy Rd. for about 4 miles. At the top of the hill, the trail head will be one your left.
From Gilroy:
Take Hwy. 101 North to Hwy. 85. Drive North on Hwy. 85 to Hwy. 17 South. Head South on Hwy. 17 to the Los Gatos East exit. Turn left on Los Gatos Blvd, then right onto Kennedy R. Go up Kennedy Rd. for about 4 miles. At the top of the hill, the trail head will be one your left.
| Posted by: brian on 11/10/2005 |
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this trail is bomb if you like to ride uphill!! and thats about it. Its no single track, and can get super steep in parts. some of the trails around are almost too loose to climb. Its closer to a 3000 ft elevation gain. Go to the demo forest instead.
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| Posted by: CalPolyBen on 9/8/2005 |
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It is indeed a hot and dry trail, but is one that truly allows you to completely escape civilization. Its all fire road, dusty and the corners are kind of loose, but satisfying and fast on the lower portions of Woods, where the springs trickle even after the dryest of summers. At the top of Kennedy, the steep rollers will have you hike-a-biking. Theres a fair amount of star thistle invading the trail on the Woods trail descent to Hicks road, so pack a couple tubes, as you don't want to get stuck out this far.(I saw no-one for two hours) Also it seems like a pretty good place to get gobbled up by a mountain lion. I haven't tried Limekiln or Priest Rock trails but will do those next week.
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| Posted by: BrothaFats on 6/6/2005 |
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Rode up the Kennedy Trail, down the Priest Rock Trail to the Lexington Reservoir and back again. I encountered no singletrack, only fire roads. Trails are very well marked. Go to openspace.org and find Sierra Azul for maps and info.
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| Posted by: punkin on 12/22/2000 |
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It used to be a killer ride. Until the speed limit was added. Good winter ride. Go up Kennedy and down Overgrown or Priest rock.
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| Posted by: Bongos on 9/19/1999 |
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Great ride....avoid it mid-day since it can get pretty hot up there and there is not much cover....it is NOT 100% singletrack - actually there is NO singletrack on the main trail..but there is some turnoffs with singletrack...mostly fire roads...killer ride nonetheless
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| Posted by: Nigel H on 8/14/1999 |
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Rode Kennedy for the second time today. Sweet ride - the views are spectacular in the split seconds you have to look up on the climb up. Recommended ride: start in Los Gatos - park on bridge on Main over 17. Ride down Main along Los gatos Boulevard and take a right on Kennedy Road - ride up to the trail head (something like three miles). Then climb Kennedy Trail to the first turn-off (Priest). Drop down in there rather than Lime-Kiln - this is a fast descent Lime-Kiln is not really worth the effort. However, Lime-Kiln crosses priest a couple of miles down - hang a right on Lime-Kiln there this is a neat descent - nothing really steep but consistent rhythm here. When you hit the Alma Bridge take a right and ride up to the Lexington dam - drop down the face of the dam and follow the creek trail back to Main. Nice loop - takes about 2-2 1/2 hours. Sweet and local too. Have fun and ride on!
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