Mount Umunhum Road (climb) – Los Gatos Creek (east bank) loop from Winchester

Bike touring routes & trails

Mount Umunhum Road (climb) – Los Gatos Creek (east bank) loop from Winchester

Hard

4.5

(4385)

17,681

riders

Mount Umunhum Road (climb) – Los Gatos Creek (east bank) loop from Winchester

04:45

68.0km

1,140m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 12, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 1.25 km for 74 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

10.1 km

Guadalupe River Valley

Highlight • River

Shannon Road intersects with Hicks Road here like Shannon Creek flows into Guadalupe Creek. To the south the urban sprawl gives way to farms and forested hills. The roads unfortunately have no bike lanes.

Tip by

10.1 km

Hicks Road

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Mostly gradual section of road climbing into the protected nature of the hills south of the San Jose / South Bay urban sprawl. The road has mostly no shoulder, but particularly on weekends there are so many bikers that cars are sensitized and learn to be respectful and safe.

Tip by

27.4 km

Mount Umunhum Summit

Highlight • Summit

Long closed as a military radar station, the peak has now become one of the most popular biking destinations thanks to the excellent, albeit steep, paved road to the top. There are several vista points, restrooms, drinking water, and information panels at the top and near the old radar tower.

Tip by

27.4 km

Mount Umunhum Road (climb)

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

Well paved road reopened in 2017, climbing sometimes steeply in switchbacks into the Sierra Azul preserve from Hicks Road to the former radar tower on the summit of Mt Umunhum. It's a great workout, but don't be discouraged by the exaggerated 2950 feet elevation change estimate here by Komoot (in biking mode it even calculates 9750 feet): in reality it's closer to 1600 feet of climbing.

Tip by

49.3 km

Pfeiffer Park

Highlight • Rest Area

Small leafy park on the former Pfeiffer Ranch area along Los Alamitos Calero Creek trail

Tip by

65.0 km

Los Gatos Creek (east bank)

Highlight (Segment) • River

Los Gatos Creek is squeezed into an artificial concrete canal. Weirs and barrages occasionally slow down the flow.

On the positive side, the excellent paved bike and multiuser trail that follows the canal is equally straightened and has enough room.

Tip by

68.0 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types