South Bay driving roads
9 roads and 74 mapped miles. Pick a road to see its route, character and access notes.
Mount Hamilton and Mount Umunhum are summit drives; Uvas and McKean offer a different route through the South Bay hills. Each page shows the section we have mapped, so a climb to a destination is easy to distinguish from a road you can use to continue a longer drive.
Choose a road
- Almaden Road & Alamitos RoadThe approach through New Almaden toward the Quicksilver park and the foot of Hicks Road.
- Bailey AvenueThe open connector between Santa Teresa and McKean Road, past the IBM research site.
- Hicks RoadA steep and winding foothill road near Almaden and the approach to Mount Umunhum.
- McKean RoadOpen foothill and reservoir country between Almaden and Uvas, with intersections and local access.
- Metcalf Road & San Felipe RoadThe climb past the motorcycle park above San Jose, opening out onto San Felipe Road and the ranch country beyond.
- Mount Hamilton RoadA long ascent from San Jose toward Lick Observatory, with repeated switchbacks and changing sightlines.
- Mount Umunhum RoadA summit-access road with tight turns and broad valley views. Preserve opening hours apply.
- Uvas RoadA rolling reservoir-side road south of San Jose, linking with McKean Road and rural Santa Clara Valley.
- Watsonville RoadThe link south out of Morgan Hill toward Hecker Pass and the Watsonville side.