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Take advantage of the view while the grass is still green!!! The shortest route is about a mile and there is a decent amount of parking. It may get crowded during the weekend and a line sometimes form where you wait for parking. It is windy so I definitely recommend layering up.
I was looking for a place with minimal light pollution at night, so I came here recently to scout out the place. The drive up is treacherous but not too bad during the day in good weather. I got as far as the Sierra Vista parking lot. The cityscape view is just great, but I was more interested in the trail on the other side of the road. I could see a couple isolated trees on the hiking trail which would look magnificent set against star trails or a shot of the milky way. Plus I didn't see any obvious nighttime light sources except the city below so it's probably dark at night. So why just 3 stars ? No parking at night. As you can see from the picture, the trail (and I assume the parking lot) closes at 9PM (sorry about the finger). Plus I couldn't find any nearby places where you could completely pull off the road. I have no idea how some of the other reviewers managed night shots from here, but the only options I can see are to park my car partially off the road or hike several miles up the mountain with camera gear. I'll have to pass. Damned shame.
Breathtaking views. The twists and turns of this road lead to the most amazing views of San Jose city lights!I'm surprised this beautiful road has only 29 Yelp reviews! Definitely deserves more visits and more reviews! 5 stars! I have only taken this road trip at night time but would love to go for a hike during daylight. Parking can be a bit of a challenge due to the narrow and winding roads. But there is a spot midway, with barbed wires and benches which boasts of great panoramic city views. You can just stand and stare at those lights for hours. It can get quite chilly at night time so do have a blanket or sweater handy. Be cautious of the winding roads which sometimes turn into a single lane. The road on the return seems like a dirt road with minimal or no lights. Pro Tip : Grab a cup of White Chocolate Mocha from the nearest Starbucks, put on some soulful music and just sit back and relax on this romantic drive! Must visit!
I'm so very glad I stumbled across reviews on yelp for this road. The drive down in itself is stunning at night and so worth getting up there just to drive down the crooked twists and turns with amazing views. Be cautious as folks tend to park partially in the road whenever there is a view. Do not skip this. I found it such a strange thing when I asked for local things to do no one mentioned this. When I'm out there again in April my goal is to get up there to see the sunset and not just the night view. If I end up living here I'm going to be hiking the trail close to the top. This should be one of the first recommended 'to-do' in San Jose.
There is a 4 mile drive to the top where there is a nice view of the bay area, where it would be pleasant to watch the sunset or lit up city at night! The view is nice while driving on the way down as well. The drive takes a little longer than expected because of the curvy road but worth the detour!
Sierra road onto Felter Road onto Calaveras Road is an incredible drive. So incredibly beautiful and the perfect outting during this quarantine while maintaining social distancing inside your car. We were starting to get glued to our couch at home and very cranky. This was much much needed and the perfect drive. Took some homemade sandwiches with us so we did not have to stop anywhere.
The road up is a bit scary and windy but I enjoyed it. The view from the top is absolutely breathtaking and definitely something I would visit again when I visit San Jose.
One of the best area to look at the Bay. The view driving up is great as well. For hiking, make sure to go early because the parking gate for hiking trails close at 6pm.
This place is pretty nice if your looking for a view in san jose. The only bad thing is due to COVID-19 the top parking wasn't open which was disappointing. Would have been a better experience to be at the very top. The view was still very pretty worth going.
We did this drive for our anniversary. The vista was closed when we got there but we pulled over in time to catch the sunset. Such a beautiful drive. You might catch some horses and cows on the way up and some beautiful views. Really lovely low key quiet date idea. You can hike up or drive up.
Probably the best place to view in San Jose. Perfect place for stargazing. Don't forget to take blanket if you are going to see the start. It might get chill at night.
Not to be a downer, but when it comes to the South Bay, I haven't really found any activity (whether it be hiking, eating, etc.) that I would actually consider very romantic and intimate. The one exception? Sierra Road, located in the pungent but delicious city of Milpitas (yes the map says San Jose, but you start in Milpitas). Since this place isn't really all that famous - even among South Bay residents - I would consider this a gem worthy of being thought of as "off the beaten path." The road itself is very accessible by foot or by car (I recommend by car if you want to be home for dinner/breakfast. Whether you are coming from 880/237 interchanges, you can make your way to Calveras and just take it all the way down until you begin the ascent up the mountain. Geographically speaking, you are pretty much climbing up Calveras road until you hit the intersection of Piedmont and Calveras. This is where you start your climb. You continue going on windy paths along Calveras until it becomes Felter Road. Especially at night, BE CAREFUL when driving along these roads. It can get very windy and dangerous at pitch dark. I personally love driving fast along these roads, but there is an actual chance of death if you are reckless. After around 10-15 minutes along Felter, you will eventually turn onto Sierra Road. Shout out to Tony L. for the tips because they helped me get up there. Once you hit Sierra Road, there are two vista points, the first being the more populated one. Since the entire road is very windy and narrow, there's few parking spots. The first vista is at the very top where you get a panoramic view of the South Bay. There's some spots on the side where you can park off the road, but it will be bumpy so be careful. There's a fence guarding the vista, but you can clearly just crawl through it. If you keep driving along Sierra Road, there's another viewpoint that gives you a closer look at the city lights/city. It's a little bit downhill, but you'll know it when you see it. I personally recommend the first view since it has more parking spots and there's a few places to sit too. But regardless of where you stop and check the view, it will be magnificent and drop dead gorgeous. The best part is that so few people know about this spot; on Valentines, there were only a few cars! Overall, if you don't mind driving up windy roads, this spot will give you the most romantic and best view in the South Bay! Have fun and prosper,
Ever get one of those days where you just want to drive? Want to see something spectacular? Want to get away from the crowds? My hubby surprised me with a trip up Sierra Road on a late October night, just a couple of days before Halloween. The weather was pretty chilly, but not cold enough that we didn't want to leave the warmth of our car. As the road began to wind upwards, we lost our radio signal, filling our car with momentary silence before my exclamation of "ooh's" and "ahh's" broke through. San Jose might not be the most beautiful city in the world, but you would have a hard time convincing us of that as we looked down at the twinkling, bright lights below. My poor hubby had to keep his focus on the dark roads since they wound and wound, higher and higher we went, so he wasn't able to get a GOOD look, but hopefully my commentary sufficed. Finally, we reached a flat spot on the hills where we parked our car and stepped out onto the wide ledge. Thank goodness for smart phones because we didn't have a flashlight on hand, but we both had a flashlight app and that worked out just fine. I almost felt like we were doing something illegal since we crawled under this wooden pole, but hey, that kind of rebellion isn't too bad, right? Even with the biting wind blowing in our faces, my hubby and I were stunned into this awed silence at the beauty before us. I couldn't help but think: WE LIVE HERE? IT'S GORGEOUS! I don't recall how long we stood there, but in his warm embrace, I could have stayed there forever. The road coming down was a joyride all on its own. My hubby might have been a little concerned about his brakes, but I was laughing like a giddy, little kid. I rolled the window down and enjoyed the whoosh of air and the tiny skips of my heartbeat when our car dipped or made a sharp turn. I had never been more impressed by my hubby's driving. He did wonderfully! Sierra Road is a beautiful place to take your sweetheart. It's a view that will leave you breathless and give you a ride that will leave you feeling exhilarated. Just be ultra careful as you go up and even more so as you go down!
1 year ago
The roads may be a bit narrow and it's a bit packed depending on the time you go but I feel it was worth it! read more
8 months ago
2 years ago
Very good place for sightseeing. I drove through Sierra Rd and then Felter Rd followed by Calaveras Rd. The route was great for drive-and-see for the first time. I suggest drive along Sierra Rd until Sierra Open Space Parking and then go back, the second half of Sierra Rd toward Felter Rd would be a bit hard to drive due to narrow roads. But it's good to have a look for the first time. I was unlucky to drive out on a cloudy day but lucky to see the clouds under my feet after I drove to the spot. It was amazing. read more
3 years ago
Take advantage of the view while the grass is still green!!! The shortest route is about a mile and there is a decent amount of parking. It may get crowded during the weekend and a line sometimes form where you wait for parking. It is windy so I definitely recommend layering up. read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
I was looking for a place with minimal light pollution at night, so I came here recently to scout out the place. The drive up is treacherous but not too bad during the day in good weather. I got as far as the Sierra Vista parking lot. The cityscape view is just great, but I was more interested in the trail on the other side of the road. I could see a couple isolated trees on the hiking trail which would look magnificent set against star trails or a shot of the milky way. Plus I didn't see any obvious nighttime light sources except the city below so it's probably dark at night. So why just 3 stars ? No parking at night. As you can see from the picture, the trail (and I assume the parking lot) closes at 9PM (sorry about the finger). Plus I couldn't find any nearby places where you could completely pull off the road. I have no idea how some of the other reviewers managed night shots from here, but the only options I can see are to park my car partially off the road or hike several miles up the mountain with camera gear. I'll have to pass. Damned shame. read more
10 years ago
Breathtaking views. The twists and turns of this road lead to the most amazing views of San Jose city lights!I'm surprised this beautiful road has only 29 Yelp reviews! Definitely deserves more visits and more reviews! 5 stars! I have only taken this road trip at night time but would love to go for a hike during daylight. Parking can be a bit of a challenge due to the narrow and winding roads. But there is a spot midway, with barbed wires and benches which boasts of great panoramic city views. You can just stand and stare at those lights for hours. It can get quite chilly at night time so do have a blanket or sweater handy. Be cautious of the winding roads which sometimes turn into a single lane. The road on the return seems like a dirt road with minimal or no lights. Pro Tip : Grab a cup of White Chocolate Mocha from the nearest Starbucks, put on some soulful music and just sit back and relax on this romantic drive! Must visit! read more
I'm so very glad I stumbled across reviews on yelp for this road. The drive down in itself is stunning at night and so worth getting up there just to drive down the crooked twists and turns with amazing views. Be cautious as folks tend to park partially in the road whenever there is a view. Do not skip this. I found it such a strange thing when I asked for local things to do no one mentioned this. When I'm out there again in April my goal is to get up there to see the sunset and not just the night view. If I end up living here I'm going to be hiking the trail close to the top. This should be one of the first recommended 'to-do' in San Jose. read more
There is a 4 mile drive to the top where there is a nice view of the bay area, where it would be pleasant to watch the sunset or lit up city at night! The view is nice while driving on the way down as well. The drive takes a little longer than expected because of the curvy road but worth the detour! read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
Sierra road onto Felter Road onto Calaveras Road is an incredible drive. So incredibly beautiful and the perfect outting during this quarantine while maintaining social distancing inside your car. We were starting to get glued to our couch at home and very cranky. This was much much needed and the perfect drive. Took some homemade sandwiches with us so we did not have to stop anywhere. read more
6 years ago
The road up is a bit scary and windy but I enjoyed it. The view from the top is absolutely breathtaking and definitely something I would visit again when I visit San Jose. read more
6 years ago
One of the best area to look at the Bay. The view driving up is great as well. For hiking, make sure to go early because the parking gate for hiking trails close at 6pm. read more
6 years ago
This place is pretty nice if your looking for a view in san jose. The only bad thing is due to COVID-19 the top parking wasn't open which was disappointing. Would have been a better experience to be at the very top. The view was still very pretty worth going. read more
4 years ago
6 years ago
We did this drive for our anniversary. The vista was closed when we got there but we pulled over in time to catch the sunset. Such a beautiful drive. You might catch some horses and cows on the way up and some beautiful views. Really lovely low key quiet date idea. You can hike up or drive up. read more
7 years ago
Probably the best place to view in San Jose. Perfect place for stargazing. Don't forget to take blanket if you are going to see the start. It might get chill at night. read more
Not to be a downer, but when it comes to the South Bay, I haven't really found any activity (whether it be hiking, eating, etc.) that I would actually consider very romantic and intimate. The one exception? Sierra Road, located in the pungent but delicious city of Milpitas (yes the map says San Jose, but you start in Milpitas). Since this place isn't really all that famous - even among South Bay residents - I would consider this a gem worthy of being thought of as "off the beaten path." The road itself is very accessible by foot or by car (I recommend by car if you want to be home for dinner/breakfast. Whether you are coming from 880/237 interchanges, you can make your way to Calveras and just take it all the way down until you begin the ascent up the mountain. Geographically speaking, you are pretty much climbing up Calveras road until you hit the intersection of Piedmont and Calveras. This is where you start your climb. You continue going on windy paths along Calveras until it becomes Felter Road. Especially at night, BE CAREFUL when driving along these roads. It can get very windy and dangerous at pitch dark. I personally love driving fast along these roads, but there is an actual chance of death if you are reckless. After around 10-15 minutes along Felter, you will eventually turn onto Sierra Road. Shout out to Tony L. for the tips because they helped me get up there. Once you hit Sierra Road, there are two vista points, the first being the more populated one. Since the entire road is very windy and narrow, there's few parking spots. The first vista is at the very top where you get a panoramic view of the South Bay. There's some spots on the side where you can park off the road, but it will be bumpy so be careful. There's a fence guarding the vista, but you can clearly just crawl through it. If you keep driving along Sierra Road, there's another viewpoint that gives you a closer look at the city lights/city. It's a little bit downhill, but you'll know it when you see it. I personally recommend the first view since it has more parking spots and there's a few places to sit too. But regardless of where you stop and check the view, it will be magnificent and drop dead gorgeous. The best part is that so few people know about this spot; on Valentines, there were only a few cars! Overall, if you don't mind driving up windy roads, this spot will give you the most romantic and best view in the South Bay! Have fun and prosper, read more
Ever get one of those days where you just want to drive? Want to see something spectacular? Want to get away from the crowds? My hubby surprised me with a trip up Sierra Road on a late October night, just a couple of days before Halloween. The weather was pretty chilly, but not cold enough that we didn't want to leave the warmth of our car. As the road began to wind upwards, we lost our radio signal, filling our car with momentary silence before my exclamation of "ooh's" and "ahh's" broke through. San Jose might not be the most beautiful city in the world, but you would have a hard time convincing us of that as we looked down at the twinkling, bright lights below. My poor hubby had to keep his focus on the dark roads since they wound and wound, higher and higher we went, so he wasn't able to get a GOOD look, but hopefully my commentary sufficed. Finally, we reached a flat spot on the hills where we parked our car and stepped out onto the wide ledge. Thank goodness for smart phones because we didn't have a flashlight on hand, but we both had a flashlight app and that worked out just fine. I almost felt like we were doing something illegal since we crawled under this wooden pole, but hey, that kind of rebellion isn't too bad, right? Even with the biting wind blowing in our faces, my hubby and I were stunned into this awed silence at the beauty before us. I couldn't help but think: WE LIVE HERE? IT'S GORGEOUS! I don't recall how long we stood there, but in his warm embrace, I could have stayed there forever. The road coming down was a joyride all on its own. My hubby might have been a little concerned about his brakes, but I was laughing like a giddy, little kid. I rolled the window down and enjoyed the whoosh of air and the tiny skips of my heartbeat when our car dipped or made a sharp turn. I had never been more impressed by my hubby's driving. He did wonderfully! Sierra Road is a beautiful place to take your sweetheart. It's a view that will leave you breathless and give you a ride that will leave you feeling exhilarated. Just be ultra careful as you go up and even more so as you go down! read more
Back when I was in high school I was a really sheltered child, so when someone asked, "Hey, do you wanna go to city lights tonight?" I would shyly respond with "oh no it's okay, I have plans tonight" aka what I really meant was "plans to stay on my couch, binge watch Avatar the last Airbender, and what is city lights anyway?" I legitimately thought "city lights" was a place (like hey! Let's go to Starbucks!) and I honestly didn't know people meant to actually just see the lights of the city...LOL. Of the places to see city lights in San Jose (communication hills, fowler,...) Sierra is definitely the highest and most beautiful ones to visit. Of course the most beautiful things don't come easy, so with that being said, the road up is a little smaller and scarier for those who aren't comfortable with narrow/winding roads. It's not super crazy, most people drive it fine, just be cautious! I've only been here at night for city lights, but I have it on my list to come back during the day to hike! read more
Cruising around and want a complete view of the city? this is the place to be! All along this road are views of the city and it is magnificent especially at night. It is a nice drive however, the roads are pretty narrow at some points and there is an incline. It is a great place to think or just chill and look at the view with your date or friends. Quiet place to do some catching up and chit chatting. In the dat time you will see people bike up this hill, walking, jogging and more. It is a good work out hill as well! read more
6 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
Epic panorama of the city night view. Limited parking space but you get very good view while driving. It gets a lil windy up on the hills so bring your jacket with you. Highly recommended for couples or solo drivers. read more
10 years ago
To grow up in San Jose and not know this place existed makes me sad. The road is super windy driving up but the views make it worth it. It's a great hike with really cool views. It's also great because not many people are around so it stays super quite. I look forward to hiking more of the trail around here. It's a great date spot and watching the sunset is super romantic! read more
6 years ago
8 years ago
This's a beautiful place, but there doesn't have parking lot. If you try to park on the street, you will get the ticket. In fact, I got the ticket and I have to pay $45 . It's not fun . read more
11 years ago
This is a great place to have a date especially during sunset or to just watch the city lights. But parking is a bit hard especially if there is a lot of people. Tips: bring a jacket or a blanket just in case it gets chilly at night read more
9 years ago
This is my go to place to enjoy driving and take pictures as well. The road is a little bit narrow, very winding so need to be careful for driving. Please drive slow ! However, this road (leading to Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve and connected again to E Calaveras blvd at Milpitas, kind of a loop) offers all different and beautiful views including hills, trees, sunsets, small animals, city night lights and etc. It went beyond my expectations whenever I came there. So wonderful !! I think this is why I could see so many dating couples all the time. :) read more
8 years ago
My favorite place to think and relax, it's really beautiful during the day and night. One of many hidden gems of San Jose! read more
9 years ago
Worth the trip. Scenery was awesome. The road was narrow and winding and fun to drive on. You do need to watch out for cyclists. Once in the parking area, you can head out on trails for hiking. read more
6 years ago
I visit Sierra road few times with my wife the roads are very safe with great access with beautiful roads very relaxing place highly recommend read more
9 years ago
Breathtaking view. Loved the sunset here. Although going here kinda twisty but its worth it. read more
10 years ago
11 years ago
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More info about Sierra Road
Ask the Community - Sierra Road
Is there any parking when we go there around 9ish pm?
It's basically a private road. There a slight turn offs that you can park for a while.
