Martial Cottle short return on the northern paved trail
California · Other separated ride
Head north on the signed paved perimeter Martial Cottle Trail toward Branham Lane. At the northern corner follow the main paved trail west beside the park boundary. Turn after one outward mile, before a public-road crossing, barrier or unsuitable section, whichever comes first, then retrace. Stay on the northern and eastern public bicycle course. Exclude the central Cattle Run connection with a retained closed GIS spur, farm/lessee parcels, service roads, the discovery-farm play area and hiking-only paths. This is not a whole-park loop.
Plan your ride
- Location
- San José · California
- Ride length
- Up to 2 miles
- Ride format
- Out-and-back
- Surface
- Paved park bicycle trail
- Road crossings
- Head north on the signed paved perimeter Martial Cottle Trail toward Branham Lane. At the northern corner follow the main paved trail west beside the park boundary. Turn after one outward mile, before a public-road crossing, barrier or unsuitable section, whichever comes first, then retrace. Stay on the northern and eastern public bicycle course. Exclude the central Cattle Run connection with a retained closed GIS spur, farm/lessee parcels, service roads, the discovery-farm play area and hiking-only paths. This is not a whole-park loop.
- Elevation
- The county’s Hike and Seek program rates Martial Cottle Trail Easy. That is a qualitative trail rating, not a measured maximum grade or guarantee about the parking connection. Walk a transition if needed; the open fields provide little shelter from sun and wind.
- Starting location
- 5283 Snell Avenue, San José, CA 95136
Chosen maximum two-mile return; park-network total over three miles is not a three-mile lap. Walking approach extra. Owner guide map’s 0.3-mile inset is a different small area.
Approximate park-area point. Check the named entrance and public parking in the guide.
Martial Cottle short return on the northern paved trail — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-20. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
San José, California · Up to 2 miles out and back · Paved park bicycle trail
Start: Martial Cottle main entrance public Parking Lot A, 5283 Snell Avenue, San José, CA 95136. County owner identifies the public Snell entrance. Saved public GIS marks Lot A as public, distinct from lessee-only and maintenance lots. Walk the signed public park connection from Lot A to the eastern perimeter Martial Cottle Trail, avoiding vehicle aisles and closed service spurs.
Ride: Head north on the signed paved perimeter Martial Cottle Trail toward Branham Lane. At the northern corner follow the main paved trail west beside the park boundary. Turn after one outward mile, before a public-road crossing, barrier or unsuitable section, whichever comes first, then retrace. Stay on the northern and eastern public bicycle course. Exclude the central Cattle Run connection with a retained closed GIS spur, farm/lessee parcels, service roads, the discovery-farm play area and hiking-only paths. This is not a whole-park loop.
Distance: Chosen maximum two-mile return; park-network total over three miles is not a three-mile lap. Walking approach extra. Owner guide map’s 0.3-mile inset is a different small area.
Permission and effort: Current owner expressly permits bicycles on designated paved trails; the saved public bicycle GIS and owner map distinguish these from hiking-only and service routes. The county’s Hike and Seek program rates Martial Cottle Trail Easy. That is a qualitative trail rating, not a measured maximum grade or guarantee about the parking connection. Walk a transition if needed; the open fields provide little shelter from sun and wind.
Planning: Vehicle access 8 a.m. to sunset; trail hours sunrise to sunset. Earlier trail opening does not provide earlier gate access. Vehicle entry collected year-round; hourly rates are posted at the park machine. Retained county fee evidence lists $6 daily; pay the current posted amount. California State Parks passes are not accepted here. Yield to walkers and equestrians and keep dogs on a leash no longer than six feet. Retained county guidance sets 15 mph maximum, slower near others. Helmets required under 18 on paved paths. Ordinary pedal bicycles are the guide scope; no permission for electric devices on every connector is inferred.
Access: Reviewed October 20, 2026: current owner lists the park and paved bicycle trails. Its linked guide map was published September 8, 2026. The saved bicycle GIS has a short closed central spur, explicitly excluded rather than treated as an entirely closed park. Protected county alert/policy pages were not re-requested, so this is not a fresh full county-alert clearance. Posted work, event and crop-access signs govern.
Choose comfortable weather, bring water and check current signs before setting out. No parking-space pin, surveyed route or GPX is supplied.
Sources: County park information · County Easy trail rating · September 2026 park map · County bicycle trail GIS