Dutch Flat and Dairy Trails is a 5.7 mile loop trail located near Mount Hamilton, California that features beautiful wild flowers. The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking, walking, and trail running. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
hiking
trail running
walking
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wildlife
A great loop hike for wildlife and wildflower scouting at the park in the hills east of San Jose. This hike gives a nice overview of Joseph D. Grant County Park, passing through its distinctive oak-woodland ecosystem but sparing you from the brutal ascents and descents that characterize so many of the hikes in this park. Grant County Park (often called "Grant Ranch" because the land was once owned by prominent ranchers of the same name) does not have the waterfalls or rock formations that popularize many parks in the Bay Area, but it was vast swaths of open, wild terrain. The wildness manifests itself in a wonderful wildflower bloom every spring along with a wide range of animals you'll rarely see outside a zoo: coyotes, turkeys, bobcats, tarantulas and the occasional rattlesnake or mountain lion. Scan the skies for raptors (red-tailed hawks are common; golden eagles fly by, too) and watch for old dead trees where acorn woodpeckers have stowed future meals. Trails on this hike: Dutch Flat Trail > Dairy Trail > Brush Trail > San Felipe Trail. This is also a nice kid-friendly day hike if you're camping at the park. Spring is naturally the best time to go, followed by fall and winter. Summer's just too hot to enjoy a hike here.
beautiful today was an overcast winter day. Nice cause this is pretty exposed. We saw no one on the trail. We did see either a bobcat or mountain lion, not sure, too far away and too quick. We saw baby wild boar. We saw lots of wild turkeys. I think this trail would be easier if traveled in the reverse (clockwise) direction, then the uphill would be more gradual.
A peaceful and easy-to-moderate trail. The view is not as beautiful as Alum Rock in this season. But it is good option if you want to enjoy the trail only yourself.
Pretty, quiet, and not too exposed. But cow poop and flies everywhere. Trails weren't clearly marked and we passed by a few forks not even realizing it, so I highly recommend taking your GPS with you.
Very wet after recent rains. More of a service road than trail. Great views of the surrounding mountains.
Great Hike! More than 5.7 miles. We hiked 8.9 miles.