Hellyer — Cottonwood Lake short loop

Hellyer — Cottonwood Lake short loop — detailed guide

Source review: 2026-10-11. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.

A short, approximately 0.6-mile outing on paved shared paths around Cottonwood Lake, including the mapped approach from public lake parking. This is a relaxed lap for riders who want a small circuit rather than a long trail ride.

Enter through 996 Hellyer Avenue in San José and use the signed public Cottonwood East Lot 3 by the lake. The county lists a $6 daily vehicle-entry fee; bring a payment card and follow posted payment instructions. Park gates open at 8 a.m. and close at sunset. Trails open at sunrise, but that does not provide earlier vehicle access.

From the lake-side end of the lot, take the paved Cottonwood Lake access path to the lake's southeast corner. Follow the paved lakeshore path around the entire lake, keeping the lake on your left if riding counterclockwise. At the access junction, return along the same short approach to your lot. Stay on the lake circuit: do not extend onto Coyote Creek Trail, cross Hellyer Avenue, follow the turf loop, or enter the banked velodrome racing track. Watch for vehicles while leaving and returning to parking, and slow around pedestrians, anglers and path junctions.

The county's connected GIS lake segments total 0.572 mile. The mapped approach adds about 0.036 mile each way, giving about 0.644 mile for one lap and the return approach, rounded here to 0.6. Your chosen parking space changes the total. This is a GIS distance estimate, not a GPS measurement.

The lake segments match the county's dated easy-trail geometry exactly, with their highest listed grade about 1.7%. The parking approach includes a short section listed near 4.6%. The layer carries Field Verified labels and June 2025 edit dates; those are not a new on-site inspection or a full accessibility certification. Expect a gentler lake lap than its approach.

Ordinary bicycles are designated for these paths. Current county policy also permits Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on designated bikeways and prohibits Class 3. The trail limit is 15 mph; ride slower when passing, give others space, and yield to walkers and horses. Helmets are required for riders under 18 on paved paths and recommended for everyone. Posted restrictions and barriers control access.

Carry drinking water and check working facilities locally. Swimming in the lake is not part of this outing. The current county alerts reviewed October 11, 2026 UTC did not list a Cottonwood lake-path closure; that is not an on-site all-clear. Dog-run work notices do not establish a closure of this lake circuit. Check current signs and county alerts before riding.

Sources: Hellyer park and Cottonwood entrance, county bicycle policy, current fees, county trail GIS, dated grade layer and published park map. The public GIS diagram was reviewed visually; the published PDF was reviewed as text. No navigation GPX or surveyed parking-stall pin is supplied.

Editorial entry complete with these qualifications. Fresh posted-access checks and integration into the separate national website remain before launch.