For many Almaden Valley residents, the appeal of South San Jose includes the chance to step away from a busy day and into the foothills. Santa Teresa County Park and Calero County Park already offer places to hike, ride, and enjoy broad views. A county plan now looks at connecting their existing trail systems across the Fortini Property near Fortini Road. It is a promising outdoor lifestyle story, with one important point up front: the proposed new connection is not open to the public yet.
What is being proposed?
The Fortini Property is a 47-acre site between San Vicente Avenue and McKean Road, parallel to Fortini Road in the 95120 area. Santa Clara County Parks describes it as an extension of Calero County Park and envisions a future multi-use route between Santa Teresa's Stile Ranch area and Calero's Rancho San Vicente entrance. The county's project record says the proposed connection would accommodate hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. County Parks project page | California State Clearinghouse record
The plan contains more than a line drawn between two parks. It describes a main trail, connected seasonal trails, rest areas, a vista point, and picnic areas. Proposed infrastructure includes two crossings over Santa Teresa Creek and Arroyo Calero, improved trailhead parking, a signalized crossing at Fortini and McKean roads, and a raised crossing at San Vicente Avenue. These are planned elements, not amenities that visitors can use today. Final design, funding, construction schedule, and access may change. Project record
The county approved the project's environmental determination on August 25, 2026, and the notice was posted the next day. That is a meaningful planning step; it is not a grand opening or a published completion date. Notice of Determination
Why the connection matters
A connected trail system can make an existing outdoor network easier to explore. Instead of thinking of Santa Teresa and Calero only as separate destinations reached by car, trail users could eventually have a planned route linking portions of their systems. The county identifies the corridor with its high-priority Bay Area Ridge Trail and West Valley Trail planning. The proposed road crossings and trailheads are important because a useful route must connect safely and clearly at the places where people actually enter it. County Parks project page
The plan also considers a variety of trail users. Hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians may use shared routes differently, so posted rules, right of way, and any seasonal restrictions will matter when a connection eventually opens. The proposal's rest stops and viewpoint suggest a route intended for enjoying the landscape as well as moving through it.
The county is also balancing recreation with natural and cultural resources. Trail alignment, creek crossings, fencing, and visitor access all affect how a new corridor fits into this landscape. That is another reason to treat the site plan as a project to follow through later implementation, rather than promising a finished experience today.
What can people enjoy now?
There are established trails nearby already. Santa Teresa County Park reports more than 17 miles of unpaved trails for hiking, cycling, and equestrian use, with some steep terrain near Coyote Peak. Calero County Park's existing Rancho San Vicente entrance at 21131 McKean Road has parking, restrooms, and a hydration station. Check current maps, hours, permitted uses, and closures before a visit. Santa Teresa County Park | Rancho San Vicente entrance
There is also an existing Fortini Trail and Fortini Trailhead in Santa Teresa County Park. That older trail's name can be confusing: it is not the same as the proposed new trail connection across the Fortini Property. The county has described hikes on the existing Fortini, Stile Ranch, and Mine trails beginning at 22581 San Vicente Avenue. Use the official park map to identify open routes rather than assuming the proposed connection is already walkable. County Parks Fortini Trailhead event description
What this means for an Almaden Valley lifestyle search
For someone thinking about living near the foothills, access is more specific than a home listing's phrase “near trails.” Ask which park entrance is closest by road, whether a route is walkable from the home, what the terrain is like, where parking is available, and how the trail fits your actual routine. A short morning walk, a longer weekend hike, and a bike ride call for different routes.
The proposed Fortini Property connection is a future possibility, not a current feature to count on when choosing a home. No opening date is established in the cited project record. If trail proximity matters to your decision, evaluate the trails and entrances available today, then follow the county's project page for future design and construction updates.
That is the real attraction of this part of Santa Clara County: the outdoor lifestyle is already here. The Fortini plan shows how the regional network may become more connected over time, while Santa Teresa, Calero, and other existing open spaces offer plenty to discover now.