Del Puerto Canyon Road

Why is there an option to review a friggen road? Well, I’ve driven it a few times to see the housing development up there and it’s just shy of 10 miles. Lots of greenery and animals to look at (especially squirrels) so yeah I guess it’s pretty cool. Look out for cyclists on the weekends.

Off I-​5 at Patterson, take a right onto Diablo Grande Parkway. Just off the freeway, turn right onto the small, unassuming road that leads into the grassy distance. This is Del Puerto Canyon Road. It leads 20 — 22 miles into the Diablo Range, through Del Puerto Canyon, to the junction of Mines Road in the San Antonio Valley.
Just inside the canyon, it’s pretty barren and grassy, due to it’s close proximity to the hot Central Valley. But as you wind in and through the canyon, more and more foliage and green appears. Many scraggly oaks and bushes, lots of free-​range cattle ranches, deer, mountain lions, and wild boar live in these parts.
Pay attention to the road, because it’s very twisty and turny. But notice that as you leave civilization to enter these mountains, how refreshing it is to see rugged landscape that is untouched and looking the same way it has for thousands of years. There is the occasional ranch, and most of the private property here is surrounded by barbed wire, but besides that, it’s you and the wilderness.
When you reach the Junction, you can either turn north onto Mines Road and follow it to Livermore, or south onto Mt. Hamilton Road and follow it to Alum Rock Road in San Jose.
Be sure you have gas in the car, and watch for bicyclists. There is no shoulder anywhere along this road. Enjoy the scenery!