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Carnegie vs. Hollister?

By heavenstrails,
in California

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heavenstrails

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I ride Metcalf often as it's close to me. Its okay, just not a lot there vs. Carnegie and Hollister.

 

But Hollister vs Carnegie? How's the two compare? Both are about the same distance from San Jose so drive time is a toss up. I've only been once to Hollister and it was nice. The upper ranch seems very loose and sandy, while the lower ranch is more packed and shady.

 

I've only been to Carnegie once for a downhill mountain bike race. That was on a very limited section of the park.

 

Comparisons?  Trail access? Safe, as in many one-way trails? Clearly marked trails? Good for novices?

Edited by heavenstrails
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dyrtmon

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Well…..Depending on where one lives……To ME Hollister is a traffic nightmare on weekdays, it's a truck.

Others might say the same about Carnegie however, which for me is teensy less than an hour.

I mostly ride Carno during the week, which is night n day better crowd wise than the weekends. 

Carnegie has 2 way trails, Hollister one way - good on the weekends.

Though Carno is much smaller (but WAY bigger than Metcalf) it does have some great technical single track that will test and develop skills, and

so many hill climbs from the 0 to ten scale that anyone will find something to suit their needs…..

 

Carnegie is knarly when it's dry, but perfect when it's perfect…..

 

Perhaps I need a tour guide for Hollister, but aside from the upper ranch (which is closed except for events) , and the Renz area (which is closed after any rain), I haven't find that much truly decent single track there….Aside from the Troll Trail... Seems like tons o fire roads….

 

Am I wrong?

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heavenstrails

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yeah, hollister does have a lot of fireroads.  Ive only ridden the blue trails though which are wider. the black trails are supposedly more single track but also tend to have more exposed edge from what i hear but not necessarily steeper or rocky. 

 

Sounds like carnegie is inbetween metcalf and hollister in terms of size. Carn with more technical of the three? 

 

Guess I'll have to wait to build my skills before venturing to Carn. I much prefer the safety of one-way trails as I'd hate to run into someone else at speed with two heavy machines impacting each other. 

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dyrtmon

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yeah, hollister does have a lot of fireroads.  Ive only ridden the blue trails though which are wider. the black trails are supposedly more single track but also tend to have more exposed edge from what i hear but not necessarily steeper or rocky. 

 

Sounds like carnegie is inbetween metcalf and hollister in terms of size. Carn with more technical of the three? 

 

Guess I'll have to wait to build my skills before venturing to Carn. I much prefer the safety of one-way trails as I'd hate to run into someone else at speed with two heavy machines impacting each other. 

Lesse….I think Carno is apprx 1500 acres, Met is 800 - 900, and Hollister is over 4K acres…..I'd say that Carno is the most technical of the 3, but someone will probably disagree with me.

 

I'm happy to be a tour guide if you want to meet there some week day - Not really that intimidating, it's reputation is worse than reality..

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superslyko

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How far is Hollister from Clear Creek?

 

Clear Creek is not Newbie friendly.  I've never been to Hollister.  When I was a kid I was told Hollister was great!

 

Hmmmmm??????  ?

 

Google maps has it at 19 minutes & 12 miles to the entrance of Woods Ranch.

Edited by superslyko
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dyrtmon

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Yes that'd be great if you could show me around. If you don't mind waiting for this novice dude. I'm free Friday if that works for you.

This and the next Friday won't work for me (if Fridays are you're only available weekdays)…

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heavenstrails

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I prefer the MX track at carnagie but holister has a lot of trails (and cliffs to fly off of which I have done.)

Who lives in the south bay area? I live in Sunnyvale. Would be nice to meet some other riders...

I'm down to ride. I'm a newbie rider and haven't gotten to ride with others yet. That may be a good thing as I didn't cause any crashes.

 

Yikes you went off some edges?!  Some of those cliffs at Hollister are pretty darn far up there. I'm always going real slow in 2nd gear on those upper trails.  I'd rather enjoy the view then become the view. 

 

I'm in San Jose.  PM me and we can ride sometimes.  Fridays work great. 

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Chas_M

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How far is Hollister from Clear Creek?

 

Clear Creek is not Newbie friendly.  I've never been to Hollister.  When I was a kid I was told Hollister was great!

 

Hmmmmm??????  ?

 

Google maps has it at 19 minutes & 12 miles to the entrance of Woods Ranch.

 

 

 

I believe that the Clear Creek trails are still closed although we've had a lot of fun riding there in the past.

Edited by Chas_M
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