Mount Sizer is a prominent peak located on Blue Ridge in Henry W. Coe State Park

Henry W. Coe State Park

Henry W. Coe State Park is a California state park located in Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties. It contains over 86,000 acres , making it the largest state park in northern California, and the second-largest in the state...

, just east of Morgan Hill, California

Morgan Hill, California

Morgan Hill is a city located in the southern part of Santa Clara County, California, United States. Founded on November 10, 1906, the city was named after Hiram Morgan Hill, a San Franciscan who built a country retreat home there in 1884...

. Because Mount Sizer is the highest point on Blue Ridge and under 10 miles (16.1 km) miles from the park's headquarters, it makes it an ideal destination for day hikers. There are two ways to reach the summit. One by trails and one by a combination of trail and fire road

Firebreak

A firebreak is a gap in vegetation or other combustible material that acts as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of a bushfire or wildfire. A firebreak may occur naturally where there is a lack of vegetation or "fuel", such as a river, lake or canyon...

. The fire road route leads you almost directly up Blue Ridge to Mount Sizer and is affectionately nicknamed "The Shortcut". This road rises roughly 1500 feet (457 m) in 1.3 miles (2.1 km) giving it an average grade of 22%. Paved roads in California seldom exceed an 8% grade.