January is one of the strongest months in San Jose (2nd)
Best window · 9.6/10Trail conditions at 20°C (68°F) favour early starts and shaded routes in January; midday is for water breaks, not for exposed climbs.
With around 30 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.6 hours of daylight fill the rest.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for San Jose at 9.6/10 (2nd of 12), just behind February at 9.8/10.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.
February: the best month of the year in San Jose
Best window · 9.8/10Trail conditions at 20°C (68°F) favour early starts and shaded routes in February; midday is for water breaks, not for exposed climbs.
With around 17 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 27 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.8 hours of daylight fill the rest.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for San Jose at 9.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.
March is one of the strongest months in San Jose (3rd)
Best window · 9.2/10March averages 21°C (69°F) — warm for the outdoors: start trails early, use shaded routes at midday, and carry more water than you think you need.
Rainfall runs 52 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.1 hours of daylight.
A 9.2/10 puts this among the year's best months in San Jose (3rd of 12); only February scores higher, at 9.8/10.
Figure on peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
April in San Jose: strong conditions, 5th of 12
Good · 7.2/10Trail conditions at 21°C (70°F) favour early starts and shaded routes in April; midday is for water breaks, not for exposed climbs.
142 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 7.2/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 9.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in San Jose — 2.6 points higher on the same scale.
May in San Jose: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6.1/10May averages 21°C (69°F) — warm for the outdoors: start trails early, use shaded routes at midday, and carry more water than you think you need.
315 mm makes this the wettest stretch of the year, though about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still appear — keep an indoor fallback ready.
It scores 6.1/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination. That combination — decent conditions at the lowest rates of the year — is the best value window on this page.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? February scores 3.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
June in San Jose: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6/10Trail conditions at 20°C (68°F) favour early starts and shaded routes in June; midday is for water breaks, not for exposed climbs.
This is the year's wettest stretch at 462 mm, but with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.
That is 6/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 9.8/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in San Jose — 3.8 points higher on the same scale.
July in San Jose: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6.1/10Trail conditions at 20°C (69°F) favour early starts and shaded routes in July; midday is for water breaks, not for exposed climbs.
This is the year's wettest stretch at 354 mm, but with about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.
That is 6.1/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 9.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in San Jose — 3.7 points higher on the same scale.
August in San Jose: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6/10August averages 20°C (68°F) — warm for the outdoors: start trails early, use shaded routes at midday, and carry more water than you think you need.
441 mm makes this the wettest stretch of the year, though about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still appear — keep an indoor fallback ready.
It scores 6/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? February scores 3.8 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
September in San Jose — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 5.9/10September averages 20°C (67°F) — warm for the outdoors: start trails early, use shaded routes at midday, and carry more water than you think you need.
464 mm makes this the wettest stretch of the year, though about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still appear — keep an indoor fallback ready.
It scores 5.9/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? February scores 3.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
October in San Jose: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5.8/10Trail conditions at 19°C (67°F) favour early starts and shaded routes in October; midday is for water breaks, not for exposed climbs.
This is the year's wettest stretch at 548 mm, but with about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.
That is 5.8/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 9.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in San Jose — 4 points higher on the same scale.
November in San Jose: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5.9/10Trail conditions at 19°C (67°F) favour early starts and shaded routes in November; midday is for water breaks, not for exposed climbs.
This is the year's wettest stretch at 357 mm, but with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.
That is 5.9/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 9.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in San Jose — 3.9 points higher on the same scale.
December holds up well in San Jose — 4th best month
Good · 8.4/10December averages 20°C (68°F) — warm for the outdoors: start trails early, use shaded routes at midday, and carry more water than you think you need.
Rainfall runs 73 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.6 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.4/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 9.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
