It lies along the southernmost edge of San Jose, California, adjacent to the Metcalf Energy Center.

The hill and surrounding 330 acres (130 ha) of serpentine grasslands are home to the endangered Bay checkerspot butterfly[3] and Dudleya setchellii wildflower.

The hill sits atop the narrowest gap between the Santa Cruz and Diablo mountain ranges, and overlooks the Laguna Seca wetlands in northern Coyote Valley.

[5] Spanish padre Francisco Palóu passed over Tulare Hill during a 1774 expedition.

In August 2019, a brush fire consumed approximately 60 acres along the southwestern part of the hill, as well as a small area on the eastern side of nearby Santa Teresa County Park.