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Sawyer Camp, just past I-280 and Highway 92.
Bunker Hill Road Exit (first exit on 280 after 92), turn left over 280,
and then right. Trail of six miles with bathrooms every odd mile and
half mile markers. The only traffic worth worrying about is that of
coyotes (if they are present, which is rare) or park rangers (which
isn't so rare).
Bay Area Hiker: Sawyer Camp page.
Rancho San Antonio, take 280 exit at Foothill
Expressway, toward hills then right at the traffic signal onto Cristo
Rey Drive. Go about one mile and turn left at sign for park. The trails
begin near the Restroom area. There are miles and miles of hills, trails,
woods, etc. You might see deer, bobcat, wild turkeys, rabbits, and snakes.
More Info.
Wunderlich Park, off Woodside Rd/Tripp Rd. on
Woodside Road in Woodside. Nice 10-11 mile loop up to Skyline Road.
Also, combined with Huddart Park (see below): Huddart-Wunderlich route.
Start in the parking lot of Wunderlich Park. Run up either trail to
Skyline Blvd. Take the Skyline trail over to Huddart Park. Take any
trial(s) down, exiting the park (at Greer, I think). Run along streets
(ugh) back to the parking lot at Wunderlich. Minimum 18 miles, more
if you take indirect routes in the park.
More Info.
Huddart Park, off Woodside Rd/Tripp Rd. on Kings
Mountain Road in Woodside See Wunderlich Park, above.
More Info.
Foothills Park - Page Mill Road, Palo Alto residents
only. 8-10 mile loop. More Info.
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve - Portola Road,
Portola Valley. 8-10 mile loop up Spring Ridge, then down Razorback
Ridge. It's a beautiful trail running and starts and ends at either
end. The best part is the shade, especially when it's hot. The trail
is almost completely covered with trees.
More Info.
Monte Bello Open Space Preserve (Page Mill near
Skyline) and run south along trails to Saratoga Gap. Then cross Skyline
Blvd and come back, not exclusively on trails, on the other side. Page
Mill Road, Palo Alto. 8-10 mile out and back near very top of Page Mill.
Sandhill/Alpine Roads Loop. 11.7 miles with a
few small hills. From the corner of Sand Hill Road and Alpine Road.
Take Sand Hill west. Continue on as it turns into Portola Road. You
will go through Portola Valley and then come to a stop sign as Portola
Road T's into Alpine Road. Left on Alpine will bring you back to Sand
Hill. Some pretty good hills and a very different run clockwise as opposed
to counter clockwise. There are many different spurs that can be taken
off of this loop to add additional mileage. If you look closely there
is some water available on the loop as well as some stores where water
or drinks can be purchased. Most of the run is on the shoulder of the
road although there is a trail on Alpine Road. On weekends you will
see lots of bikes and some occasional runners.
Skyline Ridge and Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
- Skyline Road, Palo Alto. Nice loops of varying lengths. Russian Ridge
includes Borel Hill which is highest point in Southern San Mateo County
w/360 degree view.
Skyline Ridge Info,
Russian Ridge Info.
Shoreline (Mtn View), Palo Alto Baylands -
Flat and windy. The Baylands Interpretative Center has a nice map of
the baylands, which will show you the trails. For a long run, park near
the Interpretative Center. Run past the Center and along the airport.
Continue on the trail along the creek to the baseball diamond, and then
take Ging road out to Embarcadero. Turn left onto Embarcadero bike path
on the left side of the road), and then turn right onto the first street
(which goes beside the Honda/Izusu dealer). The road deadends into a
bike path that will take you to and along Bayshore Frontage Road. That
path turns left at the south edge of the baylands, and continues to
Shoreline Park (there's water at the small building before you get to
the park). You can take various routes to the south end of the park,
and then loop back to the connection to the Palo Alto baylands. Then
turn right (i.e., not back the way you had come) and loop around the
east side of the baylands. The trail will easily lead you back to your
car. (Note: The final baylands portion can be a bit tough if the wind
is strong.) A disadvantage of that loop is that a large part of it is
on paved bike paths. An alternative would be to start at the baseball
diamond, run the bay side of the loop (nearly all dirt) to the south
end of Shoreline Park, and retrace your route back to your car.
Black Mountain Trail - VERY hilly run (2500 foot
climb in 5 miles) starts at bottom of Rhus Ridge Trail, up to the Black
Mountain trail and fire road up to radar installation near the summit
(great view). This is one that will NEVER get easy.
Almaden Lake - In Almaden there is an 8-mile
out and back that starts at Almaden Lake. There is both a bike path
and a dirt trail, water on the path, and scenery is pretty nice, a lot
of birds, etc.
