There is a wonderful series of parks, preserves, and running trail options in the hills close to Rt. 280. It’s amazing how different the terrain is here compared to the waterfront trails just a few miles to the east. Rather than recommend specific routes, in many cases we provide a trail map and discuss some options. One will generally need a car to get to these areas. PRO TIP: Can be especially beautiful in spring: green and lovely wildflowers.
Rancho San Antonio Preserve Various Trail options, all unpaved. Parking lot is 1 mile from I-280 Foothill Boulevard exit
Rancho San Antonio is one of the most accessible running options in the hills west of I-280 — only a mile from the exit, 3 miles from Apple’s HQ in Cupertino, and a 10 minute drive from downtown Mountain View. This is a 4,000 acre open space preserve and 165 acre country park. There are beautiful open meadows, fields, wooded trails, and a farm. There are some easier, paved loop trails in the park and 24 miles of hillier hiking type trails in the preserve. Some good loop options for runners are: Wildcat Loop Trail (3 miles, easier); Black Mountain Trail (4 miles, hillier); and PG&E Trail (3.7 miles, 1600 foot elevation gain).
Sawyer Camp Recreational Trail 6.1 mile ONE-WAY. Paved Trail & Gravel Options. Closed at sundown. MAP OF TRAIL Start: Northern end I-280 at Hillcrest Blvd. Southern end: I-280 at Crystal Springs Rd.
The Sawyer Camp Trail is a popular and accessible paved trail that parallels I-280 between Millbrae, near SFO, and Crystal Springs. The trail is 6 miles one-way, and has a mix of terrain, from forest to a sections along a reservoir and the San Andreas Dam. It is fairly flat, except for a nearly 200 ft. hill at the northern end near Millbrae. At the northern end, it’s possible to continue north on the San Andreas trail for about 2 miles.
Huddart Park This 900 acre preserve is also easily accessible, about 3 miles off I-280/Rt.84. Trails are mainly wooded. There are gentler forested trails with a wonderful variety of trees, and some steeper trails into canyons popular with mountain bikers. If you’re there on a Sunday, there’s a nearly 3-mile section of Canada Rd. between Hwy 92 and the Fioli entrance that is closed to cars. One can connect to nearby Wunderlich Park using the 2.7 mile, relatively flat Skyline Trail. For those who want hills, try the Dean and Chinquapin trails. Richards Rd. is the widest and longest trail at 2.7 miles, but it is quite steep. $6 admission fee. Great option on a hot day.
Wunderlich Park Another hillside park with wonderful trails of redwood groves, open meadows, and beautiful oaks and madrones. Easily accessible from I-280/Rt. 84, and about 8 miles from Palo Alto, and with good parking. Once the Folger family ranch, the estate stables and buildings have been well preserved and are a good spot for a picnic. There are numerous trail options. Good for runners are the Loop Trail (wider road); the more open Meadow Trail; and the 2.7 mile, relatively flat Skyline Trail that connects to Huddart Park. The Madrone Trail is a wonderful but more challenging. Note: it can be hot here in the summer.
Pearson-Arastradero Preserve Lovely mix of rolling savanna grassland and evergreen forest. 10 miles of trails, some closed seasonally. Mix of wider, dirt paths/fire roads and some narrower trails. Fairly hilly. It’s about 5 miles to do a perimeter loop of the outer trails. For a longer run, can connect to Foothills Park. 2 miles from I-280 Exit 20. Note: only open at 8am.
Foothills Park & Nature Preserve 1400 acre park, with trails through rugged chaparral, woodlands, fields, streams, and a lake, with great views of the Bay. Only 2.8 miles from I-280, Page Mill Rd. Note: Web page says only open to Palo Alto residents.
Los Trancos Open Space Preserve Situated at 2,000 feet. This area is beautiful but more for trail running. One gentler option is 1.5 mile “San Andreas Fault” trail with interpretive information. 7 miles west of I-280, Exit 20 Page Mill Rd.
There is a wonderful series of parks, preserves, and running trail options in the hills close to Rt. 280. It’s amazing how different the terrain is here compared to the waterfront trails just a few miles to the east. Rather than recommend specific routes, in many cases we provide a trail map and discuss some options. One will generally need a car to get to these areas. PRO TIP: Can be especially beautiful in spring: green and lovely wildflowers.
Rancho San Antonio Preserve Various Trail options, all unpaved. Parking lot is 1 mile from I-280 Foothill Boulevard exit
Rancho San Antonio is one of the most accessible running options in the hills west of I-280 — only a mile from the exit, 3 miles from Apple’s HQ in Cupertino, and a 10 minute drive from downtown Mountain View. This is a 4,000 acre open space preserve and 165 acre country park. There are beautiful open meadows, fields, wooded trails, and a farm. There are some easier, paved loop trails in the park and 24 miles of hillier hiking type trails in the preserve. Some good loop options for runners are: Wildcat Loop Trail (3 miles, easier); Black Mountain Trail (4 miles, hillier); and PG&E Trail (3.7 miles, 1600 foot elevation gain).
Sawyer Camp Recreational Trail 6.1 mile ONE-WAY. Paved Trail & Gravel Options. Closed at sundown. MAP OF TRAIL Start: Northern end I-280 at Hillcrest Blvd. Southern end: I-280 at Crystal Springs Rd.
The Sawyer Camp Trail is a popular and accessible paved trail that parallels I-280 between Millbrae, near SFO, and Crystal Springs. The trail is 6 miles one-way, and has a mix of terrain, from forest to a sections along a reservoir and the San Andreas Dam. It is fairly flat, except for a nearly 200 ft. hill at the northern end near Millbrae. At the northern end, it’s possible to continue north on the San Andreas trail for about 2 miles.
Huddart Park This 900 acre preserve is also easily accessible, about 3 miles off I-280/Rt.84. Trails are mainly wooded. There are gentler forested trails with a wonderful variety of trees, and some steeper trails into canyons popular with mountain bikers. If you’re there on a Sunday, there’s a nearly 3-mile section of Canada Rd. between Hwy 92 and the Fioli entrance that is closed to cars. One can connect to nearby Wunderlich Park using the 2.7 mile, relatively flat Skyline Trail. For those who want hills, try the Dean and Chinquapin trails. Richards Rd. is the widest and longest trail at 2.7 miles, but it is quite steep. $6 admission fee. Great option on a hot day.
Wunderlich Park Another hillside park with wonderful trails of redwood groves, open meadows, and beautiful oaks and madrones. Easily accessible from I-280/Rt. 84, and about 8 miles from Palo Alto, and with good parking. Once the Folger family ranch, the estate stables and buildings have been well preserved and are a good spot for a picnic. There are numerous trail options. Good for runners are the Loop Trail (wider road); the more open Meadow Trail; and the 2.7 mile, relatively flat Skyline Trail that connects to Huddart Park. The Madrone Trail is a wonderful but more challenging. Note: it can be hot here in the summer.
Pearson-Arastradero Preserve Lovely mix of rolling savanna grassland and evergreen forest. 10 miles of trails, some closed seasonally. Mix of wider, dirt paths/fire roads and some narrower trails. Fairly hilly. It’s about 5 miles to do a perimeter loop of the outer trails. For a longer run, can connect to Foothills Park. 2 miles from I-280 Exit 20. Note: only open at 8am.
Foothills Park & Nature Preserve 1400 acre park, with trails through rugged chaparral, woodlands, fields, streams, and a lake, with great views of the Bay. Only 2.8 miles from I-280, Page Mill Rd. Note: Web page says only open to Palo Alto residents.
Los Trancos Open Space Preserve Situated at 2,000 feet. This area is beautiful but more for trail running. One gentler option is 1.5 mile “San Andreas Fault” trail with interpretive information. 7 miles west of I-280, Exit 20 Page Mill Rd.
This is an overview of running in Silicon Valley, showing how we have laid out the region and providing some highlights as we move from San Francisco Airport to San Jose.
Worth a detour. Half Moon Bay is an idyllic coastal town about 20 min. off the highway. Home to Mavericks, the famous surfing beach. A 4+ mile coastal trail makes for a fantastic run, with great views to the beach, surf, and cliffs to the north. Cute town, too.
If you get stuck near SFO, don’t despair — there’s great running along the Bay. This spectacular running path follows the East Bay, from Brisbane north of SFO, south to San Mateo and beyond.
This is a great run easily accessible from the highway and only 7 miles south of SFO. There are jaunts out to a beach, a promenade through a lovely green park, and a quick hike up a hill with redwood trees and good views.
10+ miles of scenic running trails along the Bay and around Belmont Slough/Steinberger Slough in Redwood Shores. Wonderful open views of the bay and wetlands, and lots of birds! Can also connect to Bay Trail.
Centrally located park is a treat for running. Interior paths are hilly, winding through groves of trees and ranchland type terrain, while the outer perimeter trails form a flat, 2.3 mile loop around the Wildlife Refuge, skirting the salt marshes.
One of the most popular and iconic runs in Silicon Valley. Accessible from the center of Palo Alto and the Stanford Campus, this is a great ~5 mile loop, featuring open pastureland, a small lake, and great views of the Stanford Campus.
One of the most iconic university campuses in the world also makes for very pleasant running. Our 4.5 mile loop includes all the major campus highlights, with some great add-on options.
Palo Alto is the ‘center’ of Silicon Valley. A great run is to do a random tour of Palo Alto’s toniest residential streets, which feature gorgeous older homes, beautiful lawns, and lovely shade trees. Use University Ave. as the 'anchor'.
Three adjacent open space areas in Belmont, just east of I-280. Scenic, open, and hilly. Combination of fire roads and more challenging trails. There are map kiosks in each area.
In Redwood City near San Carlos just east of I-280, Pulgas Ridge and Edgewood Park & Preserve are adjacent to each other and offer several miles of scenic, hilly trail running. Combination of open & wooded terrain.
On the eastern shore between Palo Alto and San Jose, this remarkable series of trails and parks incorporates a series of undisturbed tidal marshland (Sloughs) called the Baylands. See our detailed description of the three major sections.
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!
one of the most accessible running options in the hills west of I-280 — only a mile from the exit, 3 miles from Apple’s HQ in Cupertino, and a 10 minute drive from downtown Mountain View. This is a 4,000 acre open space preserve and 165 acre country park. There are beautiful open meadows, fields, wooded trails, and a farm. There are some easier, paved loop trails in the park and 24 miles of hillier hiking type trails in the preserve. Some good loop options for runners are: Wildcat Loop Trail (3 miles, easier); Black Mountain Trail (4 miles, hillier); and PG&E Trail (3.7 miles, 1600 foot elevation gain).
The Sawyer Camp Trail is a popular and accessible paved trail that parallels I-280 between Millbrae, near SFO, and Crystal Springs. The trail is 6 miles one-way, and has a mix of terrain, from forest to a sections along a reservoir and the San Andreas Dam. It is fairly flat, except for a nearly 200 ft. hill at the northern end near Millbrae. At the northern end, it’s possible to continue north on the San Andreas trail for about 2 miles.
Another hillside park with wonderful trails of redwood groves, open meadows, and beautiful oaks and madrones. Easily accessible from I-280/Rt. 84, and about 8 miles from Palo Alto, and with good parking. Once the Folger family ranch, the estate stables and buildings have been well preserved and are a good spot for a picnic. There are numerous trail options. Good for runners are the Loop Trail (wider road); the more open Meadow Trail; and the 2.7 mile, relatively flat Skyline Trail that connects to Huddart Park. The Madrone Trail is a wonderful but more challenging. Note: it can be hot here in the summer.
Review or Comment on This Route/Share a Photo!
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!