Trail Girl Wrote:
So I just moved here and have found some awesome trails along Hwy. 280. Does anyone have a favorite park or other area that I should check out? I like all levels of difficulty, just as long as it's a dirt trail!

Rufio Wrote:
I'm a walker, but see a lot of runners on the trails that I use. Take a look at the City of San Mateo park and recs site: http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/dept/parks/index.html and it might give you some information. I think that there are some good trails around Laurelcreek Park which meets up with Sugarloaf Mountain. I found the following directions for you: Directions: Take Ralston Avenue to Cipriani. Go north on Cipriani and make an immediate left on San Juan Boulevard. After about a mile, San Juan Boulevard dead-ends at Laurel Creek Road. Turn left and park along the road. The trail starts at the unpaved continuation of East Laurel Creek Road. Access is also available off Marsten Avenue by turning off Ralston Avenue to Christian Drive and then to Marsten Avenue. Grade: Easy. (Make that strenuous if you climb Sugarloaf Mountain.) Distance: 1.5 mile. (Three to four miles if you include Sugarloaf.) Time: One hour. (Three-plus including Sugarloaf and Laurelwood Park.) Special Conditions: Dogs permitted on leash. Watch for poison oak off trail. Keep off private property where posted. For information on the preservation of San Juan Canyon as open space, contact San Juan Canyon Preservation Trust, P.O. Box 557, Belmont, CA 94002, or call 650-593-7295. The Web site is www.sanjuancanyon.org

stardust Wrote:
There are loads of hiking trails in the area, most quite suitable for cross country running. Some good sources for these are the http://www.bahiker.com website, and the book "Peninsula Trails" by Jean Rusmore and Frances Spangle (available in most local bookstores). As for specific suggestions good for running: 1. The CSM cross country course is open to the public when there are no meets going on. Entrance is next to Hallmark Park in Belmont. Detailed map in the "Peninsula Trails" book. 2. The Crystal Springs watershed is very popular with joggers. It's almost all paved, flat, and has gorgeous views of the reservoir the whole way. Entrance at Crystal Springs Rd and Skyline in San Mateo.

Rugby14 Wrote:
We regularly run the trails around Waterdog Lake in Belmont. Here is a link to a description of all of the trails. http://www.belmont.gov/Upload/Document/D240001116/OpenSpaceTrailMap2005.pdf Note: Apparently, there have been recent mountain lion sightings in the area (which, to be quite honest, is not that surprising given that this area is their habitat.) No attacks have been reported. I've run on these trails for 20+ years and have never seen one myself (although my wife saw one about a year ago; I have seen many, many rattlesnakes, coyotes, rabbits, deer, racoons, skunks, bobcats, etc.) Never had a problem with any of the animals, except for those people who use the trail and walk their dogs without a leash. I've been bitten twice by dogs.

CommunityRX Wrote:
Hiking Trails in San Carlos We have had some interest expressed in hiking trails in the San Carlos area. We are pleased to offer some of the best hiking in the area: The Eaton-Big Canyon Trail Map with Trail Notes and Nature Guide have been provided by the San Carlos - Belmont Regional Group, Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club. The new Portola Guide to Trails on the Peninsula and the Mid Peninsula Open Space District has been provided by Brian Washburn at Cardiff Giant and Malcom Smith at Mid Peninsula Open Space District. We are thankful for permission to add this information to our Parks and Recreation guide. Click on the link below for information and maps. http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/gov/depts/parks_rec/parks_information/hiking_trails/default.asp

Bumble Wrote:
The Sawyer Camp Trail is my favorite place to run or just walk. You're away from traffic and noise but still have a paved path to walk. The water and nature views are calming and rejuvenating and if you go in the late afternoon you're sure to see deer calming grazing in the fields beyond the fenced reservoir. It can get a bit crowed on weekends if it's a nice day so parking might be tight.