Explore the best rated trails in San Rafael, CA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Foss Creek SMART Pathway and Lincoln Hill Pathway . With more than 96 trails covering 799 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Pluses: the trail is well maintained, with smooth pavement. Flat, decent for family bike rides,
Negatives: The trail is not entirely on a dedicated path, with a section that is out on the streets. Signage is there, but a bit too easy to miss, regarding getting you through the section on the streets,
The western half of the trail is out in the country, and though it parallels a fairly busy highway, fairly pleasant. The eastern half, though the trail itself is in good shape, is remarkable only for being a good commuter trail. It passes through a semi-industrialized region of the city, and has little esthetic value.
Bottom line: A good commuter trail, good for a quick out and back if you're passing through and want to get some exercise on a decent trailm but not worth making a special trip to get to.
Mi lugar preferido por el momento! Si quieres correr unas cinco millas es perfecto, me encanta la sombra que dan los árboles !!!
My husband and I ride this trail 2 or 3 times per week year round. We park at the visitor center in Morgan Hill and ride up to Hellyer Lake and back. It’s beautiful year round and full of courteous bikers and walkers. We have recumbent trikes and are in our late 60s. We feel safe on the entire round trip. We have spotted deer and wild turkeys and bunnies and turtles and right now (March 2025) the wild flowers are putting on a show! Highly recommend this beautiful trail!
This was a very nice ride, beautiful green hills and lots of birds. Western end has trails. that continue into coyote Hills regional Park, a very nice bonus. trail waswell-maintained. It can be very, very windy.
Road is closed to vehicle traffic on weekends. Great road condition and amazing view of ocean beach.
The Stevens Creek Trail has an additional 3 mile segment called the Stevens Creek/Tony Look Trail through Stevens Creek County Park. It follows the eastern shore of the reservoir and unlike the lower portions of SCT it is unpaved. This section is suitable for walking and jogging.
There is also a new 4 mile segment of Stevens Creek Trail through Montebello OSP, starting near the source of the actual Stevens Creek. This trail segment starts at the Page Mill Road parking lot for Montebello OSP and goes downhill towards Stevens Canyon Road. The trail surface is hard-packed dirt, appropriate for road biking, horseback riding, running, and walking.
I rode this trail from the Livermore end to just past Danville. Overall, it seems more suited to local users that have identified sections that fit their needs (e..g. running, walking, or shorter bike rides. There were two fairly lengthy detours secondary to construction. Parts of the trail have cracks wide enough that they are a serious risk to causing anyone with skinny tires to crash, though other parts are as perfect as a path can be. Foot traffic in the Danville section, at least on a weekend, is heavy. There are many traffic crossings, and having to wait for a light to change in order to get across is not uncommon. For anyone attempting to ride the entire length of the trail, a spirit of adventure and a bit of determination would be required. Of note is that one can get on the trail right in front of the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. As BART is a bike friendly way of getting around, this opens up trail access to people throughout the Bay Area. Other than dangerous cracks in the path, safety is not an issue.
I did this ride on Sunday afternoon, September 8, 2924, in 102 degrees. No joke. Must explain why it wasn’t very busy. I started at Anderson Lake County Park in Morgan Hill and went to Tully Road, just past the golf course south of downtown San Jose, and then turned around and returned to the park—40 miles, 1,190 feet elevation gain. Well maintained, all paved, relatively flat, and interesting trail with SO many squirrels and chipmunks dashing across the trail. Probably just playing with the bikers. Saw a flock of young turkeys on the trail. A hawk zipped close by me and tried to grab a rodent (missed). Lots of waterfowl in the ponds along the way. Vegetation became greener the further north I went from Morgan Hill, and more water in Coyote Creek. Saw coyote scat on the trail but no animals (too hot for them). There are several homeless campsites near the golf course, and even a rooster and cats and dogs. Overall, a great trail to see the arid landscape of the Santa Clara Valley (I live in the Pacific Northwest). Will plan to do it again in the springtime when it’s greener and not so hot, when I visit relatives again.
Beautiful shady trail short and sweet
Alameda Creek Trail is one of my favorite trails which is long and mostly flat, crossing Alameda Creek, a couple of ponds, and the beautiful shoreline. If that's not enough, this trail connects to Coyote Hill, Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge, and crosses the Dumbarton Bridge to Palo Alto side. You can also meet many different animals in different seasons, and hope you will enjoy the experience!
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