I always enjoy a new run, that killer hill, beautiful view, or just relaxing downhill. I’ve ran around this area for a while now and here are my favorite runs. I’ll keep adding runs here when I run them or just remember them.
Priya’s – Obviously the first, this hill is just hell. Everyone knows it for the view, but only a select few know it for the pain of getting up it. Even if at the top all the druggies, drinkers, and smokers think they have found a “cool spot”, runners know that the .18 miles to the top belongs to us and no one will ever take it away.
Directions: Figure it out yourself.
Rating: Fun – 10 Difficulty – 7 View – 9 Distance – 4.5 miles from my house, 6 from Lynbrook
Up to Hunter’s – This was one of the first runs I fell in love with, if you park in the Fremont Older parking lot this is a rather short and boring run, but if you run from home this is an amazing run. Thanks to the rangers there aren’t many bad people up here, just lots of hikers and bikers during the day, so run it at night.
Directions: Run down Prospect towards S.Stelling, cross over the railroad tracks and keep going up Prospect. You’ll reach the Saratoga Country Club, keep going for 200 more meters, turn left at the sign that says “Fremont Older 400m”, take the Cora Older trail up to the Hayfield trail, Run to Hunter’s and back down.
Rating: Fun – 9 Difficulty – 6 View – 10 Distance – 7 from my house, 9 from Lynbrook
Steven’s Creek Reservoir Run – One of my more recent loves, this nine miler has it all, long downhills, painful uphills, switchbacks, a lake, and a great view.
Directions: Start at the Fremont Older parking lot, run up the Cora Older trail, turn left at the Hayfield trail, go up the big hill until you can only go right or left, go left. Downhill for a mile, take the first sharp left you can take. You’ll end up next to the reservoir, keep running until you see a sign that says “Steven’s Creek/Tony Look Trail, Sponsored by REI” take a left there. Follow the trail for about 3 miles, keep taking lefts whenever you have the choice. You’ll end up at a clearing with a bathroom and water fountain, take a left to go up the switchbacks, 8 switchbacks, the 3rd and 6th are the longest. Look at the view at the top, you’ll have three trails to pick from at the top, they all lead back to the parking lot, take your pick. If you want to make it a 10/11 miler take the rightmost trail and go to Nob Hill then come back on the Toyon trail.
Rating: Fun – 10 Difficulty – 7 Distance – 9 or 10ish with the extra Toyon loop.
PG&E Trail to the Top – This is a painful run, yet a lot of fun. About 4 miles of uphill along with 5 of downhill. You’ll have to go to Rancho San Antonio for this one which gets really busy during the summer so avoid going on the weekends and holidays.
Directions: Start in the parking lot with the bathroom, go left on a trail that cross a field, turn right on the bridge and take the uphill on the left, follow it until a water tank, turn left there and you’ll go through a gate, now you’re on the PG&E trail, follow it for a long time, this is going to be painful so pace yourself. There are 7 or 8 powerpoles until the top, at the top you’ll be right next to a powerpole and a bench, turn right to go down, follow the trail until the Wildcat Vista Point, take the Wildcat trail down to the farm and run back to the parking lot.
Rating: Fun – 8 Difficulty – 9 Distance – Between 9 and 10
Keep checking back as I add more runs.
