Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve
This park (known simply as "Rancho") is one of the most accessible trail running parks in the Bay Area, and a great place for a beginner to experience the joy of trail running. There are many trails in the park so you can piece together anything from a short 2-3 mile run to an epic 13+ mile loop to Black Mountain. There are two parking areas at Rancho. After entering the park, take your first left to go to the dirt parking area. If you stay on the main road instead, you'll reach the second parking area (with bathrooms and water). The runs on this page start from the first (dirt) lot.
The Dirt:
The Dirt:
- Click here for the official park site with trail maps.
- Click here for directions to the park via Google Maps.
- Stevens Creek Software has a neat distance/elevation calculator specifically for Rancho.
- Drinking water is available in the second (paved) parking lot, and at the farm.
Favorite Run #1: The "Intro to Rancho" loop (2.9 mi, ~300 feet elevation gain)
This is a nice introduction to the park, with a bit of climbing thrown in. You can start this run from either parking lot, but I prefer to start at the first lot, since it is less crowded. After entering the park, turn left at the first intersection and head down to the dirt lot. To start the run, cross the bridge at the far end of the dirt parking lot.
- 0.0 mi: Turn right after crossing the bridge onto the Meadow Trail.
- 0.2 mi: Cross the paved road, continue onto the Permanente Creek Trail.
- 0.5 mi: Turn left onto the Lower Meadow Trail, and continue to the Deer Hollow Farm
- 1.3 mi: Past the farm, continue through the gate and then veer left past the bathrooms to get on the Wildcat Loop Trail
- 1.6 mi: Just past the wooden fence gate, make a 180 degree left turn onto the Coyote Trail. You will pass two trails on your left as you climb on the Coyote Trail, but always stay right.
- 2.4 mi: Coyote Trail ends at PG&E trail. Turn left, then about 50 yards later turn right to continue down PG&E trail.
- 2.9 mi: At the bottom of the steep hill, continue straight across the bridge and back to the car!
Favorite Run #2: The "Big Loop" (7.6 mi, ~1000 feet elevation gain)
This run is the grand tour of the park. You can start this run from either parking lot, but I prefer to start at the first lot, since it is less crowded. After entering the park, turn left at the first intersection and head down to the dirt lot. To start the run, cross the bridge at the far end of the dirt parking lot.
- 0.0 mi: Turn right after crossing the bridge onto the Meadow Trail.
- 0.2 mi: Cross the paved road, continue onto the Permanente Creek Trail.
- 0.5 mi: Turn left onto the Lower Meadow Trail, and continue to the Deer Hollow Farm
- 1.3 mi: Past the farm, continue straight through the gate onto the Rogue Valley Trail
- 1.7 mi: Pass the Wildcat Loop Trail on your left (another great trail!)
- 2.5 mi: Pass the dry lake on your right. The trail will soon make a 180 degree left turn and really start climbing!
- 4.0 mi: Top of the climb! Turn right onto the High Meadow Trail (fire road).
- 4.3 mi: Veer left onto the Upper Wildcat Canyon Trail. Continue all of the way down the canyon until you exit through a gate in a wooden fence.
- 6.3 mi: Just past the fence, veer right onto the Coyote Trail. You will pass two trails on your left as you climb on the Coyote Trail, but always stay right.
- 7.1 mi: Coyote Trail ends at PG&E trail. Turn left, then about 50 yards later turn right to continue down PG&E trail.
- 7.6 mi: At the bottom of the steep hill, continue straight across the bridge and back to the car!
Favorite Run #3: PG&E Pain, or "Power Poles" (8.4 mi, ~1700 feet elevation gain)
This run is for when you just want to hurt yourself. This one is actually better to start in the second parking lot so you get SOME warm-up (although not much). After entering the park, continue on the main road until it ends in the parking area. To start the run, cross the bridge at the far end of the parking lot.
- 0.0 mi: Turn left after crossing the bridge onto the Meadow Trail.
- 0.2 mi: When you can't go any farther, turn right onto the Coyote/PG&E trail (fire road) and start climbing
- 0.7 mi: Hard left turn and continue climbing up the PG&E trail (fire road)
- 1.7 mi: The first high point! YAY! Continue downwards...
- 2.3 mi: The low point. Boo. Start really climbing...
- 4.2 mi: PG&E trail ends when it intersects with the Upper High Meadow Trail (elevation about 1500 feet). Enjoy the view, and then turn around and retrace your steps back to the car!
