Throughout January, I took Bay Area naturalist John Muir’s famous words to heart: “The mountains are calling and I must go.” I ran or hiked four popular Peninsula trails: Windy Hill, Waterdog Hiking Trail, The Stanford Dish Trail and Sawyer Camp Trail. For your sake, I reviewed the trails based on hiking difficulty, runnability, dog-friendliness and unique history, among other things. The trails are no more than a 30-minute drive from Menlo, so let’s jump in and see which trail is the best fit for you.
Waterdog Hiking Trail is a hidden gem in residential Belmont. As you drive down Ralston Avenue and turn right down a steep street, hidden on the left is a cutout that marks the South Trailhead — my favorite place to start. You’re greeted by a large porta-potty and dog poop bag dispenser, so you won’t have to sheepishly hide your pet’s business with sticks. The name “Waterdog” is apt, as the park is a dog-friendly space to take your pet swimming in a canyon lake. Unfortunately, my dog Luna has a cat-like aversion to water, but other dogs will have a blast.
Take one of two trail options that feature either a direct or circular path to the lake. Luna chose the direct path, so we walked down a shady dirt trail for just over a mile before reaching the lake. Additionally, waterdog sits right below the surrounding houses, making the lake essentially a backyard swimming pool. However, if you’re looking for a more traditional, difficult hike, Waterdog may not be your spot. Overall for its community, lake for dogs and shady path, I give Waterdog a 9/10.
Sawyer Camp Trail is a personal favorite. The trail winds alongside the Crystal Springs Reservoir. Though we’re all for finding dog-friendly trails here at The Coat of Arms, the reservoir is a protected watershed, so your furry friend cannot join you. You can either head south towards Highway 92 or north towards Millbrae.
Sawyer Camp is my preferred trail for running because it’s paved and flat until you reach about three miles. The crowd significantly thins by this point, but I’m still willing to conquer the hills (without having to tailgate a small child on training wheels.) Sawyer Camp not only physically offers a spectacular trail, but you’re likely to see a family of deer or wild turkey sauntering across the path.
Additionally, Sawyer Camp ties for winner in the “history” category as the reservoir covers the remnants of a small town where wealthy San Franciscans would vacation during the mid-1800s. Supposedly, all structures in the valley were cleared when authorities built the Crystal Springs dam, but rumors of an underwater town persist. For that history alone, I would give Sawyer Camp a 10/10, but the rating gets downgraded for the uncontrolled toddlers, so I rate it an 8.5/10.
The Stanford Dish Trail is notorious for its steep slopes, making it the most tiring trail on this list. The prospect of climbing the massive hills outside my car window caused me to miss the arbitrary left-turn to parking spots. This is my first complaint: non-existent parking signage. So keep your head on a swivel. My irritation vanished when I stepped onto the Dish Trail and breathed the crisp air, even though it was surrounded by traffic. A bathroom sits at the entrance, along with signs banning dogs and bikes. You can either take the 3.6 mile roundtrip route for a direct view of the Dish, or take the right-side path to reach Piers Gate. I went to the right and regretted forgetting my hat because there was no shade. But ahead, smaller oak trees and Kentucky bluegrass line the path. The Dish Trail is completely paved, so it is convenient for ambitious walkers and runners, or photographers seeking the best view. The absence of key hiking trail characteristics like rocks and sticks bored me, so I turned back after a mile. The view of the Dish is cool if you’re interested in the ionosphere, but to me it looked like a hunk of junk. Complaints aside, the Dish elevated my heart rate considerably, so I’ll give it a 7/10.
Last but not least is Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. Off to the side of a windy road in Portola Valley with limited cell service, Windy Hill features a traditional dirt trail. It’s not just dog-friendly, as horses are welcome too. Originally for logging and ranching, a 1970s housing development plan threatened the area, so two public agencies bought the property and created Windy Hill Preserve.
Parking was easy at Windy Hill, which features a convenient bathroom at the trailhead. The thorough trail map makes it difficult to get lost and offers a variety of hiking routes. Luna and I took the Spring Ridge Trail leading towards the summit of Windy Hill, which had rolling hills and switch backs — keeping us on our toes/paws. The overhead tree cover protects from sunburn, but allows some light to peek through.
You’ll never be bored on a hike here because squirrels constantly scamper across the path. Your pet is likely to make a friend or two, and the oak trees and grass that line the path captivate your attention. The one downside of this trail is that it gets quite muddy after rain. You don’t even have to reach the summit to be taken aback by Bay Area views. You’ve probably realized by now that Windy Hill is my winner, and I award it a near-perfect 9.5/10.
Whether you think you’re the hiking type or not, I guarantee that you will hit your stride on one of these trails.
