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Running trails in Belmont, CA
Belmont has 8 trails in the directory — 4 loops that return to the trailhead, 1 with a stated distance, and 3 shaded. 7 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 1,628 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Twin Pines Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 740 reviews
This small, scenic neighborhood park features a creek, a playground, picnic areas & a rec center.
Waterdog Lake & Open Space
4.5 ★★★★★ 366 reviews
This hilly green park surrounding a small lake has trails of varying lengths, some of them steep.
Hidden Canyon Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 180 reviews
Dog-friendly park offering a network of well-maintained hiking and biking trails.
Waterdog Hiking North Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 129 reviews
Picturesque park featuring hiking and biking trails for all skill levels.
Hallmark Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 103 reviews
Expansive suburban park featuring playgrounds, trails for hiking and tennis courts.
Water Dog Lake South Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 62 reviews
Dog-friendly preserve offering multiple hiking trails with scenic views.
San Juan Canyon Open Space Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 9 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Belmont
- Match the surface to your legs. Most of what's here is mixed (1 of 8). Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More mixed trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 4 trails here are loops, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Belmont is Waterdog Lake & Open Space at 4 mi.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. Plenty of trails sit inside parks that gate at dusk and don't unlock until well after sunrise, so a trail that's perfect at lunchtime can be locked at 6am. 7 of the 8 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 4 have trailhead parking, 2 have restrooms, and 1 has a water fountain in Belmont. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 3 shaded, 3 that runners describe as quiet, and 6 dog-friendly. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Belmont trails by type
Running trails near Belmont
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.