HomeCaliforniaCupertino › PG&E Trailhead

PG&E Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 146 Google reviews · Running trail in Cupertino, California · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
8.3 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from PG&E Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

8.3 miLoopOpen 24hShadedScenicFlat & fastHillyTrailhead parking

Popular hiking area featuring a steep trail that's good for those looking for a strenuous workout.

What runners say about PG&E Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (146 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“This is a beautiful trail in Cupertino.”

🌳 shaded & cool 4 mentions

“The trail has a lot of shade and is a rolling elevation with ups and downs.”

Awesome hike. I live close so have been going there for decades! I usually do the Stephen Abbors trail (PGE) - it would be very hard hike for beginners, medium to hard folks who regularly hike.

★★★★★ — Srikumar , Nov 2021

We took this trail from the parking lot to the summit a couple of times. Twelve miles round trip and around 3,400 ft elevation gain. The last 2 miles were quite steep. Compared to Mt Diablo, Mt Umunhum, Mission Peak, etc, this is a great hike for steep elevation gain.

★★★★★ — Arifur , Jun 2023

One of the most popular hiking places in Bay Area! This gem caters to hikers of all kinds - beginners to hard core! Four nice loops - approx 2.7 miles, 4.7 miles, 8.3 miles and 13 miles! Take your pick. Or just have a nice family time at Deer Hollow Farm.

★★★★★ — Vishal , Jan 2020

This is a beautiful trail in Cupertino. There is a lot of parking, but you need to get here before 7 am to get parking closer to the trailhead. The trail has a lot of shade and is a rolling elevation with ups and downs. People use this trail for relaxing hike out for endurance training for long distance running.

★★★★★ — Balaji , May 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 146 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 18 mentions

“Parking will be difficult so if you are an early hiker then be there by 6:30 in winter months or even earlier for summer months.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 13 mentions

“The trail has a lot of shade and is a rolling elevation with ups and downs.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 11 mentions

“Coyote, Wildcat, Upper High Meadow, and PG&E Trails loop is around an 8.3-mile moderate level hike.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 7 mentions

“You get a good workout and some amazing views!”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“The trail has a lot of shade and is a rolling elevation with ups and downs.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“We did the upper meadow trail loop which comes to around 8 miles round trip.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“5-2 miles to the top with about 5 hill climbs but you also get a break with some downhills and flat sections.”

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Plan your run at PG&E Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • Loop distance8.3 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find PG&E Trailhead

S Meadow Trail, Cupertino, CA 95014

Get directions

Running trails near Cupertino

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Deer Hollow Farm Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 110 reviews

Cupertino, CA

25 miPavedScenic

Walks and hiking for families along trails, some with creek views, with a farm and farm animals.

under a mile away

Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 157 reviews

Cupertino, CA

25 miLoopShadedScenic

Nature preserve with hiking trails, a farm, and picnic tables, plus deer, turkeys, and other wildlife.

under a mile away

Hammond Snyder Loop Trailhead

5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

Cupertino, CA

Loop

under a mile away

Stephen E. Abbors Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 99 reviews

Cupertino, CA

Scenic

Hiking area featuring a challenging trail.

1.3 miles away

Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,535 reviews

Cupertino, CA

25 miLoopShadedScenic

Rural nature preserve with 25 miles of hiking trails, plus a working farm & a model plane launch.

1.3 miles away

High Meadow Vista Point

4.7 ★★★★★ 210 reviews

Los Altos, CA

25 miLoopShadedScenic

Scenic hilltop overlooking the South Bay and San Jose with loop trails, deer and a petting zoo.

1.4 miles away

All running trails in Cupertino, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.