HomeCaliforniaGlendale › San Rafael Hill

San Rafael Hill

4.8 ★★★★★ 46 Google reviews · Running trail in Glendale, California · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from San Rafael Hill'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.

LoopScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parking

Recreational area featuring kid-friendly hikes.

What runners say about San Rafael Hill

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (46 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions
👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Overall, it’s a nice quick easy hike and a good cardio/leg workout.”

Catalina Verdugo Trail is a 2.8-mile loop trail near Glendale Sports Complex in Glendale, California. This trail is considered an easy route, with an elevation gain of 550 ft which takes an average of 1 h 24 min to complete. If you want to lengthen your hike, the CVT interconnects with Ridge Motor Way. The C.V.

★★★★★ — Carlo , May 2024

It's a very pretty park but is essentially one long path along Camino San Rafael. The access paths to it are a little bit far apart too. But! If it's a clear day, the south-most end of the Ridgeway gives one of the best (if not the best) views of everything from Anaheim to Century City, Burbank to La Canada.

★★★★★ — Cyril , Mar 2021

Another beautiful entrance to the net of Flintridge trails 🥾 From this entrance, you can turn right to hike along the city of LA Canada Flintridge and find many amazing hidden spots, or you can go left and walk along the ridge ending with an excellent view to LA city.

★★★★★ — Dmitriy , May 2021

Great views. You'll need to park a bit down the way and walk up the road to access the hike.

★★★★☆ — Ronald , Feb 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 46 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“If it's a clear day, the south-most end of the Ridgeway gives one of the best (if not the best) views of everything from Anaheim to Century City, Burbank to La Canada.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 8 mentions

“This trail is considered an easy route, with an elevation gain of 550 ft which takes an average of 1 h 24 min to complete.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“I don’t know what is going on in this area, but the entire trail has dog poo everywhere and smells like dog poo.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“I suggest visitors park at the very end of the parking lot.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“8-mile loop trail near Glendale Sports Complex in Glendale, California.”

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Plan your run at San Rafael Hill

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitewkpd.one

Where to find San Rafael Hill

Ridge Motorway, Glendale, CA 91208

Get directions

Running trails near Glendale

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

Cherry Canyon Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 54 reviews

La Cañada Flintridge, CA

2.5 miShadedScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring interconnected hiking, biking, and running trails that lead to mountain views.

under a mile away

Owl Trail LCF

3.4 ★★★☆☆ 9 reviews

La Cañada Flintridge, CA

LoopNatural surfaceShaded

1.1 miles away

Flint Canyon Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 99 reviews

La Cañada Flintridge, CA

Natural surfaceShadedScenicDog-friendly

Shaded trails and paths offering up hiking, biking and horseback riding, among other activities.

1.2 miles away

Cherry Canyon MTB Trail Start Point-Gate

4.7 ★★★★★ 72 reviews

La Cañada Flintridge, CA

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Mountainous park with wide paths for hiking, plus single-track routes for mountain bikers.

1.3 miles away

Sunshine Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

Glendale, CA

1.3 miles away

Las Flores Motorway Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

Glendale, CA

1.4 miles away

All running trails in Glendale, 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.