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St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 433 Google reviews · Running trail in Los Gatos, California · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- 2.2 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve'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.
This 270-acre site welcomes dogs & provides challenging trails for hikers, bikers & equestrians.
What runners say about St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve
“The serene environment and well-maintained paths make it a wonderful choice for reconnecting with nature.”
“A beautiful preserve, located next to Los Gatos, the Saint Joseph's Hill Open Preserve is an amazing place for hiking, biking, and trail running.”
“Then walk back up the other side which is more shady.”
“Well maintained and well marked trails of moderate difficulty.”
“The serene environment and well-maintained paths make it a wonderful choice for reconnecting with nature.”
Great for running hiking and biking. The loop from Los Gatos entrance climbs to the top of the hill and is 3.5 miles long with 700' elevation gain. Some parts are shaded but most of it is exposed. The way to the top keeps climbing with almost no flat sections. The views from the top are rewarding though
A nice smaller preserve with a few miles of hiking trails. The trails are mostly fire road width and the hike to the top of St. Joseph Hill is a great quick workout. The views from the summit are great and it is easily accessible in 20 minutes or so.
Lively hike with lots of dog walkers and a few mountain bikers. Plenty of room for everyone. The path meanders around a hillside and has enough incline to qualify as excercise. Lots of wildflowers. Across the bridge, it connects and continues on the creek trail.
One of favorite hike. Absolutely enjoy this hike whether group hike or solo hike. I believe it is very much doable for everyone. The elevation is around 900ft so not so tiring. You can see mountain bikers and people with pets on your way. It gets little bit muddy after rain.
Trail conditions & character
“A beautiful preserve, located next to Los Gatos, the Saint Joseph's Hill Open Preserve is an amazing place for hiking, biking, and trail running.”
“A beautiful preserve, located next to Los Gatos, the Saint Joseph's Hill Open Preserve is an amazing place for hiking, biking, and trail running.”
“Parking: You can park in the Lexington Reservoir lot (fee required) or try for one of the ~8 free street spots, which are surprisingly usually available.”
“Then walk back up the other side which is more shady.”
“Lively hike with lots of dog walkers and a few mountain bikers.”
“The serene environment and well-maintained paths make it a wonderful choice for reconnecting with nature.”
“The full loop is roughly 4 miles, but there are cross-trails if you want a shorter route.”
“Well maintained and well marked trails of moderate difficulty.”
“The views from the summit are great and it is easily accessible in 20 minutes or so.”
Plan your run at St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- Loop distance2.2 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websiteopenspace.org
- Phone(650) 691-1200
- Social Instagram · Facebook
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