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Stanford Dish Hiking Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 684 Google reviews · Running trail in Stanford, California · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Loop distance
- 4 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Stanford Dish Hiking 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.
Popular, paved hiking trail featuring views of the bay, Foothills Park, and Stanford University.
What runners say about Stanford Dish Hiking Trailhead
“Along the way, I enjoyed stunning views of downtown San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, Oakland, and the Route 92 bridge.”
“No shade throughout the hike so better to go early in the morning.”
“The trail is fully paved and is a very good choice if you are interested in taking a peaceful morning or evening still coupled with some decent cardio activity as well.”
I enjoyed this hike with my friend, a lot! It is just over 3.5 miles, abutting Stanford University. Acres of rolling hills, pastures and trees along with not to miss views of the Bay. You can see the university bell tower from the top and the dish. The wildlife is a plus.
What a beautiful walk. It's very quiet and peaceful. A little bit hilly, but not too steep. Great views up to the sea. Parking is close-by. There are limited spots, but there seems to be decent movement. Dogs are not allowed on this trail, and it closes in the evening.
I love it every time I come here. So glad it is literally in my backyard! It starts steep l, but then it gets easier. Not very long (4 mile loop). From the top you can see pretty much all old the Bay Area south of San Francisco all the way to South San Jose. No pets, bikes or motorized vehicles.
**Parking and Theft Warning** Parking is extremely hard to find here during weekends and busy hours. There is a school nearby you can park at during the weekends, but otherwise you’ll need to walk .50 to .75 miles to the trailhead from parking.
Trail conditions & character
“Along the way, I enjoyed stunning views of downtown San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, Oakland, and the Route 92 bridge.”
“The trail offers a great mix of moderate hills and flat stretches, with all well maintained and paved path.”
“There is parking right across the street from the trailhead, but it gets pretty packed so you may have to wait or find parking further down the street.”
“The trail is fully paved and is a very good choice if you are interested in taking a peaceful morning or evening still coupled with some decent cardio activity as well.”
“It is hilly and so it is not for someone who doesn’t walk a lot if you want to complete the loop.”
“It's all nice and concrete trail, people with baby (in stroller) can also enjoy the hike.”
“There is on restroom at the Stanford trailhead but it is portable.”
“The trail is fully paved and is a very good choice if you are interested in taking a peaceful morning or evening still coupled with some decent cardio activity as well.”
“No shade throughout the hike so better to go early in the morning.”
“The trail offers a great mix of moderate hills and flat stretches, with all well maintained and paved path.”
“There is one water fountain during the hike but it’s easy to miss.”
Plan your run at Stanford Dish Hiking Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- Loop distance4 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
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitedish.stanford.edu
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–7:30 PM |
Running trails near Stanford
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Stanford Dish Hiking Trail
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