San Franciscan locals are always looking for great new ways to enjoy the outdoors but sometimes it can be tough with the constraints of work. Working in the city or the Valley comes with an even slice of pressure. It’s important to keep active, not only for physical but also mental reasons. In fact, getting out for a run might be just what you need if you’re bogged down on a project or trying to problem solve at work. Studies have shown that increased blood flow boosts cognition in the brain. Also, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory, the hippocampus, is active during exercise sessions like running. Active people are also attributed with higher memory and thinking skills. So the "strong body, strong mind" saying does have some science behind it.
The heart of the Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, has a great variety of trails for walking or running that are long enough to challenge but short enough to tackle before, during or after work.
The heart of the Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, has a great variety of trails for walking or running that are long enough to challenge but short enough to tackle before, during or after work.
Palo Alto Running Trail Options
The Dish
The iconic Dish is a well known landmark and a frequented hot spot for runners and walkers. The loop is around 3.5 miles and of moderate difficulty. There are some mild hills, a mixture of paved and unpaved trails, not a lot of shade cover, but great views of Stanford and the Bay from the top.
Baylands
Baylands Nature Preserve is a flatter than Stanford Dish, around 5 miles at the shortest with mixed trails of gravel, dirt and asphalt to run on. Lots of birds make the trip a pleasure.
Arastradero and Foothill Parks
There is a great network of routes you can choose from and mix together to form around 2.25 miles of trails.
All of these trails are a 5 minute drive from most offices, and there are a load of campus options around Stanford, too. There really is no excuse for not getting out and keeping active in the Bay area.
The iconic Dish is a well known landmark and a frequented hot spot for runners and walkers. The loop is around 3.5 miles and of moderate difficulty. There are some mild hills, a mixture of paved and unpaved trails, not a lot of shade cover, but great views of Stanford and the Bay from the top.
Baylands
Baylands Nature Preserve is a flatter than Stanford Dish, around 5 miles at the shortest with mixed trails of gravel, dirt and asphalt to run on. Lots of birds make the trip a pleasure.
Arastradero and Foothill Parks
There is a great network of routes you can choose from and mix together to form around 2.25 miles of trails.
All of these trails are a 5 minute drive from most offices, and there are a load of campus options around Stanford, too. There really is no excuse for not getting out and keeping active in the Bay area.
