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Hiking Trails Under 5 km near San Jose

The directory currently contains 134 quality-checked routes matching this guide near San Jose. Their average mapped distance is 1.8 km and average recorded ascent is 86 m (282 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.8 km.

This subset represents 75% of the 178 quality-checked routes near San Jose. Its average distance is 1.8 km, compared with 6.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 86 m (282 ft), versus 264 m (866 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 35 routes (26%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 26 (19%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

1.6 km

Berry Creek Falls Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

43 m

Berry Creek Falls Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

1 recorded loop

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Moderate

Summit Meadows Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
99 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Coastal Rail Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Summit Rock Loop Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
228 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Berry creek
Moderate

Berry Creek Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Waterfall
  • River
Moderate

Ridge Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
230 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Ridge Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
200 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Oak Ridge Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
106 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Red Mountain Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Ridge Fire Road

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
61 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Long Meadow Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
176 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Alpine meadow
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Fall Creek Unit, Ben Lomond, United States, October 2017
Moderate

Fall Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
307 m
Typical duration
1 hr 23 min
  • River
Easy

Meadow Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
  • Alpine meadow
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Moderate

Bridge Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
195 m
Typical duration
56 min
  • River
Trees of Castle Rock (7)
Moderate

Castle Rock Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
105 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Castle and ruins
Moderate

Branciforte Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • River
A madrone tree (Arbutus menziesii) with foliose lichens on it, at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, California, off the Pine Trail (or Eagle Creek Trail per Google maps).
Moderate

Eagle Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • River
Moderate

Loughry Woods Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
315 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Forest
Bridge over San Lorenzo River
Moderate

River Trail Pedestrian

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
85 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • River
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Fall Creek Unit, Ben Lomond, United States, October 2017
Moderate

Bennett Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
6 min
  • River
Moderate

Vienna Woods Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
105 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Big Ben Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
61 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Whispering Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
28 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • River
Moderate

Buckeye Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
47 min
Moderate

Rincon Fire Road

California · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
370 m
Typical duration
1 hr 25 min
Moderate

Service Road Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
20 min
Moderate

Travertine Springs Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
237 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
Easy

Coast Road

California · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
9 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Corral Road

California · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
36 min
Achistaca trail
Moderate

Achistaca Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
189 m
Typical duration
54 min
Aptos Creek
Moderate

Aptos Rancho Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
139 m
Typical duration
47 min
Moderate

Big Rock Hole Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
147 m
Typical duration
34 min
Moderate

Brookwood

California · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
108 m
Typical duration
30 min
Moderate

Diversion Dam Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
19 min
Moderate

Dool Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Typical duration
15 min
Moderate

Enchanted Loop

California · United States

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
114 m
Typical duration
53 min
Moderate

Enchanted Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
164 m
Typical duration
37 min
Moderate

Frog Flat Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
19 min
Moderate

Kiln Fire Road

California · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
12 min
Moderate

Káknu (Hawk) Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
183 m
Typical duration
1 hr 10 min
Moderate

La Corona Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
163 m
Typical duration
43 min
Moderate

Nutmeg Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
80 m
Typical duration
23 min
Easy

Old Cabin Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
23 min
Moderate

Old Growth Loop Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
19 min
Moderate

Ox Fire Road

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
79 m
Typical duration
25 min
Moderate

Pine Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
126 m
Typical duration
57 min
Moderate

Pipeline Road

California · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
152 m
Typical duration
1 hr 14 min
Moderate

Porter Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
117 m
Typical duration
28 min

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Summit Meadows TrailCalifornia1.7 km99 m30 minModerateApril to October
Coastal Rail TrailCalifornia4.7 km45 m1 hr 2 minModerateApril to October
Summit Rock Loop TrailCalifornia3.1 km228 m59 minModerateApril to October
Berry Creek Falls TrailCalifornia1.6 km43 m23 minModerateApril to October
Ridge TrailCalifornia2.9 km230 m57 minModerateApril to October
Ridge TrailCalifornia2.7 km200 m52 minModerateApril to October
Oak Ridge TrailCalifornia1.4 km106 m27 minModerateApril to October
Red Mountain TrailCalifornia1.0 km97 m21 minModerateApril to October
Ridge Fire RoadCalifornia1.7 km61 m27 minModerateApril to October
Long Meadow TrailCalifornia3.6 km176 m1 hr 1 minEasyApril to October

Summit Meadows Trail, Coastal Rail Trail, Summit Rock Loop Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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