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Moderate Hiking Trails near San Jose

The directory currently contains 129 quality-checked routes matching this guide near San Jose. Their average mapped distance is 3.4 km and average recorded ascent is 170 m (558 ft); the longest route in the set is 14.7 km.

This subset represents 72% of the 178 quality-checked routes near San Jose. Its average distance is 3.4 km, compared with 6.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 170 m (558 ft), versus 264 m (866 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is rated moderate by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. Technical terrain and live conditions are not part of that rating. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 21 (16%) 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
A view of Mount Diablo from Eagle Peak. Las Trampas Regional Wilderness. Danville, CA. For some strange reason, there's a garbage can in the middle of the trail. Even more bizarrely, it is decorated with the sticker "Squaw Valley, USA", a s
Moderate

Las Trampas Ridge Trail

California · United States

Distance
10.2 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
431 m
Typical duration
2 hr 46 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

West Ridge Trail

California · United States

Distance
8.7 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
599 m
Typical duration
2 hr 43 min
  • Mountain
California bay tree (Umbellularia californica), wind-sculpted, along trail on exposed Rocky Ridge of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, East Bay, California.
Moderate

Rocky Ridge Loop Trail

California · United States

Distance
6.9 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
434 m
Typical duration
2 hr 6 min
  • Mountain
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
The Wilder Ranch preserved farmhouse, California, USA
Moderate

Wilder Ridge Loop

California · United States

Distance
14.7 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
344 m
Typical duration
3 hr 34 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
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
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
Paul Masson Mountain Winery . Saratoga, California , USA .
Moderate

Saratoga to the Skyline

California · United States

Distance
12.4 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
274 m
Typical duration
2 hr 59 min
Moderate

Hihn's Mill Road

California · United States

Distance
12.6 km
/ 7.8 mi
Elevation gain
284 m
Typical duration
3 hr 3 min
Moderate

Howard King Trail

California · United States

Distance
7.4 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
602 m
Typical duration
2 hr 27 min
Moderate

Los Trancos Trail

California · United States

Distance
11.1 km
/ 6.9 mi
Elevation gain
581 m
Typical duration
3 hr 11 min
Moderate

Stephen E. Abbors Trail

California · United States

Distance
6.2 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
591 m
Typical duration
2 hr 11 min
Moderate

Saratoga Gap Trail

California · United States

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
293 m
Typical duration
1 hr 47 min
Moderate

Sunset Trail

California · United States

Distance
7.4 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
432 m
Typical duration
2 hr 11 min
Moderate

Buckeye Trail

California · United States

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

Loma Prieta Grade

California · United States

Distance
8.9 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
567 m
Typical duration
2 hr 42 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
Moderate

Sweeney Ridge Trail

California · United States

Distance
8.2 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
553 m
Typical duration
2 hr 32 min
  • Mountain
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

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
Las Trampas Ridge TrailCalifornia10.2 km431 m2 hr 46 minModerateApril to October
Las Trampas to Mt. Diablo Regional TrailCalifornia8.6 km312 m2 hr 16 minModerateApril to October
West Ridge TrailCalifornia8.7 km599 m2 hr 43 minModerateApril to October
Rocky Ridge Loop TrailCalifornia6.9 km434 m2 hr 6 minModerateApril to October
Ridge TrailCalifornia2.9 km230 m57 minModerateApril to October
Ridge TrailCalifornia2.7 km200 m52 minModerateApril 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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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