In brief:
A short and easy loop through hills near Stanford, with exceptional views.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 3.65 mile balloon hike is easy, with 600 feet in elevation
change, although some short stretches of trail are moderately steep. Trailhead elevation is 175 feet and the trail's highest point is 527 feet.
Exposure:
Completely exposed.
Trail traffic:
Heavy.
Trail surface:
Paved trail.
Hiking time:
2 hours or less.
Season:
Nice any time.
Getting there:
From I280 at the southern edge of Woodside, exit Sand Hill Road. Drive east about 2 miles, then turn right onto Santa Cruz Avenue. Almost immediately, turn left onto Junipero Serra Boulevard. Drive south about 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Stanford Avenue and look for side of street parking.
GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude
37°24'32.37"N
Longitude
122°9'42.13"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Gas, food, and lodging:
Pay phone, gas, stores, and restaurants in surrounding towns and campus. No camping.
Trailhead details:
No parking or entrance fees. Limited side of street parking.
No restrooms. There is a water fountain alongside the trail near the one mile mark. There is no designated handicapped parking -- trail is wheelchair accessible but not suitable to chairs due to the steep grades. No paper maps at the trailhead.
Rules:
Reserve hours vary seasonally, but in general the Dish is open from sunrise to
sunset. Dogs and bikes are not permitted.
The Official Story:
Stanford's Dish page
Map Choices/More Info:
•
• Map from Stanford (zoom in to see Dish)
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page