Rancho San Antonio
I lucked out for this hike and got a great parking spot right next to the restrooms even though I arrived shortly before noon. The parking lots were mostly full and the park was full of people. And there were quite a few model airplanes flying in the air near where I was parked.
Perhaps I am blind but the trails were not well identified from where I started my hike near the rest rooms. I believe I started out on a short stretch of the Permanente Creek Trail and then connected to the Coyote Trail. From there I found the PG&E Trail up near the Water Tank which was really more of a dirt road. This road reminded me very much of the Poverty Flat Road at Henry Coe State Park. At times it was quite steep and even though the temperature was comfortable, I was sweating like a pig hiking up that road. I probably would have consumed more water than I did except my Camelbak was giving my water a bad taste. I’ll need to it clean it good before my next hike.
But I was both amazed and surprised at the people who were hiking the trail. I was passed by several much older men who powered on up that steep road! And I was passed by a couple of men and another woman who were running the trail and none of them were carrying water. I was having a difficult enough time walking it and they were running it! I am sure my recent hikes at Henry Coe helped improve my stamina for this hike though as I was never bent over in exhaustion like my first time up the Poverty Flat Road.
Anyway, I eventually reached the top where there was a PG&E tower at the vista overlook with a bench where one could sit to rest and enjoy the view. There was a sign indicating the parking lot was 3.6 miles back from where I just hiked and I saw another unmarked trail that looked like it went higher into the hills. I bypassed it for this hike though.
From there the PG&E Trail turns into the Upper High Meadow Trail which loops back around to where I started. This trail was steep in spots too and I used my trekking poles to slow me down as I walked down these steep portions. The Upper High Meadow Trail works it way down after 2.7 miles to the Deer Hollow Farm where I stopped and took pictures and talked to some people. From there I walked on back to my car.
While I am not certain of the accuracy, my GPS unit indicated that I was at 400 feet elevation at the restrooms where I parked and that I reached a maximum elevation of 1606 feet at the top of the PG&E Trail with a total elevation change of 1667 feet over an 8.26 mile hike.
I imported the stored tracks from my GPS into the National Geographic TOPO! program and built an elevation profile of my hike. That profile indicated that I hiked 8.77 miles and achieved a total elevation change through the ups and downs of 2045 feet from start to finish with a maximum elevation of a little under 1600 feet. My impression from other sources is that the hike is a little shorter and I may have only peaked at round 1400 feet for a 1000 foot climb from the parking area, not counting the ups and downs of the hike. I don’t yet know which is right though but if nothing else, this looks like a hike I will want to repeat in the future as one that will improve and maintain my fitness.
Hiking to the PG&E Trail from the Coyote Trail
Early view in my hike
On the PG&E Trail
The trail up
Looking across to the High Meadow Trail
Tree along the way
A deer! This doe was not spooked by my presence.
Walking through some shady areas
The High Meadow Trail through power lines
View as I climbed higher on the PG&E Trail
Sign at the top of the PG&E Trail
Heading down the Upper High Meadow Trail
The upper High Meadow Trail I would soon be on
Looking North up the peninsula
A shady spot on the High Meadow Trail
View of trees on the High Meadow Trail
Another view from the High Meadow Trail
More Deer!
Trail junction on the Upper High Meadow Trail
Looking back up the Upper High Meadow Trail
The left fork goes to the Deer Hollow Farm
Vista Overlook
on the High Meadow Trail
A bench in the shade
Almost to the Deer Hollow Farm
The Deer Hollow Farm
Barn at the farm
Display in the upper barn opening
The old farm house
Fall colors in the farm
On Saturday, November 18, 2006, I hiked the PG&E Trail/Upper High Meadow Trail loop at Rancho San Antonio
GPS Stats
Distance hiked: 8.26 miles
Total ascent: 1667 ft
Trailhead Elevation: 400 ft
Max Elevation: 1606 ft
Moving time: N/A
Moving Average: N/A
Overall average: N/A
Time stopped: N/A
Personal stats
Dates Hiked:
November 18, 2006
Start time: 12:00 noon
Weather: Low 70’s, very comfortable for this hike.
Water consumed: ~ 500 ml plus 600 ml Gatorade
Finish time: 4:30 PM
Total time: 4 hrs 30 min
Beauty: Varies, there are great views of the Bay Area and the shady areas and vegetation was quite pretty. The PG&E towers and power lines detract from the scenery in my mind though.
Difficulty: This hike has a steep stretch going up the PG&E Trail and then again descending on the Upper High Meadow Trail. Either direction will give a workout on the climb and can be a bit of a toe jamming knee buster on the descent, just the kind of hike I like!
Directions: From I-280 through Cupertino, CA, take the FootHill Exit and going south (towards the hills). Take the first right onto Cristo Rey Drive. When you come to the traffic circle go right and follow Cristo Rey Drive to the parking area.
Parking fee: None but the park is very popular and the lots can fill up. The park closes a half hour after sundown so plan your hikes accordingly,
National Geographic TOPO! software website:
