The Sanborn Trail is a nice neighborhood, shaded trail in the redwoods. Although there are no views, being in the redwoods itself is beautiful. And it is dog friendly (on leash)
Trail Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: ~500 ft.
Terrain Rating: Moderate
Hike Time: 2 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
Recommended Seasons: All
Trailhead: Lot near the picnic area of Sanborn County Park, $6 fee, here
There are a few ways to hike around Sanborn. We went to the clockwise route that first starts at the San Andreas Trail. You’ll see signs for that trail from the parking lot. The trail intersects a lot with the Nature Trail and it can be difficult to stay on course. I’d recommend downloading Google Maps offline so you can track where you are (cell service is spotty).
The trail is mostly shaded without views, which is nice for a hot summer day. On the descents, it can get a little slippery because of the loose rock and soil. I saw some older couples with hiking poles, which may not be a bad idea!
It was generally a really nice early morning walk. We saw some people but it wasn’t too crowded. And it was harder than a normal park walk because of the slight elevation changes. Not an “epic” hike by any means, but a good spot if you’re living in the Bay Area.