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Stanford Dish Loop
Hiking Trail
Easy
3.66 mi
563 ft
A moderate hike to a famous and well-positioned landmark
The Stanford Dish hike begins at the main entrance located off Stanford Avenue in Palo Alto, California. There's ample parking available, but it can fill up quickly, especially on weekends.
As you climb the trail, you'll be treated to panoramic views of the Stanford campus, Silicon Valley, and the surrounding foothills. On clear days, you can even see as far as the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Francisco Bay.
The hike as we've drawn it here is a moderately challenging loop trail that features a gradual incline with some steeper sections, making it suitable for hikers of all fitness levels. Along the trail, you'll pass by the iconic Stanford Dish itself, a large radio telescope used for scientific research that has been a prominent fixture on the Stanford campus since the early 1960s. In addition to the Stanford Dish itself, the hike offers educational opportunities for visitors interested in learning more about the history of the area and the scientific research conducted at the Dish. Interpretive signs along the trail provide information about the telescope's purpose and significance, as well as the natural history of the surrounding ecosystem. Written by Charlie Boscoe
The Stanford Dish hike begins at the main entrance located off Stanford Avenue in Palo Alto, California. There's ample parking available, but it can fill up quickly, especially on weekends.
As you climb the trail, you'll be treated to panoramic views of the Stanford campus, Silicon Valley, and the surrounding foothills. On clear days, you can even see as far as the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Francisco Bay.
The hike as we've drawn it here is a moderately challenging loop trail that features a gradual incline with some steeper sections, making it suitable for hikers of all fitness levels. Along the trail, you'll pass by the iconic Stanford Dish itself, a large radio telescope used for scientific research that has been a prominent fixture on the Stanford campus since the early 1960s. In addition to the Stanford Dish itself, the hike offers educational opportunities for visitors interested in learning more about the history of the area and the scientific research conducted at the Dish. Interpretive signs along the trail provide information about the telescope's purpose and significance, as well as the natural history of the surrounding ecosystem. Written by Charlie Boscoe
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Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial climb | 0.19 mi | 102 ft | 10.0% |
| Dish, clockwise with initial climb | 3.73 mi | 338 ft | 0.0% |
| Dish - Stfd Gate to Summit | 0.84 mi | 348 ft | 7.8% |
| Stanford Dish Hiking Trail Climb | 0.22 mi | 164 ft | 13.7% |
| The Grunt | 0.12 mi | 89 ft | 13.7% |