Union Pacific Railroad Trail 2015-06-25

We were back at the Union Pacific Railroad in Cupertino, essentially picking up from where we left off when we hiked Joe's Trail at Saratoga de Anza earlier this month. I had an early start to complete the hike before it got too hot on what promised to be another near 100⁰F summer day. I parked on Prospect Road near the Stelling Rd intersection, just past the tracks. 

This section of the Union Pacific Railroad runs through Cupertino's residential neighborhood by Stelling Road initially and cuts across Seven Springs Pkwy, Rainbow Dr, McClellan Rd, Bubb Rd and Steven Creeks Blvd. Google Map marks the segment between Rainbow Dr and McClellan Rd as the Union Pacific Trail, although the entire segment I did today is an unofficial trail used typically by folks living in the neighborhood. To my understanding, Cupertino is evaluating constructing a formal trail connecting to Joe's Trail at Saratoga de Anza and beyond - essentially linking Steven Creeks Trail to Los Gatos Creek Trail.

Around the one-mile marker from Prospect Rd, you will cross Regnart Creek and observe a huge oak tree with a tree house and branches running across the creek. On our way back, we used this spot to rest and let Apollo cool off a bit.

Dry pond behind Apollo

The trail runs by a groundwater recharge pond near McClellan Rd. As a stark reminder of our drought, this pond was bone dry today! 

McClellan Rd, Bubb Rd, and Stevens Creek Blvd are busy roads. If you don't want to dart across, it is easy to use a pedestrian crosswalk round the corner to safely get to the other side of the road. 

Sidney and Apollo

Just when I was thinking that this was likely to be somewhat of an uninteresting hike, we met Sidney. Apollo and Sidney hit it off well and Sidney got Apollo to chase him as they ran happily at break neck speeds by the tracks! 

All the way from Prospect Rd until Stevens Creek Blvd, there was a steady stream of joggers, dog walkers and bikers sharing this unofficial multi-use trail! 

North of Stevens Creek Blvd, the traffic was much lighter. We went as far as Hwy 280, which is when the railroad curves around and starts running parallel to 280, a little more than 3 miles from Prospect Rd. 

Our 6.2 mile out and back hike took about an hour and forty five minutes. The map you see by the side recorded the hike until Regnart Creek on the way back, where we took a water break. 

Anyone who loves railroads should check this out. If you combine it with Joe's Trail, you can make this a nearly 12 mile out and back hike by the railroad.

More pictures from the hike today.
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