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A trail along Arastradero Creek that climbs to Foothills Park.


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Map Key

1.5

Miles

2.4

KM

92%

Runnable

755' 230 m

High

366' 112 m

Low

388' 118 m

Up

1' 0 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

17%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Wildflowers

The preserve is open from 8am to sunset throughout the year. Hours are posted at the parking lot and can be found online cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/…

Runner Notes

The Enid Pearson-Arastradero Preserve trails are either crushed gravel or dirt, making them ideal for running. Most of the gravel trails are wide while most of the dirt trails are narrow (2-3 feet wide). Depending on the weather, some areas might be muddy and turned up due horses and mountain bikers using the trail. It is important to be alert to your surroundings due to the trail being shared with horseback riders and mountain bikers. Hikers and runners are asked to yield to horses for everyone’s safety.

The Arastradero Creek Trail is wide and gravel, making it an easy for running. The trail climbs steeply toward the end, making for a good finish to the workout.

Description

The Enid Pearson-Arastradero Preserve is an open space area that combines habitat preservation and restoration with recreation. The 10.25 miles of trails that run through the area are open for walkers, runners, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. The thirteen trails found in the preserve allow you to combine them in various combinations for a new adventure with every visit.

Run roughly .65 miles from the parking lot along the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail to Arastradero Lake. Just past the lake, the Arastradero Creek Trail cuts off to the left and passes a utility station that sits on the right hand side of the trail. The trail is about 8-10 foot wide and made of gravel for the majority of its length, providing a great surface for hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and horse back riders. On the left side of the trail, the Arastradero Creek follows the trail for almost its entire length, although it is down in a gully. On the right side of the trail, the hills rise above the trail offering views of wildflowers that bloom in the spring. Deer feed in the fields above the trail early in the morning and at sundown. Rabbits scurry across the trail and hawks soar overhead.

After moving along the trail for roughly .75 miles, the Acorn Trail cuts back to the right and climbs up the hill. The Arastradero Creek Trail continues straight ahead for another .2 miles until the Woodrat Trail departs via a dirt, singletrack trail that goes off into the woods. The trail continues straight ahead as the woods begin to close in on the trail and the Sobey Pond sits on the left hand side of the trail. While most of the views are obscured, you can tell its a larger body of water. As the trail moves through the woods, it begins to climb gently at first and then more steeply as it approaches a curve that goes off to the right. Climbing steeply for approximately .15 miles, the trail reaches the hilltop before dropping down to Gate D at the boundary of Foothills Park. At the hilltop, there is a road that goes off to the right, but that leads to private property which is closed to visitors.

At this point, you can return to your car via the Arastradero Creek Trail or taking one of the connectors to return via one of the other paths that traverse the preserve.

Gate D provides the only access for non-Palo Alto residents to legally enter Foothills Park for hikers or runners. It's closed to mountain bikers and horseback riders.

Flora & Fauna

Deer, coyotes, bobcats, rattlesnakes, turkeys, hawks, turkey vultures, and other varieties of birds can be seen in the area. Mountain lion sightings have been reported in the area, so keep an eye out.

Contacts

Shared By:

David Hitchcock

Trail Ratings

  4.2 from 6 votes

#10744

Overall
  4.2 from 6 votes
5 Star
50%
4 Star
17%
3 Star
33%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1,004

in California

#10,744

Overall
8 Views Last Month
962 Since Apr 11, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

The trees that line the hills make for great photo opportunities in the preserve. The trail winds through the preserve at the base of a majority of the hills.
Apr 12, 2016 near Los Alt…, CA
The trail winds up the hill after passing the Arastradero Lake.
Apr 8, 2016 near Los Alt…, CA
Views of the hills and trees from the trail.
Apr 8, 2016 near Los Alt…, CA
Looking back on the trail, fields open up on one side of the trail while the creek runs down to Arastradero Lake on the other.
Apr 12, 2016 near Ladera, CA
The trail moves through the preserve and is great in the evening after work.
Apr 12, 2016 near Ladera, CA
The trail as it snakes it's way through the trees.
Mar 31, 2016 near Ladera, CA

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