Arastradero Preserve is a beautiful mixture of rolling savanna grassland and broadleaf evergreen forest with trails for hikers, cyclists and horses. It varies in elevation from 275 feet in the northeast to 775 feet in the southwest. Wildlife abounds on the preserve and it is not uncommon to see deer, bobcats, coyotes, and many varieties of birds. Each area of the preserve has something different to offer, whether it is a view of the bay, a quiet walk through the grasslands, or a snooze by the lake. Some trails are closed seasonally, depending on rainfall. See http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/parks/preserves/arastradero/seasonal_trail_status.asp. To visit Pearson-Arastradero Preserve and get the most from your holiday in Palo Alto, create itinerary details personal to you using our Palo Alto travel route planner. Source On the web: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/parks/preserves/arastradero/default.asp Facebook

My first trip on this loop, I had the map downloaded to my phone so I could take the planned route. While there are some good signs, it can be confusing if you build a route using multiple trail offshoots like I did here. This loop features some good hills and nice views. There are no traffic lights to worry about and it was not crowded at all when I went early on a weekday. My start/stop was at the parking lot on 1530 Arastradero Rd, which has drinking fountains and restrooms. Much of the trail is dirt singletrack or doubletrack, but there are some areas "paved" with gravel, and it looks like they are going through the main trails with gravel to help preserve them and/or make them more accessible. I started with the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail and then broke off to the Wild Rye Trail to head up the hill where it met with the Paseo del Roble Trail at Arastradero Lake, where it turned into the Arastradero Creek Trail, which I followed until it met with the Woodrat Trail. That trail is aided by some nice switchbacks up another hill -- all packed dirt, so probably not a good plan after rain. I followed the path to the Meadowlark Trail and then took Woodland Star Trail and Bay Laurel Trail to the Ohlone Trail that connected me back to the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail. That got me back onto the Meadowlark Trail, which turned into the Portola Pastures Trail back out to the road. I crossed the road and took an abbreviated version of the Redtail Loop back to the parking area. It sounds pretty confusing, but I took this opportunity to create the route and try to learn it. I think I can hike it next time without stopping to look at the map nearly as frequently. There is a also a great map available from the city of Palo Alto: cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/… Flora & Fauna In July the flowers were gone, but there are oak trees and I saw many jackrabbits, a pair of coyotes, and some kind of raptor hunting in one of the fields. Lots of little field mice, I think. History & Background There is a lake that this route hugs early on. In the morning, it is pretty calm and you may see the steam rising off the water.

Ride 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 horseback 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.

A fabulous mix of undulating savanna grassland and evergreen forests, Enid Pearson-Arastradero Preserve teems with wildlife and natural bounty. Hugging the Arastradero Lake, the grassy knolls and hills make way for forested areas and nature trails. Much favored among bikers and hikers, most of the trails in the park are open through the year. Mountain lions, bobcats and deer are found aplenty here, so are many species of birds that flock around its pristine water bodies.