Pearson-Arastradero Preserve

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Pearson-Arastradero Preserve is a small gem of a park, located only a short drive from Palo Alto. Because the trails are well-maintained, well-marked, and the climbs are mild, Pearson-Arastradero is a great place for a beginner to first experience the joys of trail running. The preserve is a beautiful mixture of rolling savanna grassland and broadleaf evergreen forest. Wildlife abounds on the preserve and it is not uncommon to see deer, bobcats, coyotes, and many varieties of birds. The Arastradero Creek winds through the preserve and feeds Arastradero Lake in the northeast side of the park. There are several high points in the park with excellent vistas of the Bay Area.

There are about 10 miles of trails in the park. The well-maintained trails are a mixture of fire road and singletrack. The elevations in the park vary from 275 feet in the northeast to 775 feet in the southwest. The trails are rolling, and the climbing in the park is mild.

The Dirt:
  • Click here for the official Pearson-Arastradero Preserve site with trail map.
  • Click here for directions to the main parking area (on Arastradero Road) via Google Maps.
  • Dogs on leash are allowed on all trails in the preserve!

Extras:
  • The only drinking water available in the park is at the main parking area off of Arastradero Road.
  • If you are looking for a very long adventure, you can run/hike from Pearson-Arastradero all of the way to Skyline Blvd by connecting Pearson-Arastradero Preserve, Foothills Park, and Los Trancos Open Space Preserve. Click here to learn more about this amazing route!

Favorite Run #1: ​Dan's Loop (​6.0 mi, ~700 feet elevation gain) ​🐾

This is a nice run that covers many of the trails through the rolling grassland of Pearson-Arastradero Preserve. The route starts out fairly easy for the first mile, then climbs to a 750' high point. The last three miles of the run are primarily downhill.

Thanks to Dan Nelson for contributing this route!


GPX Track

​Printable Trail Map

Driving Directions
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Route Details:
  • 0.0 mi:  Exit the back of the parking lot onto the Red Loop Trail.  Bathrooms will be on your right and then very quickly behind you.  Make a quick left to stay on the Red Loop Trail and start your first easy climb.
  • 0.4 mi:  Stay right to add a short additional climb. 
  • 0.7 mi:  Continue downhill on the Red Loop Trail.
  • 1.2 mi:  Make a right onto the paved driveway to the horse ranch.  Continue down the driveway and cross Arastradero Drive to Portola Pastures Trail.  You can see Portola Pastures trail across the street as soon you make the right.
  • 1.5 mi: Stay right onto Meadowlark Trail as you gently ascend.
  • 1.7 mi:  Veer right onto the smaller Bonus Hill Trail and prepare for a quick bonus hill.
  • 1.9 mi:  At the end of the Bonus Hill downhill turn right onto Juan Batista de Anza Trail.
  • 2.0 mi:  Veer left onto the Ohlone Trail.​
  • 2.2 mi:  You will pass a small connector trail on your left.  Continue on straight as Ohlone Trail turns into Bay Laurel Trail.
  • 2.3 mi:  Bay Laurel Trail will come out onto a small paved road. Turn right to cross a bridge, then turn immediately left onto the Woodland Star Trail and start climbing.
  • 2.7 mi:  Turn left onto a Meadowlark Trail (this is a detached branch and not a continuation of the Meadowlark Trail previously referenced).  There are 2 benches here under a tree in case you need some shade.
  • 2.8 mi:  Veer right onto Bowl Loop Trail.  Grade will increase slightly.
  • 2.9 mi:  Stay right on Bowl Loop Trail for almost a mile.  There are multiple trails on the left that you can ignore.
  • 3.7 mi:  Stay left on Bowl Loop Trail then in about 200 ft. turn right onto Meadowlark Trail.
  • 4.3 mi:  Turn right to stay on Meadowlark Trail.  Then pass several trails as you keep right to end up on Acorn Trail.
  • 4.6 mi:  Turn left onto Arastradero Creek Trail.
  • 5.2 mi:  At Arastradero Lake, veer right onto Juan Batista de Anza Trail and then veer right again onto Paseo del Roble Trail to continue around the lake.
  • 5.5 mi:  Turn left onto Wild Rye Trail.
  • 5.9 mi:  Turn right back onto Juan Batista de Anza Trail.  In a few hundred feet cross Arastradero Rd.  Trail continues left back up to the parking lot.
  • 6.0 mi: Back at your car!
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Bonus Hill Trail
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Bowl Loop Trail
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Bridge onto Paseo del Roble Trail

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