Foothill Park 12.6 miles via Arastradero
Views: Wooded with a few views of Silicon Valley
Crowd: Light
Average Speed: 3.5 mph
Stopped Time: 0 min
Difficulty 1-5 for relative distance: 2.5
Bike: No Bikes
Dogs: No dogs
Cautions: Poison Oak.
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Hike Direction: North to South, Clockwise.
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Download GPX route: Click Here
Parking: Free - Limited off Arastradero RD
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Driving Directions:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//37.383954,-122.186885/@37.3824525,-122.2555516,12z/data=!3m1!4b1
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More info here: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/parks/preserves/arastradero/default.asp
And here: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/parks/preserves/foothills.asp
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Foothills Park is open to Palo Alto residents and their accompanied guests only. Proof of residency is required. Guests must be accompanied by a Palo Alto resident. Note that the park opens later than most Open Space Preserves @ 8 am.
On the main picnic area, near the large grass field, at 8am, I saw 6 large Bucks (large for the peninsula) there is an image of the smallest of the 6. Usually, lots of does an in other areas with a buck or 2, but not half a dozen mature ones.
Out-of-towners still can't drive into the park, but since the 2007 dedication of the Bay to Foothills Trail, they've been allowed to walk in from Arastradero or Los Trancos preserves, making some excellent day hikes possible.
The Bay Area Ridge Trail is part of the Los Trancos Trail. The Los Trancos Trail is 7.5 miles of single track and mostly shaded. Unfortunately, you have hike approximately 3 miles thru Arastradero on gravel an a bit a pavement for the opportunity to hike Los Trancos Trail. It is a smooth easy to hike trail with about 20 bridges to cross!
Here is a good website for non-residence: http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Skyline/Foothills.html
This starts and ends fairly close to Alpine Beer Gardens for a beer or burger after the hike.
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Red = Out & Back (O/B) or Connection hikes
Green = Loops
Blue = Backpacking including Backpacking thru hikes
Light Blue = Thru hikes
Yellow = To-do Backpack
Pink = Smaller loop option
Orange = To-do
Purple = Bay Ridge Trail thru hikes
GENERAL NOTES:
• Total Elevation Gain reported by GAIA on IOS devices looks to be a bit under reported when compared to Garmin devices that feature Baro elevation correction. It has been left for consistency.
• I carried a full overnight weekend backpack and hiked solo, unless otherwise noted. This certainly slows the time and pace a bit. I did so initially for the workout, but now so that the pacing is consistent and thus more predictable for comparing hike to hike times.
• Often midweek you might not see another person on your loop. Some of the Best Hikes on the Peninsula are surprisingly remote.
• Some of the trails have sharp drops just off the edge of the single track. A fall off in the wrong spot could be very bad.
• Cell signal is spotty to non-existent in many of the areas.
• Carry a headlamp in case you get lost, delayed, over estimated your progress, when you have an afternoon start, etc.
• When Hiking Solo, consider carrying extra food, first aid, and shelter or bivy, in case you find yourself lost, injured or in the parks after dark. It could be better to shelter in place, than continue without working light, tripping and falling off a cliff or wandering lost thru the night.
• Wildlife consists not only of lizards, rabbits, birds (including turkeys and hogs in some of the areas) and deer, but I have seen or seen signs of coyote, bob cat, rattle snakes and even mountain lions in several of the preserves over the years.
Seems like the lizards make the most noise as the run thru the leaves, but note that on several occasions the rattle snakes did NOT rattle. It never hurts to be aware of where you are stepping.
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ABOUT DOGS AND BIKES:
Most of the hiking routes cover a large area and numerous hiking trails. While some of the hiking trails used to create the route might allow dogs or bikes, a "NO" for either is listed if at any point on the hike, a hiking trail used for the hike, has a "NO" sign is posted.
However, regardless of the signs posted, please note that you'll often still see both.