Overview
Pearson-Arastradero Preserve is 622 acres of rolling oak woodland, grassland savanna, and creek habitat above Palo Alto — one of the best and least-visited open spaces on the Peninsula. The Juan Bautista de Anza Trail passes Arastradero Lake and gives even young kids a payoff destination with water and wildlife in under a mile from the car. In late February through April, the hills go electric with California poppies, lupine, fiddleneck, and wild roses, making spring the peak season for a family visit.
How to Do It
The single public parking lot is at 1530 Arastradero Road, a quarter mile north of Page Mill Road. From Highway 280, take the Page Mill Road exit and head west; the preserve entrance is a short drive on Arastradero Road. Parking is free. The lot opens at 8am and closes at sunset. There are restrooms, a small information center, water fountains, and a detailed trail map posted at Gate A — take a photo of it because cell reception inside the preserve is unreliable.
The best family route starts at Gate A (the main trailhead off the parking lot) and follows the wide, multi-use Juan Bautista de Anza Trail. This broad packed-dirt trail rolls gently through alternating oak canopy and open grassland, reaching Arastradero Lake in about 0.75 miles. The lake is a good turnaround for kids under 4, making a 1.5-mile round trip. From the lake, the Arastradero Creek Loop continues by bearing left onto Arastradero Creek Trail, then right on Acorn Trail and right again on Meadowlark Trail back to Juan Bautista de Anza — a 3.7-mile loop with 300 feet of elevation gain that works well for kids 5 and up. For a shorter but hillier option, the Redtail Loop (1.5 miles) earns views of Stanford, Palo Alto, and the bay.
Tips & Tricks
The parking lot fills quickly on sunny weekend mornings. Arriving by 9am on Saturday or Sunday almost guarantees a spot; arriving at noon on a nice day means waiting. Weekday visits are notably quieter with the same trails and the same wildlife. There is no overflow parking along Arastradero Road — the rules prohibit it and it's enforced.
Download the trail map before you arrive. The AllTrails app has a downloaded version of the preserve, or grab the PDF from the City of Palo Alto parks site. The Juan Bautista de Anza Trail is wide enough for bikes and horses as well as hikers; trail etiquette is horses first, then hikers, then bikes — keep kids to one side when horses pass.
Rattlesnakes are present year-round but most active spring through fall. Stay on trail, watch where kids put their hands near rocks and logs, and give any snake you see a wide berth. Ticks and poison oak are also real — stick to the main trail to avoid the latter, which grows along the brushy edges. After a hike, do a tick check before getting in the car.
Dogs are allowed on leash. The trail surface is natural packed dirt — not suitable for strollers. Wear sturdy shoes or trail runners rather than sandals; sections near the creek can be muddy after rain, and the trail is dry and dusty in summer.
Planning
Free entry, free parking. Open daily from 8am to sunset. No reservations required.
Bring water for everyone — there are no water sources on trail, only at the parking lot. Bring sunscreen and a hat; once you leave the oak canopy on the upper grassland sections, there's little shade. Layers are useful in spring when mornings can be cold and midday warms significantly. Snacks for the turnaround at the lake make a solid kid motivator.
Best months are February through May for wildflowers and green hills, and October through November for mild weather and fall colors. Avoid July and August midday when the grassland trails are exposed and hot; go early if you visit in summer. The rainy season (December–January) can close some trail sections. Ages 2–4 do well on the out-and-back to the lake; ages 5 and up can handle the full Creek Loop. This is one of the best Peninsula hikes for getting kids used to trail distances without crowds.
