Weekly

Walker

By Tom Davids

A Hike to the Headwaters of Arastradero Lake

Arastradero Preserve, Palo Alto

"If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all." Queen Elizabeth I

Directions: Take I-280 to Page Mill Road in Palo Alto. Go west to the first right turn, which is Arastradero Road. Continue for one-half mile to the parking lot.

Grade: Easy to the lake and on to Muddy Pond. Moderate to headwaters of Arastradero Creek.

Distance: Four miles round trip.

Time: Two hours.

Special Conditions: Portions of trail are muddy after rain. Trails are open to bicyclists and equestrians. Dogs permitted on leash on all trails. Preserve is open from 8 a.m. to sunset--be out on time. For information, call City of Palo Alto at 650-329-2261.

Up and down the Peninsula, we are privileged to count miles of trails that are only a stone’s throw from major traffic arterioles and centers of population. And so it is with Palo Alto’s 613-acre Arastradero Preserve. Located between Alpine and Page Mill roads just west of I-280, this preserve is another island of natural beauty locked in time.

Arastradero Preserve was acquired by the City of Palo Alto in 1976 and was opened to the public 10 years later. It is a wonderful mixture of rolling grassland and evergreen forest, accessible by 6.25 miles of hiking trails. All trails are multi-use, permitting hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians, except for the Perimeter Trail (along Arastradero Road), which is closed to bicyclists.

Begin your walk to Arastradero Lake at the preserve parking lot. The trail leaves the eastern end of the lot next to the porta-potties and runs parallel along Arastradero Road for a few hundred feet before crossing the road. Proceed through the gate, and continue on the wide trail along Arastradero Creek. Ignore the two narrow trails going up the hillside to your left. Along the creek bank, you will see the stumps of large eucalyptus trees that lined an old ranch road. These non-native trees are being removed from the preserve, and Bay Area Action (BAA), an environmental organization, is maintaining and replanting the streambed. Incidentally, BAA is working with the City of Palo Alto to use the preserve as a site for environmental education. As stewards for the preserve, BAA has dismantled an abandoned house, barn, and outbuildings that were located near the upper reaches of Meadowlark Trail. Volunteers now meet every other Saturday to collect and plant native grass seed, remove non-native plants, maintain trails, and plant oak trees. Call 650-625-1994 for more information.

Soon you will cross the substantial (40,000-pound load limit) concrete bridge over Arastradero Creek. This time of year (February), there is a reasonable flow of water, but during the hot summer months, the creek is mostly dry. At the junction ahead, turn left on the Corte Madera Trail. Proceed up the grassy slope past large valley or white oaks and on to a new trail segment of crushed rock constructed by BAA. Just ahead is Arastradero Lake, a small, tree-shaded pond that is open for fishing year-round, subject to normal Fish and Game Department rules and licensing. That, for you eager fishermen and women, is the good news. The bad news is that the lake is surrounded by thick reeds, and we saw only two places where the shoreline is accessible. The rules are posted at the south end of the lake–no swimming, no boating, no fires or barbecuing, and the California State Fish and Game laws apply.

Your hike to the headwaters of Arastradero Creek continues on the Corte Madera Trail. However, the route is not signed, so read the following directions carefully. At the far end of the lake is a junction beside a fenced pump station. To the right is the Meadowlark Trail, and to the left is the Corte Madera Trail. Turn left and follow the creek upstream for one mile to another smaller, muddy pond. Along the way, you will pass a junction to the Acorn Trail, which leads up onto the grassy hillside. In another half-mile, a second junction to the Acorn Trail appears on your right, and the muddy pond is on your left. At the far end of this pond is an "Official Wood Duck Nest Box — WD#54," placed for the comfort and propagation of this species. The Corte Madera Trail continues for another mile or so into the narrow, shaded canyon. The slope grows steeper as the utility road follows the electric pole line to the ridge above. About halfway up, the pole line splits, and the road turns right. As you walk, you will notice an improved infrastructure–storm water catch basins and utility boxes–which seem to tell a story that this property was once intended for residential development. And at the top of the ridge is a yellow fire hydrant. Crossing the ridge is a road to the right–signed "No Trespassing, Private Property," and straight ahead is a gate leading to Foothills Park. Access through the gate into Foothills Park is not allowed, and use of the park is restricted to residents of the City of Palo Alto and their accompanied guests, per PAMC22.04-150 (b).

Thus, the trail ends, and it is time to retrace your steps to where you started. If you have more time, you may want to hike the Acorn Trail up to the Meadowlark Trail and experience the great views from the ridgeline. More on this hike in a future column.

Your comments and hiking suggestions are always welcome. Fax to the Independent at (650) 692-7587, or e-mail to: trekertom@aol.com.