An underrated gem hiding in plain sight Pearson-Arastradero…read morePreserve genuinely surprised me. The Arastradero Creek + Acorn Loop (~2.5 miles) packs in way more variety than you'd expect from a short trail -- you start in cool, shaded creek corridor that feels completely removed from the suburbs, then the path opens up into sweeping golden grasslands with those big, open Bay Area skies that make you remember why you live here. The difficulty sits right at that sweet spot between "actually a walk in the park" and "satisfying enough to feel like a real hike." Elevation gain is gentle but present, terrain is well-maintained dirt trail, and the whole loop flows naturally without any confusing junctions. Wildlife spotting is a real highlight -- keep your eyes up and you'll likely catch red-tailed hawks riding thermals over the hills. Early morning is magical here. So is sunset. A few practical notes: parking is free, dogs are welcome on leash, and the trailhead is easy to find off Arastradero Road. It never felt overcrowded on my visit, which for the Bay Area is honestly remarkable. If you're in Palo Alto or anywhere on the Peninsula and need a quick mental reset without a long drive, this is the move. One of those places you'll want to keep to yourself -- but can't help telling people about.

Decided to go running here this past weekend and was glad there was no winding road on the drive…read moreover. Appreciated the conveniences I found, including a strong cell phone signal in the area, a parking lot on site, and restrooms at the gateway building just steps away. There was a bit of seating and several nature exhibits educating visitors about the surrounding habitats. Interactive displays included bird calls of the quail, red-shouldered hawk, and meadowlark, and animal tracks of creatures like raccoons, bobcats, deer, and coyotes imprinted with descriptions. Deer, coyote, and rabbit scat too, though I found the accuracy of this display questionable. The only actual poop I saw on the trail was horse manure... piles of it. The place had multiple trails with easy access from the parking lot. I mainly hiked the Redtail Loop which stretched through the grassy hills, with scenic views and a few benches along the way, and of course plenty of clear signs noting the connecting trails and miles on each marker as well as the path to Arastradero Lake. The gateway facility and trails appeared to be well kept, a great setting altogether for getting your steps in or just taking in the fresh air and tranquil environment.

EXPERIENCE I recently visited Wunderlich Park to visit…read moretheir museum and carriage house. I didn't go for an extensive hike but want to return someday to do so! STARS (stand out qualities) -Beautiful and well maintained park -Well preserved historical site STAIRS (areas of growth) -More signage clarifying which of two entrances to enter at TIPS -Parking is limited so good to carpool or come during weekday if you can -Try signing up for tour. I learned interesting history of Chinese laborers!

Small Wunder A…read more940-acre park nestled in the eastern Redwoods and madrone-laden slopes of King Mountain. The name of the park is derived from contractor Martin Wunderlich, who donated the land to San Mateo County. The Good: * Free to visit * Parking lot * Picnic tables available * Restroom in parking lot * Seventeen miles of trails, including several loops. * If you like horses, then this is the place for you! There's a really cool old historic stable and lots of equine action to be found. * Camping available (https://www.smcgov.org/parks/make-reservation) The Meh: * Currently, no recreational horse activities like trail rides and lessons are available. * Crazy elevation gains, as trail elevations run from ±350' to over 4,300'. Be sure to check the trail guides to make sure you don't get in over your head. * No dogs allowed The Ugly: * The restroom has no running water, just hand sanitizer. * I'll admit, I'm not a fan of horses, and having to share trails with horses isn't my idea of a good time. Conclusion: Not the biggest park in this area that's full of fantastic OSPs, but it's certainly worth a visit--especially if you're a hippophile.

"Beautiful Mountain" Yes, indeed!…read more PSA: No dogs allowed - I had to leave mine at home. It's ok, you can enjoy this one alone! Take the drive! Yes, the road is windy and please slow for cyclists on your way up. Come along, sing a song. Dancing feet, magical retreat. Bring a friend or brave alone, it'll be worthwhile - 2, 4, or 7 miles! Our small group hiked the 7 mile loop, and had many photos stops along the way. Our leisure hike took approximately 4.5 hours. We spotted a tarantula early on the trail, other hiking groups, a backpacking group, bikers in groups and a few solo peeps. Shaded Hike & Open Space Sunny Hike: If you're wanting a shaded hike, start on the White Oak Trail located to the right of the Monte Bello parking. If you begin your hike on Bella Vista Trail, it's more of an open space with direct sunlight. Start early and enjoy! =)

Monte Bello is a hidden treasure for the Mid-Peninsula area…read more Funny thing, though. For being hidden, it's sure well known. To get there, you drive seven miles up a narrow, windy road. You're wondering if there's anything here besides big houses on tree-filled hills. Make a sharp left at Foothills Park - oops, never mind, you don't live in PA, you can't drive in here. More driving, more driving . . . and you finally get there, only to find a spacious parking lot crammed with cars. Here's why I gave it five stars: At first, it looks like typical landscape on this part of the Peninsula. But then I went down the narrow Stevens Creek Nature Trail. And ended up in a deep, dark forest with a babbling brook, pretty wildflowers, romantic bridges, and interpretive signs to explain what you're gazing at. If you felt like you got away from it all by driving up Page Mill Road, now you *really* feel like you're away from it all. Monte Bello also has a few peaks to climb up, and a backpacking camp. I'm itching to come back to try these out. I was not here long enough to really appreciate Monte Bello, but I saw enough to appreciate it a LOT. I had written about Russian Ridge that it's part of a conglomerate of Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserves that gives you a few days of outback hiking. Monte Bello is part of that conglomerate, which combines with Los Trancos (and Foothills Park, but don't tell anyone, shhhh) to give you even more wandering. And bring a lunch, because you'll be so mesmerized that you may forget to leave and get food.

This place is a pox on the neighborhood. Attracts the worst drivers I've ever seen. A driver…read moreturning out of here yesterday almost killed me by not looking as he exited the driveway. Not the first time it's happened here. And they rudely block the bike lane with no parking signs when they have events. The bike lane is already no parking so just ticket the fools who attempt to park there. If you ever get injured by someone turning out of this careless facility message me and I'm happy to send you this video to back up the claim (plus the fact I've notified management of this unsafe situation).

My experience so far has been great! Be careful though, the place is really big and it's easy to…read moreget lost. The horses were fantastic and the view was great, would definitely recommend again!

My pics don't do justice. It was my first time last weekend and made it to my fave trail list…read more Such stunning views and great trails! We parked on the side street.

Incredible views and well worth the 25 minute drive for me. I have done it many times over the…read moreyears and will be coming back for many many more.

Pretty nice day hike with many views. Unless you want extra challenge, I'd recommend just turning…read morearound at the top of the pg and e trail, the extra 2 miles doesn't add much.

This trail is challenging. Proceed only if you can handle elevation of uphill all the way for the…read morefirst appro. 1 mile. We started off at rhus ridge trailhead. Trail was steep and mostly in shade. Nice valley view along the way to look at and you can see the bay afar. Very quiet and unpopular trail. At many points, you'd feel there's only you and your companion in the whole mountain. There's a warning sign of mountain lion but we didn't see any, not that I wanted to. :) Recommend to use hiking stick. It'd take about 4 hours to complete the whole trail. If you walk slower it'd be longer.

Incredible place to learn more about horseback riding and humanity! Among the absolute best…read moreteachers that our kids have ever experienced.

I normally give very good reviews, so this is my "venting" review so to say…read more.. I have taken two lessons at Misty Ridge Farm of the Portola Pastures. The lessons were with Bobbi Petrov. I am extremely upset with the outcome of the whole thing. I paid for 4 lessons: $230 and could not attend two of them due to a very rigorous work schedule. When I e-mailed Bobbi to let her know I was not gonna be able to make it, I was informed that she needed a 24 hours notice if I wanted to cancel the class and then retake it at a later time. This was not explained to me beforehand and I am very upset w/ them, since I paid for 4 lessons and I only got 2 out of it. I wasn't even given time to read over what I signed, because Bobbi was late to the first session and I was simply given a form and asked to sign it. Now, in terms of the lessons themselves- Bobbi probably does care for the horses, since you're given about 30 minutes to groom and tack your horse first and then almost 1 hr on the horse and 30 more minutes to untack and get the horse ready for feeding and bedtime. My problem with the lessons was that Bobbi didn't actually show me anything. The more advanced girls were asked to show me things and then she was just yelling instructions from this little stage area next to the barn. I am very disappointed with the way lessons are taught here and I am also disappointed with the way they do business. I doubt I will ever take classes here again. Or at least not at this farm. Portola Pastures has a lot of opportunities for lessons, so I might end up choosing a different farm and/or instructor.

Not much more to say that wasn't already written. This is a great place to hike. Note that no bikes…read moreare allowed which makes for a safe and comfortable hiking environment (coming from someone who enjoys cycling). They do have a lot of bike rack parking at the base of the hill, and there is often a ranger or someone at the booth, which is nice as this means someone can keep an eye on your bicycle. I really like that it's paved in a nice circular path, with ample room for people to pass each other on the path. Also, the hike has a nice mix of undulating hills and incredible views, so there's a variety along your hike. I always spot wildlife when I'm hiding, so just keep your eyes open. There is one large portable bathroom at the base of the hill, but otherwise, no other facilities (I believe no access to drinking water on the path either). As other reviewers have mentioned, parking can be quite difficult to find, even if you're willing to walk. The best thing is to get there early!

A perfect place to stroll! The scenery is absolutely stunning from the top of the hill, and it's…read morealways fun to see the iconic Dish. There's plenty of parking at the bottom of the hill. The hike itself to the Dish is moderate, but there are certain parts that are pretty uphill and left me huffing and puffing. We visited on a summer evening, and there were so many bugs. It was honestly unbearable, and we had to turn back early because we were absolutely covered in bugs, even when we were trying to run away. This has never happened before so maybe the weather was particularly good. Other than the unfortunate bugs, this is a lovely hike with beautiful views.