Routes (34)

10/02/2026: Woodside Highlands-Joan Targ-Alice's

This 6.2 mile loop has 1,200 ft elevation gain and connects many offical and unoffical trails as well as roads. The route is not steep, but it is a consistent climb up and features many turns on unmarked trails, so best to go with someone who has done this trail before. The route is mostly shaded. Please be respectful of neighbors and watch for cars, especially at the last stretch on Highway 84 and when crossing Highway 35. The roads in Woodside Highlands are narrow, so please be careful. Alice's offers a pleasant half-way stop with restrooms, food and water.

09/04/2026: Valley Oaks-Alpine Loop

This 2.5 mile loop has 300 ft elevation gain and connects the Valley Oaks, Sweet Springs and Alpine trails. It is mostly shady.

08/07/2026: Spring Ridge-Betsy Crowder-Willowbrook Loop

This 2.8 mile loop features a secret path at the beginning. It may look like you are walking up a private driveway, but it is a public right-of-way, and the asphalt evetually gives way to a narrow dirt trail frequently used by middle schoolers. The loop connects the Alpine, Spring Ridge, and Betsy Crowder and Willowbrook trails. The elevation gain is 345' and the paths are mostly shady with the exception of parts of Betsy Crowder, which offers fine meadow views. Parking is fairly easy along Willowbrook.

07/03/2026: Palmer-Priory-Willowbrook Loop

This 4.7 mile walk has 630 ft elevation gain and features many nice views. It starts off (green marker) shady, but the first incline up to the top of Palmer is steep and the views are superb. The views continue as you walk down Palmer and start on Hillbrook, but then hang a right to the Priory trail. The yellow dot indicates the couples bench, which is a nice resting spot--often even with seat cushions! But you are in full sun on the meadows there. Alpine Trail is nicer that it looks and you gradually climb to the second peak above Alpine. It's all downhill from there--Willowbrook has some shade and Grove is mostly shady.

05/06/2026: Kite Hills & Faculty Ghetto

This is a relatively flat walk with an elevation gain of just 130 ft. There is 2-hr parking at the start, and the 1.9 miles route winds through a pleasant neighborhood that mixes homes with a variety of architectural syles. The path parallel to Junipero Serra is surprisingly scenic, and the loop ends with a nice view of Palo Alto from Kite Hill.

03/04/2026: Chamise-Toyon loop in Foothills Preserve

This 2.9 miles route has an elevation gain of 470 ft with two peaks. The trail is mostly single-track and winds up from the main picnic area to Vista Hill from where you can look over the Bay and towards San Francisco. The walk then takes you down through some beautiful meadows, and you can take a side trip via a moon bridge to Monkey Island. After you leave the shores of Boronda Lake, you can use the restroom and re-fill your water before taking Toyon trail, which overlooks the park and the hills across, and ultimately reach the second peak near Charlie Brown fire road. After a quick descent, you are back at the picnic area.

02/04/2026: Figure 8 via Grove, Sausal, Palmer and Iroquois

This 2.7 miles route traces a figure 8 via the Grove, Georgia, Sausal, Palmer, Cherokee and Iroquis trails. It has a modest elevation gain of 340 ft, most of which is from the Palmer loop, which is possible to skip by going from Sausal directly to Cherokee. There is a beautiful view at the top of Palmer that you would miss though. If it has been raining, the Palmer trail might be a bit slippery, and it might be easier to go up from Cherokee and then on the paved road down to Sausal.

01/07/2026: Possum-Solana-Meadowood loop

This 3.4 mil trail has modest elevation gain of 330 ft. A wide and shady trail is the main feature of the beginning of this loop, followed by a stream crossing that has solid stepping boulders, but may not be suitable after a big rain. After the more exposed Mapache Trail, the route goes back more into shade along Naranja and Solano. The last section along Meadowood is probably the least pretty, but slopes down in elevation.

12/03/2025: Arastradero loop

This loop follows the main riperian corridor (Juan Bautista and Arastradero Creek trails) and then returns via the incline up Acorn and gently back down via Meadowlark, which has some beautiful, sweeping meadow views, but is also fairly exposed. The loop finishes via Portola Pastures and Redtail Loop trails back to the main parking lot, which also has facilities. Total length is is 2.7 miles with a modest elevation gain of 270 ft.

11/05/2025: Seven-trail loop

This 3.7 mil walk strings together the Iroquois, Shawnee, Westridge, Shady, Cervantes, Cherokee and Sausal trails and has a relatively modest 470 ft elevation gain.

10/01/2025: Fern-Costanoan-Los Trancos loop in Foothills Preserve

This 4.1 mile loop is mostly shady and traverses in a section a nice-smelling Laurel forest. It features some stunning views, and the elevation gain is 560 ft. The nature preserve charges a $6 entrance fee, and there are restrooms and water fountains.

09/03/2025: Alamos-Bolivar and Admiral Quilter figure B walk

This 4.1 mile route is mostly shady, but has an unshaded section near the middle of Mine Trail. The walk goes along Westridge, and the bottom of the B starts as Alamos. At the end of the cul-de-sac, the trail goes off to the right at the Westridge Association marker even though it does not look like much of a trail. The charme of this walk is that it feels very much in nature. However, it can be a bit steep/slippery, so walking poles are recommended. The steep sections are the final parts of the Alamos-Bolivar, Admiral Quilter and Mine trails. Total elevation gain is 800 ft. There is hardly any traffic at the four cul-de-sacs, so it is possible to park there and walk in parallel.

08/06/2025: Bay Laurel-Sweet Springs loop

This 2.9 mil loop is mostly shady and a mix of trails, gravel and pavement. The walk goes up Old Spanish Trail and then down Bay Laurel trail. The loops gets completed via Valley Oak, Sweet Springs and Alpine trails. This walk has two hills for a total elevation gain of 460 ft.

06/04/2025: Betsy Crowder-Spring Ridge loop

This 2.4 mil loop in the lower Windy Hill area goes along the Betsy Crowder, Spring Ridge and Meadow trails. This walk has an elevation gain of 400 ft.

03/05/2025: Hostel and Grapevine loop at Hidden Villa

This 2.6 mil loop at Hidden Villa goes along the Hostel, Grapevine and Creek trails. This trail has an elevation gain of 610 ft during the first half, but is not terribly steep since it winds up the hill. Beautiful in spring with Warriors Plumes, Houndstongue, Fremont's Star Lillies and Trillia. Mostly shady with some nice views and a bubbling brook along the last third of the route.

02/05/2025: Sausal-Priory-Corte Madera loop

This walk along Georgia, Sausal, Priory, Veronica and Nathhurt trails is 2.7 miles long and has a modest elevation gain of 400 ft (mostly up at Sausal and later on Canyon Drive). The rest of the walk is through the calm and beautiful streets in our Corte Madera neighborhood.

01/01/2025: Shawnee-Ramoso-Mapache loop

This walk along Shawnee, Westridge, Ramoso and Mapache trails is 2.7 miles long and has a modest elevation gain of 250 ft.

12/04/2024: Alpine-Cervantes loop

Total length is 4.4 miles and elevation gain 380 ft. This route starts at Alpine and Willowbrook and covers Willowbrook, Grove, Shawnee, Cherokee and Alpine trails. Generally flat with some elevation gain on Corte Madera.

11/06/2024: Corte Madera Creek loop

Total length is 3.2 miles and elevation gain 450 ft. This route starts at Alpine and Willowbrook and covers Alpine, Georgia, Grove, Portola and Spring Ridge trails. Most trails are wide and roads low-traffic.

10/02/2024: Peak Picker & Possum from Town Center

Total length is 3.1 miles and elevation gain 190 ft. This route starts at the town center and covers Pea Picker, Mapache, Westridge and Possum trails

09/04/2024: Admiral Quilter & Degas

Total length is 2.9 miles and elevation gain 560 ft. This route covers Mine, Admiral Quilter, Degas, Shady and Westridge trails

08/07/2024: Sweet Springs & Deer Path

Total length is 2.2 miles and elevation gain 340 ft. This route covers Sweet Springs, Deer Path and Indian Crossing trails.

06/05/2024: Old Spanish & Toyon

Total length is 2.9 miles and elevation gain about 500 ft. This route covers Old Spanish and Toyon Trails on the Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve.

05/01/2024: Jasper Ridge

This walk can only be done with a docent. Its total length is 3.7 miles and elevation gain, 390 ft. The route goes through the Serpentine area with goldfields, sun cups, poppies, owl's clovers, mules ears, etc. and then through oak woodlands and chaparral areas. You see Searsville lake and the field station at the end.

04/18/2024: Arastradero Preserve

Total length is 3.9 miles and elevation gain, 580 ft. This route covers the Woodland Star and Meadowlark trails. The elevation gain is early, followed by some exposed areas with sweeping views. The remaining walk is primarily in the shade, and the final loop along Los Trancos Creek is flat.

04/03/2024: Edgewood Park

Total length is 3 miles and elevation gain about 500 ft. This route covers the Clarkia, Sunset and Serpentine Trails.

03/21/2024: Ramoso & Possum

Total length is 3.9 miles and elevation gain about 300 ft. This route covers Pea Picker, Mapache, Ramoso, Paloma, Westridge, Solana and Possum Trails.

02/07/2024: Hillbrook & Iroquois

Total length is 2.7 miles and elevation gain about 450 ft. This route covers Hillbrook, Sausal, Palmer, Cherokee, Shawnee, Iroquois, Veronica and Nathhorst Trails.

01/03/2024: Larry Lane & Herb Dengler

Total length is 2.7 miles and elevation gain about 700 ft. This route covers the Larry Lane, Joan Targ and Herb Dengler Trails.

12/06/2023: Town Center & Woodview

This route starts at the Town Center Tennis courts and then continues on the Town Center and Woodview Ln trails, which totals 1 mile and 80 ft of elevation. There is an optional 0.3 mile extension to walk the Spring Down Open Space loop.

11/01/2023: Pinion, Mine, Favonio & Shady

This route covers the Westridge, Pinon, Mine, Escobar, Favonio and Shady trails. it is 2.75 miles long and has 374 ft elevation gain.

10/04/2023: Pea Picker & Mapache

The starting point for this route is at the end of the Trail Ln Cul-de-Sac. This route covers the Pea Picker, Mapache, Westridge and Possum trails and is 2.2 miles.

09/06/2023: Shawnee, Solana & Meadowood

The starting point is Ormondale Elementary. The route goes along Iroquois, Shawnee, Mapache, Solana, Westridge, Golden Hills, Meadowood and Cervantes Trails. This route is 2.5 miles and has half the elevation gain as last month's walk.

08/02/2023: Willowbrook, Grove & Sausal

The route is four miles, 80% flat and 70% shady. Trails covered are Willowbrook, Grove, Sausal, Priory, Veronica, Nathhorst and Alpine.

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