Best Bay Area Hikes
This magnificent hike begins along Portola Road in the town of Portola Valley at the base of the Santa Cruz mountains. Windy Hill isn’t very far away—only about 20 minutes from Palo Alto High School—making it great for nature lovers. Windy Hill has multiple trails that explore the lovely hills; combined the distance sums up to approximately 10 miles in length and pass through Skyline and some of the Bay Area’s most interesting woodland areas.
No matter your skill level, windy hill is a great destination for you. Advanced hikers will enjoy Windy Hill because of the variety of trails it offers but it is also well suited for beginners because the trails stay at a rather low elevation.
“I love Windy Hill so much because of the amazing views and the challenge of the hike because it is a hard uphill run,” Palo Alto High School junior Kristen DeStefano said. “Also if you go a bit off trail you will find a perfect view of the ocean.”
Windy Hill is a great year-round destination, but it is best to go on a clear day so you can really appreciate the terrific views of Portola Valley. If you love to hike and enjoy spectacular views of the ocean and mountains, check out this half-day hike.
The Pearson Arastradero Preserve is a good location for beginners who are looking for fun, rather than exercise. Getting to Arastradero is pretty simple. All one has to do is follow Page Mill Road towards arastradero. When one had crossed Junipero Serra Freeway, take a right on Arastradero and then the destination is the on right a couple hundred meters down. If one wants to cover more area than is offered at this preserve, continuing down Arastradero Road will bring many more options.
Pearson Arastradero Preserve is a great place to hike if one wants to enjoy a large open nature preserve with great views. Arastradero is a big open space making it the perfect for a wide type of outdoor activities; to change up from the usual quiet hike, try biking, or taking a run along the trails. Also, with lots of open space comes the bonus of never running out of new areas to explore. One can choose to come for a short outing and only cover 1-2 miles or can stay longer and tackle more mileage.
The knolls offer scenery and challenging uphill terrain, so if you are looking for something more difficult, work your way further up into the mountains.
Arastradero is a fun and convenient hike that lets one get away from the busy scene downtown to explore vast open areas not too far from home.
Pearson Arastradero Preserve
Windy Hill
Text and Photos by Sophia Moss
