Today I went to Palo Alto’s Pearson-Arastradero Preserve in search of wildflowers, birds and views – and I found plenty of each!

According to the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) guide for wildflowers in the bay area, the best time to visit is late March to mid-April. Indeed in early April 2021 all the grasses and shrubs were still green and I saw quite a few different wildflower varieties as well as birds (thrashers, hawks) and a few mammals (rabbits, deer). I even heard an owl hooting (but was unable to locate it visually).

I followed the Arastradero Creek Trail to the back of the preserve where it connects with Foothills Park (which used to be off limits to non-Palo Altans but is now open to the public, with a per-car fee). Inside Foothills Park I explored a few short trails in various directions and took a snack break near the Interpretive Center – where wild turkeys were strutting their stuff.

Getting There: This local gem is quite accessible – just on the other side of interstate 280 near Page Mill road. However it can be quite crowded and has a small parking lot – so go early on weekends or during mid-week. In terms of COVID safety, the most trails are wide enough to allow six feet between walkers or for mountain bikes and horses to safely pass. A few narrow trails have been made one-way.

* The wildflower names are my best-guesses 🙂 , some of which came from wildflowersearch.org

Update 13 April 2021: on a subsequent trip with my kids we were lucky enough to see several snakes (one in the clutches of a hawk), wildflowers and even a Bald Eagle, while walking on the windy Red Tail Trail.