Bol Park Trail

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Location

Bol Park Trail runs from Hwy 280 and Arastradero (under an overpass) to a business park off of Hanover in Palo Alto. It is most easily accessed from Bol Park, nestled near Stanford and just off El Camino Real, in Palo Alto. The Bol Park Neighborhood is calm and rustic, remarkable considering the busy El Camino is so close.

To get to Bol Park, take Highway 280 to Page Mill Road and follow Page Mill to El Camino Real, turning right onto El Camino Real. Travel a few blocks and turn right onto Matadero Avenue. Follow Matadero for a few blocks and turn left on Laguna Avenue. You'll see the park begin at the corner of Matadero Avenue and Laguna Avenue. There is ample street parking for the park.
For directions, use Mapquest's map of Matadero Ave and Laguna Ave.

Attractions:

Bol Park has a lot of amenities including a playground, large meadow for play or picnics, picnic table, benches, and water fountains.
Bol Park has a creek running alongside it, and the trail follows the creek for much of its distance. Last time we visited, there was even a rope swing above the creek, at Bol Park.
Bol Park is quite shady, as is much of the hike, except where it comes out to Gunn High School playing fields.
Pets and bikes welcome.
Bol Park has some rustic neighbors, including several chickens and donkeys. Respectful visitors can visit the animals (staying outside the pens), and there is information for visitors near the pens about the animals.
One of Bol Park's donkeys is famous for being the model for Shrek's Donkey.
The Bol Park path is almost entirely two-lane, paved path.

Limitations:

Stay on the trails to avoid ticks and poison oak!
Traffic begins at Gunn High School and continues to be a noise nuisance as you hike Arastradero.

Season:

Year round, sunrise to sunset

Fees:

Free

Maps & More Information:

View Larger Map

Handicapped Access:

The paved path is suitable for handicapped access, although some of the path nearer its Arastradero/Highway 280 end is cracked and bumpy.

Recommended routes:

Complete Bol Path Icon Legend
Access the Bol Park Trail from Bol Park at Matadero and Laguna Avenues provides the most parking opportunity and access to the park's many amenities.

Two trails run through the park, one that takes you along the creek, and the other that takes you along rustic farm areas with access to the chickens and donkeys. The trails meet up at the end of the park leading to the Hanover Business Park end (take this trail out of the park at the corner of Matadero and Laguna Avenues), and in the other direction, the trails meet up at a water fountain, then lead to more farm area, Gunn High School, and on to Arastradero. We recommend hiking towards Gunn High School, stopping to visit the chickens and donkeys (stay outside the animal pens, of course). A lovely bridge allows for nice views of the creek and some ponds. When you reach the busy Arastradero Road at Gunn High School, you can turn back the way you came, or turn right to follow Arastradero Rd through some busy crosswalked intersections, across Miranda Avenue and Foothill Expressway. The path continues as a two-lane paved path along Arastradero (sometimes moving a short distance away from the road) until it ends beneath Highway 280. Turn back when it ends to return the way you came. Total distance is up to 5.4 miles round trip.