Los Trancos

Location

Los Trancos Open Space Preserve is located near Woodside and Palo Alto, one mile East of Skyline Blvd on Page Mill Road. To get there, either turn East onto Page Mill Road from Skyline Blvd or drive West for 7 miles on Page Mill Road from Hwy 280. The park entrance and parking lot are on the North side of Page Mill Road, directly across from Monte Bello Open Space Preserve and parking lot.

Attractions:

This open space preserve has numbered posts for a self-guided tour of regions affected by seismic activity in the area, following the short and bumpy San Andreas Fault Trail.
The area has grassy meadows, windy bluffs, oak-shaded groves, creekside flora, and coniferous forest.
Wildlife include lizards, rattlesnakes, various birds, deer, banana slugs, and squirrels.
Beautiful views of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the West and the San Francisco Bay to the East.
Mushrooms and lightening-struck trees abound, for the detail-oriented hiker.

Limitations:

No dogs allowed.
No bicycles allowed.
No smoking permitted.
Stay on the trail to avoid ticks and poison oak.
Rattlesnakes are particularly active in warm weather, when they may sun themselves in exposed areas.
The drive to the park from Page Mill Rd (Alpine Rd) is very curvy! Take it easy and hope for no car-sickness!

Season:

Year round, about 8 am to sunset.

Fees:

None.

Maps & More Information:

Maps are posted and available at the sign at the East end of the parking lot.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's webpage for Los Trancos: http://www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_los_trancos.asp
Midpeninsula Reg. Open Space District's Self-Guided Tour Guide of San Andreas Fault in Los Trancos: http://www.openspace.org/activities/downloads/San_Andreas_Fault_Trail.pdf
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's Map of Los Trancos: http://www.openspace.org/preserves/maps/pr_los_trancos.pdf

Handicapped Access:

These paths are not suitable for wheelchairs; they can be steep, narrow, and contain ruts, roots, or other obstacles. For this reason, they are not suitable for small-wheeled strollers, either.

Recommended routes:

Franciscan Loop Trail (with Lost Creek Loop option):
Begin at the trailhead by the sign with maps at the East end of the parking lot. Walk North along the flat and wide Franciscan Loop Trail. The trail will junction with the San Andreas Fault Trails to the West and East that provide the guided tour of seismic activity in this area. (This trail is short and bumpy - I recommend this as a side trip with baby in a carrier, only. See below.)

Continue straight and head downhill into a shaded oak grove. Continue down into well forested woods. Arrive at a junction that marks the beginning of Lost Creek Loop Trail in about 0.1 miles to the North (left) or continuing Franciscan Loop South (right).

Los Creek Loop Trail is a lovely 1 mile loop that merges with Page Mill Trail (a fire road) for about 0.1 miles. If you follow this loop, turn left at the junction with Franciscan Loop Trail, then left in about 0.1 miles. At the junction with Page Mill Trail, turn right, then right to resume Lost Creek Loop Trail. The trail ends where you began it; walk dtraight to Franciscan Loop Trail, then left in about 0.1 miles.

Continue along Franciscan Loop Trail for 0.2 miles, then turn right to continue on this trail, at the junction with a link to Page Mill Trail. Walk another 0.2 miles, then turn right and uphill towards the parking lot. In less than 0.1 miles, you will cross the San Andreas Fault Trail again. Continue straight for another 0.3 miles, then take a left, walking less than 0.1 miles to the lot. Total distance is 2.5 miles with Lost Creek Loop or 1.5 miles without Lost Creek Loop.
San Andreas Fault Trail:
Obtain a map or guide for this hike at the sign at the East end of the parking lot, so you can go on a self-guided seismic tour! Begin at the trailhead at the West end of the parking lot. Walk uphill to the windy, grassy ridges of the area. Stop at each marked post along the way and read about its significance. Walk downhill and cross the Franciscan Loop Trail, continuing along the San Andreas Fault Trail. Turn left at a 3-way junction to continue along the San Andreas Fault Trail. Turn left past post #5 to loop around the fault break, returning eventually to post #5. Retrace your steps to return to the parking lot. Total distance is 1.5 miles.