UPDATE as of Tuesday, 6/2/2020

The City of Palo Alto has issued a Curfew Order that begins June 2  and ends June 11. During this time, all Open Space Preserves will close at 8:00 PM.

Baylands Nature Preserve, Arastradero Preserve and Foothills Park are now open to vehicles.

Baylands Nature Preserves restrooms are now open. The Foothills Park Entrance and Orchard Glen restrooms are open, while the Foothills Park Interpretive Center remains closed. The Arastradero Preserve restrooms are now open. All BBQ areas, benches and water fountains in all preserves remain closed.

Please respect other park visitors and keep at least 6 feet apart if not of the same household. When letting others pass on trails, be aware of snakes, ticks, Poison Oak and your footing when making room off the trail.

Closures are in the interest of public health and safety and in alignment with the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department’s order to shelter in place. The City is urging the community to stay at home. This will save lives. If large crowds continue at our parks and Open Space Preserves, we will have no choice but to close them for the safety of the whole community.Please stay close to home. Thank you for your understanding. 

Open Space Preserves

Our Mission
To protect and interpret the resources and wildlife entrusted to Palo Alto for the enjoyment of future generations.

Palo Alto's open space preserves offer trails from the marshes of the bay to the redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains. The Baylands Preserve has some of the last remaining salt marsh and mud flat habitats on the west coast. It offers excellent birding year round. Pearson-Arastradero Preserve is a beautiful mixture of rolling grassland and broadleaf evergreen forest. Each area of the preserve has something different: views of the bay, a quiet grassland stroll, or a snooze by the lake. Esther Clark Nature Preserve is a good place for quiet meditation or watching the sun set. Foothills Park is a 1,400-acre preserve with rugged chaparral, woodland, fields, and a lake. Hike on 15 miles of trail, have a picnic,  or enjoy spectacular views of the bay from Vista Hill. This park is open to Palo Alto residents and their accompanied guests only.

Open Space offers a variety of nature programs, hikes, camps, walks, and other activities in the preserves.  Activities and Programs

Visit the parks map for location and addresses of the open space preserves as well as neighborhood parks.  Open Space trail map.

Parks Search

All Open Space Nature Preserves are open daily from 8:00 am until sunset, every day of the year.  Park Hours

Open Space Preserves Trail Map

Open Space, Parks & Golf Administration
3201 East Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, California 94303 
Phone: 650-496-6962
Fax: 650-496-5925
open.space@cityofpaloalto.org

Baylands Nature Preserve
2500 Embarcadero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: 650-617-3156
Fax: 650-496-5925
Location Map

Baylands Nature Center
2775 Embarcadero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: 650-329-2506
Fax: 650-493-5239
Location Map

Esther Clark Preserve
End of Old Trace Road, off Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA
Phone: 650-329-2423
Location Map

Foothills Park
3300 Page Mill Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Phone: 650-329-2423
Fax: 650-917-9647
Location Map

Pearson-Arastradero Preserve
1530 Arastradero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: 650-329-2423
Fax: 650-917-9647
Location Map