In brief:
Nearly 3 mile hike follows an interpretive guide to earthquakes and the San Andreas
Fault while passing through pretty, quiet woods.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 2.95 mile loop hike is easy. The trailhead is at about 2100 feet.
All trails descend from there (to a low preserve elevation of about 1700
feet) and then climb back to the trailhead. There is one possible medium
length hike, but the other loops are short. The featured hike has a total
elevation gain of about 735 feet.
Exposure:
Mostly shaded.
Trail traffic:
Moderate.
Trail surfaces:
Dirt trails.
Hiking time:
1 1/2 hours.
Season:
Nice any time.
Getting there:
From Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, exit Page Mill Road. Drive west
about 7 miles, and turn right into the preserve. (From the junction of CA
35 and Page Mill Road, the entrance is a little more than 1 mile downhill to
the east.)
GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude
37°19'34.24"N
Longitude 122°10'46.87"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, stores, and restaurants at the junction of 84 and 35, or on Alpine
Road, a few miles north on 280. No camping.
Trailhead details:
No entrance or parking fees. Dirt lot holds about 20 cars, and there's more
parking right across the street in Monte Bello's lot. Pit toilet across
the street at the Monte Bello trailhead. There's one designated handicapped
parking spot, but trails are not well suited to wheelchairs. Maps available
at the information signboard (pick up the Los Trancos, rather than the South
Skyline map, if it's available). Nearest pay phone is about 4.5 miles east
on Page Mill Road, at Foothills Park. There is no direct public transportation
to the preserve.
Rules:
One trail is open to equestrians and hikers. The others are hiking only.
No bikes. Dogs are not permitted.
The Official Story:
MROSD's Los Trancos page.
MROSD field office 650-691-1200.
Map Choices:
• Map from MROSD
• Dave Baselt's Skyline Ridge map is an excellent guide to the trails of Los Trancos (order from Redwood Hikes).
• Geology Trails of Northern California, by Robin C. Johnson and Dot Lofstrom (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a nice geological description of this preserve.
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