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A loop is the most satisfying shape for a hike. You see new ground the whole way, you can plan the climb for when your legs are fresh and you end up back at the car without a long walk down the trail you just climbed. The trail networks around Palo Alto lend themselves to loops because their old ranch roads and newer single track cross each other again and again.
This guide picks ten loops, from a 1.5-mile foothill circuit to a 7.2-mile summit day. Distances and climbs come from the managing agency or our park pages. For two loops we use Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) figures and name the source. Where no climb is published, we say so. Each entry also suggests a direction. For out-and-back classics like Black Mountain and Mission Peak, see our hard hikes guide.
The loop hikes at a glance
| Loop | Distance | Climb | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redtail Loop, Arastradero | 1.5 miles | Grades up to 15 percent | Leashed |
| Seven Springs Loop, Fremont Older | 2.5 miles | Up to Hunters Point, 900 feet | Leashed |
| Highlights loop, Foothills | About 3 miles | Not published | Weekdays only |
| Wildcat Loop, Rancho San Antonio | About 3 miles | Moderate | No |
| Stevens Creek Nature Trail, Monte Bello | 3 miles | Drops 450 feet and climbs back | No |
| Bayview Trail, Coyote Hills | 3.5 miles | Paved, rolling | Leashed |
| Russian Ridge loop | 3.6 miles (POST) | 600 feet (POST) | No |
| Long Ridge Loop | 4.3 miles | Described as flat | Designated trails only |
| Castle Rock: Skyline, Loghry Woods and Saratoga Gap | 6.1 miles | 750 feet | No |
| Windy Hill Loop | 7.2 miles (POST: 7.5) | 1,400 feet (POST) | Leashed on loop trails |
Short loops in the foothills
Redtail Loop, Pearson-Arastradero
The city lists this loop at 1.5 miles of hilly grassland with grades up to 15 percent. It leaves the main lot, climbs through open grass with views back toward the bay and returns. It is the classic one-hour loop in Palo Alto.
- Dogs and bikes: leashed dogs and bikes share the trail. Horses have the right of way.
- Parking and fees: free lot at 1530 Arastradero Road. 8 a.m. to sunset.
- Best season: spring. Shade is patchy, so go early from May to October.
- Watch for: dry grass gets slippery in late summer. Wear shoes with grip.
Our Arastradero guide lists longer combinations.
Highlights loop, Foothills Nature Preserve
Combine the Toyon, Woodrat and Chamise trails for a loop of about 3 miles past Boronda Lake to Vista Hill and Arbolejo Overlook. Vista Hill has a wide bay view and the overlook looks down on the Dish and Hoover Tower. For more, the Los Trancos shortcut loop on Trappers Fire Road runs about 5 miles with about 1,000 feet of climbing.
- Dogs and bikes: leashed dogs on weekdays only. Bikes on paved park roads only.
- Parking and fees: $6 per vehicle. The city caps visitors at no more than 600 at once, so the gate can close on busy weekends.
- Best season: winter and spring, when the hills are green.
- Direction: start at the lake so the views come midway.
See our Foothills Nature Preserve guide.
Seven Springs Loop, Fremont Older
Midpen describes a 2.5-mile loop through open hayfields and oak-covered trails. Climb the Cora Older Trail to the Seven Springs and Woodhills Loop trails, take in the Santa Clara Valley from Hunters Point at 900 feet and return on the Hayfield Trail.
- Dogs and bikes: leashed dogs on every trail. Bikes on designated trails.
- Parking and fees: Prospect Road lot in Saratoga, 21 spaces, restrooms. Free. Fills on weekends.
- Best season: spring, or any day when Skyline is fogged in.
- Watch for: little shade on the hayfields. Carry water for dogs.
Our Fremont Older guide covers the history.
Canyon loops
Wildcat Loop, Rancho San Antonio
Midpen's popular three-mile loop leaves Deer Hollow Farm, follows a creek into a cool fern canyon, climbs through chaparral to meadows on the middle ridge and loops back to the farm. On a clear day the meadows look to Mount Tamalpais and Mount Hamilton. Add the walk in from the lots.
- Dogs and bikes: no dogs. No bikes west of Deer Hollow Farm.
- Parking and fees: free county park lots off Cristo Rey Drive. Check live counts on Midpen's parking page.
- Best season: spring for lupine and poppies.
- Direction: go up the canyon first for shade on the climb.
Our Rancho trail guide adds longer loops.
Stevens Creek Nature Trail, Monte Bello
Midpen describes a self-guided 3-mile loop that takes about three hours at a leisurely pace. The first stretch is an easy-access path to a vista bench looking toward Mount Umunhum and Loma Prieta. The rest drops 450 feet into the headwaters of Stevens Creek and returns along the San Andreas Fault, so the climb comes last.
- Dogs and bikes: no dogs. Bikes on designated trails.
- Parking and fees: 4301 Page Mill Road, 51 spaces plus 4 accessible, restrooms. Free.
- Best season: fall for clear views; the canyon stays cooler in summer.
See our Monte Bello guide.
Ridge loops on Skyline
Russian Ridge loop
POST describes a 3.6-mile loop from the main lot: start on the Ridge Trail, follow the Ancient Oaks Trail, turn onto the Charquin Trail and return on the Ridge Trail. It lists 600 feet of elevation change, a moderate rating and about two hours. The route passes near Borel Hill and through the shade of the oak canopy.
- Dogs and bikes: no dogs. Bikes on designated trails.
- Parking and fees: 37 spaces at Skyline and Page Mill/Alpine. Free.
- Best season: April to June for wildflowers. Stay on the trail; off-trail use is banned in bloom season.
See our Russian Ridge guide.
Long Ridge Loop
Midpen describes a flat 4.3-mile loop that starts on the Peters Creek Trail, winds through a little valley to the headwaters of Peters Creek and climbs out onto a ridge with views of the Santa Cruz Mountains before returning to the car. The Stegner Memorial Bench sits at a junction on the loop.
- Dogs and bikes: dogs on designated trails only, leashed; check the map. Bikes on designated trails.
- Parking and fees: Peters Creek roadside on Skyline, 20 spaces. No restrooms. Free.
- Best season: spring and fall.
Our Long Ridge guide has the turns.
Castle Rock: Skyline, Loghry Woods and Saratoga Gap
State Parks lists this loop from the main lot at 6.1 miles with 750 feet of gain. For something shorter, the Castle Rock Loop covers 1 mile with 300 feet. Both pass the park's honeycombed sandstone.
- Dogs and bikes: dogs prohibited. Bikes only on the Skyline Trail north of Highway 35 and the campground service road.
- Parking and fees: $10 per vehicle, $9 for seniors. 6 a.m. to sunset.
- Best season: fall, when the black oaks turn.
- Watch for: no cell reception.
See our Castle Rock guide.
Windy Hill Loop
Midpen's signature loop from Portola Road runs 7.2 miles on the Spring Ridge, Lost and Hamms Gulch trails, past Sausal Pond to the summit. POST describes a similar 7.5-mile loop with 1,400 feet of gain, rated hard at 2 to 3 hours. Climb the open Spring Ridge early and descend through the woods of Hamms Gulch.
- Dogs and bikes: leashed dogs on the loop trails. Bikes on designated trails.
- Parking and fees: 47 spaces plus 2 accessible on Portola Road; overflow at the Town Center. Free.
- Best season: fall and spring.
Our Windy Hill guide lists every lot.
A bayside loop
Bayview Trail, Coyote Hills
Across the Dumbarton Bridge, the park district's 3.5-mile Bayview Trail is a paved loop around the hills. The western side follows the shoreline with views over the marsh and the bay to the Peninsula.
- Dogs and bikes: leashed dogs on paved trails. Bikes allowed.
- Parking and fees: $5 per vehicle. Gates 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through November 27, then 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Best season: winter and spring. Expect wind.
See our Coyote Hills guide.
Loop tips
Good to know
- Junctions come fast in Midpen preserves. Download the map, which shows mileage between junctions.
- Carry water. Midpen recommends two quarts per person for every two hours.
- Seasonal closures can break a loop. Some trails close to bikes and horses in wet weather.
- Sunset now comes around 5 p.m. Plan the second half of the loop with daylight to spare.
Runners use many of these loops; see our running routes. Most trailheads need a car, so you can compare rental cars if you are visiting without one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best loop hike near Palo Alto?
For a first visit, Midpen's Wildcat Loop at Rancho San Antonio runs about three miles through a shady fern canyon and up to open meadows. For a big day, the Windy Hill Loop from Portola Road runs 7.2 miles by Midpen's count and climbs to a summit with bay and ocean views.
Is there a short loop hike in Palo Alto?
Yes. The city lists the Redtail Loop at Pearson-Arastradero Preserve at 1.5 miles of hilly grassland with grades up to 15 percent. It starts from the free lot at 1530 Arastradero Road and allows leashed dogs and bikes.
Which loop hikes allow dogs near Palo Alto?
The Redtail Loop at Arastradero, the Seven Springs Loop at Fremont Older and the paved Bayview Trail at Coyote Hills all allow leashed dogs. Windy Hill allows leashed dogs on the Spring Ridge, Lost and Hamms Gulch trails that make up its loop.
Which way should I walk a loop?
On loops with one steep side, climb the steep part while you are fresh and descend the gentler side. On exposed loops in summer, put the sunny climb early in the morning and save the shady stretch for later.
Is there a flat loop hike near Palo Alto?
Midpen describes the Long Ridge Loop off Skyline Boulevard as a flat 4.3-mile loop. On the bay, the Bayview Trail at Coyote Hills is a 3.5-mile paved loop with rolling sections.