Arastradero Loop Trail

Arriving at the Dish in the late afternoon, we saw the sign that closing time for November was 5 PM. Doh! We had been looking forward to a vigorous walk, and we dejectedly walked back to our car. Then we realized there was a trail next to the street parking on Stanford Ave. We set out on a new adventure, which was just as exciting!
Beautiful trees add to the serene mood of the trails and park. (
) The trail is perfect for walking, running, or bringing your dogs! It’s a lot less populated than the Dish so has a more relaxing feel. Near the start of the trail, there is a cool, shaded area that is relatively quiet due to the «freeway barrier art» (as I call it) — huge concrete barriers stacked on top of each other that double as plant holders. Vines extend from these plant holders, and have their own watering system. Neat. (
) It is clear that much thought was put into this system, but the plants themselves could use a little maintenance.
A lovely shaded path (
) leads to a larger open space. This area is doggie-​friendly, as there are many signs reminding owners to pick up after their pets! There are large open areas perfect for pups to run around. If you are a dog-​lover and want some exercise, this is the perfect trail for you. We ran into about 12 beautiful dogs (with their owners) on a late afternoon.
The adventure continues on to Kite Hill, which offers a gorgeous view of Stanford. A couple benches are available at the top, so if you’re lucky you could turn a nice walk into a romantic date. From there, a mini-​Lombard Street leads down the hill into a pleasantly quiet neighborhood behind Stanford.
I shall definitely return! If for nothing else, this gorgeous Manzanita. (
)
TIP: If you are a dog owner and make the effort to bag your dog’s «gifts», please don’t leave them at the post when the garbage is about 20 feet away. Thank ye kindly!