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Naturalist Walk: Oaks and Open Spaces at Arastradero Preserve

  • Pearson-Arastradero Preserve 1530 Arastradero Road Palo Alto, CA, 94304 United States (map)
Oak tree with event details text

Pearson-Arastradero Preserve has a mosaic of ecosystems where native oak trees are keystone species. They dot its grasslands, provide shade to its creeks, and support thousands of other species with habitat. This walk will explore oak ecology and how these trees define many of our local open space preserves.

Attendees should expect to walk 2 miles on dirt and gravel trails with hills and uneven terrain at a slow to moderate pace. The walk will be in both the shade and the sun. Please bring sun protection and plenty of water!

Waivers/Registration: All attendees must be registered individually and have approved the online waiver through this Eventbrite page. Youth under 18 must have their legal guardian approve the waiver on their behalf. Attendees age 12 and under require an accompanying adult.

Parking: 1530 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto. The parking lot can fill up quickly, so please arrive early and carpool if possible. There will be some parking spaces reserved for the event at the back of the lot. There is no parking available along Arastradero Road.

Alternate Transportation: Bike racks are available near the parking lot. The 280/Page Mill Rd Park and Ride lot is a 10-minute walk from the preserve.

Meeting Space: We will meet by the buildings in the Gateway Garden down the path from the parking lot. Bathrooms and drinking fountains are accessible there.

Prepare for Exploring Outdoors:

  • Face mask for COVID-19 safety (optional)

  • Reusable water bottle (filled with water)

  • Snacks, if desired

  • Long pants, long sleeves recommended

  • Sturdy closed-toed shoes that can get dirty

  • Hat/sunscreen

  • Epi-Pen or allergy medicine, if applicable

  • Plan for potential exposure to sun, poison oak, ticks, prickly plants

COVID-19 Safety
Our staff will carefully adhere to safety protocols we have developed in compliance with public health guidelines. View our COVID-19 safety protocols here. As of March 1, 2022, masks are optional for all staff and volunteers.

Event Cancellations
We are committed to the safety of our staff and volunteers. In the event that we must cancel a workday due to extreme weather conditions or poor air quality, a Grassroots Ecology staff person will reach out via email no later than 5:00 PM the day prior to this event.

Join Us!
Grassroots Ecology encourages people from all identities and backgrounds to participate in our programs. Many of our programs are outdoors and involve moving and working in a variety of landscapes. If you have accessibility concerns (e.g. allergies, limited mobility, learning differences), our projects are flexible and we are happy to work with you. Please reach out to the workday facilitator so we can prepare for your participation.

Accessibility concerns? Questions? Cancellations?
Email hannah@grassrootsecology.org