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Night Hike at Pearson-Arastradero Preserve

  • Pearson-Arastradero Preserve 1530 Arastradero Road Palo Alto, CA, 94304 United States (map)

Trick or treat 🎃! Join us for this unique opportunity to discover the extraordinary creatures who come out when the sun goes down.

As night falls, Grassroots Ecology naturalists will guide you around Arastradero Preserve's grassy hills and oak woodlands. We'll keep an eye out for critters such as bats, owls, spiders, glow-in-the dark scorpions and millipedes, and more!

Attendees should expect to walk 2.5-3 miles on dirt and gravel trails with limited visibility. Don’t forget your flashlight or headlamp (red/UV light recommended)!

Visit Grassroots Ecology’s Pearson-Arastradero Preserve webpage to learn more about the ecosystem and accessibility considerations.

Parking: 1530 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto. 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 street parking available along Arastradero Road or Page Mill Road.

Please note: The park will officially close to the public at 7pm, and cars will not be able to exit the lot until the end of the event at 8:30pm.

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. Water and all-gender restrooms will be accessible at the beginning and at the end of the event.

Prepare for Exploring Outdoors:

  • Flashlight - red/UV light recommended

  • Reusable water bottle (filled with water)

  • Snacks, if desired

  • Long pants, long sleeves recommended

  • Sturdy closed-toed shoes

  • Warm layer

  • Epi-Pen or allergy medicine, if applicable

  • Plan for potential exposure to poison oak, prickly plants

  • Costume optional! 👻

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