February 15, 2025

all part of life, health, hiking, landscapes, little one, local, local park, photography, photoblog, portrait, travel, videoblog, waterfalls

Revisiting Foothill Park after 4 years

Sundar Narayanan

February 15, 2025

all part of life, health, hiking, landscapes, little one, local, local park, photography, photoblog, portrait, travel, videoblog, waterfalls

The anniversary trip posts have to wait for this brief interruption

Given this is a long weekend, we decided to revisit foothill park in Palo Alto this afternoon. This park is just 25 minutes from our place. The first time we got to visit it was in 2021 sundar72.com/travelog/2021/1/4/a-lost-world-foothills-park-palo-alto.html?rq=foothillwhen covid was still in peak. We were wearing masks and walking.

We went in the afternoon because I had to do two back to back yoga classes this morning. Got an hour and a half post yoga class to get something to eat, drink lot of fluids and join the gang on a 9 mile hike this time.

Parking is available for 6$ right inside the park. We started hiking at 2PM and were out by 5:30. It was pleasant. There was a lot of water in the creek and falls and there was hardly anyone else in the park.

Our little one joined us for this hike as well and that was a bonus..

We caught some sunset colors right when we reached the top. So for a change, a front facing bench photo to start this post..

A gallery of portrait format pics..

We were also treated today to some amazing Bajji after walking in the cold.. to go with Chai.. our hiking group leader made my day!

A video highlights reel of the hike..

Exhausted after all that exercise all day, but feeling good!

Will definitely recommend this place for an afternoon hike in cool weather!

Sundar Narayanan

January 4, 2021

all part of life, landscapes, local, local park, photoblog, photography, portrait, stay at home, travel

A lost world - Foothills Park Palo Alto

Sundar Narayanan

January 4, 2021

all part of life, landscapes, local, local park, photoblog, photography, portrait, stay at home, travel

Given we are on a hiking spree, I happened to read an article on my google feed about a hiker who went to Foothills park and his first response was anger.. anger that such a beautiful park right in our backyard was not publicised and was restricted to Palo Alto residents only. An ACLU lawsuit had to be won to make this park accessible to the general public, temporarily starting October 2020..

Given the access could close, we went to wrap up 2020 with one more hike!

We tried to go a day earlier but the parking was full and the cops turned us back at the entrance. So we tried again the next morning at 7AM before the park opened, found parking and did the entire ~8 mile hike on the one way Los Trancos trail.

We got there before the sun rose behind the hills. This is a beautiful time to get photos because the sun is bounce flashing the light through the clouds and there is a diffuse golden light everywhere.. you don't have to worry about shiloutte effects or underexposed pictures!

There was a beautiful lake with a pier! My first response after taking a few photos and looking at my camera was the same.. anger.. should have been here before!

We went on to park near the interpretive center and walked across a slushy field to start the trail.. It was a pretty steep trail through and through and also narrow. It was good that they made it a one way loop.

It has rained the previous night and there was still a slight drizzle. The colors were vibrant everywhere on the trail and we were treated to water dripping off the moss on the trees everywhere!