Bowl Loop Trail

Overview

You can reach the Bowl Loop Trail via the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail and the Meadowlark Trail. It can also be accessed by entering gate C, although there is no parking there. <br><br>The Bowl Loop Trail climbs immediately uphill from the Meadowlark Trail. If you turn around and look behind you, views of the Stanford Dish, East Bay, South Bay, Felt Lake, and the rest of the preserve spread out before you. Being at the far end of the park, these views allow you to see the area under the protection of the preserve. The trail is narrow and dirt at this point as it climbs the hillside. Once the trail levels out at the top, there are several options for you as there are lots of side trails used by mountain bikers. The trail goes off to the right and moves around a depression (or bowl if you'll) that fills with water after rainstorms. If there has been enough water, ducks can be seen swimming in the water, especially in the spring time. If the area is dry, it's a popular area for mountain bikers to ride through as it offers steep sides to ride down and climb. <br><br>After the trail passes this depression, the trail narrows again and descends down the backside of the hill that you climbed. Wildflowers can be seen on either side of the trail and you get a view into the Foothills Park. The trail bottoms out and then climbs up the hill again passing the Bowl Loop Trail Alternative connector that leads back to where you started. Continuing straight ahead, the trail passes Bowl Loop, which breaks off to the right before finally ending at the junction with the Meadowlark Trail. <br><br>Depending on the amount of time you have, there are several options for returning to your car depending on where you parked. You can go left and take the Meadowlark Trail back toward the trail where you started, or turn to the right and explore other areas of the park, using other trails to get back to your car. It's all easy hiking from this point as most of it is level or downhill.

Trail Stats

Photos

An evening on the trails.

An evening on the trails.

Great views from the trail.

Great views from the trail.

The Meadowlark Trail alternates between dirt and gravel as it works its way through the preserve.

The Meadowlark Trail alternates between dirt and gravel as it works its way through the preserve.

Beautiful views stretch out before you.

Beautiful views stretch out before you.

Wildflowers can be seen along the trail in the spring.

Wildflowers can be seen along the trail in the spring.

The trail as it moves along the back of the preserve.

The trail as it moves along the back of the preserve.

A side trail leads up to the Bowl Loop Trails that run along the hilltop.

A side trail leads up to the Bowl Loop Trails that run along the hilltop.

The trail narrows and climbs from the Meadowlark Trail.

The trail narrows and climbs from the Meadowlark Trail.

A mountain biker heads off to the Bowl Loop Trail after completing Bowl Loop.

A mountain biker heads off to the Bowl Loop Trail after completing Bowl Loop.

Bowl Loop hugs the hill on the far side of the ravine. Two mountain bikers can be seen enjoying the rolling nature of the trail.

Bowl Loop hugs the hill on the far side of the ravine. Two mountain bikers can be seen enjoying the rolling nature of the trail.

A mountain biker drops from the hill. You can see part of a Bowl Loop Trail that runs along the top of the hill.

A mountain biker drops from the hill. You can see part of a Bowl Loop Trail that runs along the top of the hill.

The trail can be seen as it drops down the hill and then climbs back up on the other side. It's a narrow dirt track for a majority of the hike.

The trail can be seen as it drops down the hill and then climbs back up on the other side. It's a narrow dirt track for a majority of the hike.

If there has been a lot of rain, ducks can be seen hanging out in the bowl. When dry, you can see the various trails that bikers use to ride through the bowl.

If there has been a lot of rain, ducks can be seen hanging out in the bowl. When dry, you can see the various trails that bikers use to ride through the bowl.

Felt Lake, Stanford Dish, and the East Bay stretch out before you from the trail.

Felt Lake, Stanford Dish, and the East Bay stretch out before you from the trail.

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