Portola Pastures Trail

Overview

The Portola Pastures Trailhead is accessed via the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail and then taking a right onto the Meadowlark Trail and climbing the hill. When the Meadowlark Trail takes off to the left, the Portola Pastures Trail continues straight ahead and transforms from a wider gravel trail into a narrow, singletrack dirt trail. It winds around the hill as it begins to drop down to the road that runs along the preserve. <br><br>Unlike most of the trails in the preserve, this trail is rough due to the heavy horse use that this trail receives. Horseshoe marks are seen all along the trail, especially if it has been wet. Views of the Redtail Loop Trail are on the right side of the trail. Wildflowers bloom along the trail in the late winter and early spring. The trail drops to below street level where it crosses a small creek via a wooden bridge and then cuts back to the right before it climbs slightly to street level. There are more wildflowers in bloom here as it approaches the road. It can be muddy along the road if there has been rain recently, causing more water to flow along the road than normal.<br><br>Once you arrive at the road, you have several options. You can retrace your steps and do further exploring in the preserve, or you can cross the road and meet up with the Redtail Loop Trail. If you go straight on the Redtail Loop Trail following the road, this will lead you back to the parking area.

Trail Stats

Photos

Horseshoes have torn up the trail a little bit. It's not bad, but the trail is not smooth.

Horseshoes have torn up the trail a little bit. It's not bad, but the trail is not smooth.

The trail at sunset.

The trail at sunset.

The trail turns to the right and crosses the little stream via the small bridge.

The trail turns to the right and crosses the little stream via the small bridge.

Looking up the the hill during sunset.

Looking up the the hill during sunset.

Flowers blooming next to the trail as it approaches the road.

Flowers blooming next to the trail as it approaches the road.

Looking back up the trail as it descends along the ridge.

Looking back up the trail as it descends along the ridge.

The trail as it descends along the hillside.

The trail as it descends along the hillside.

As the trail departs the Meadowlark Trail, it transforms from a gravel path to a narrower dirt path.

As the trail departs the Meadowlark Trail, it transforms from a gravel path to a narrower dirt path.

Sunset in the preserve. The view toward the Redtail Loop Trail and the surrounding hills.

Sunset in the preserve. The view toward the Redtail Loop Trail and the surrounding hills.

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