Portola Valley Ranch Figure-8 Loop – Leor Pantilat's Adventures

After a few visits, I have successfully designed a long loop through Portola Valley Ranch that is all trails with only a small section of repetition (0.4 mile) along the Arroyo Trail. The run described below makes a figure-8 loop and is a nice combination of single track and wider paths. The setting is mostly in hardwood forest with some hill climbs throughout the run. The elevation ranges from 600 feet to 1,200 feet. The loop encompasses virtually all the trails at Portola Valley Ranch except the Buck Meadow Trail and the Blue Oak Trail. It took me 76 minutes to do this run, but it was 85 degrees at the start and into the low 90’s by the time I finished (i.e. not optimal running weather).

Portola Valley Ranch 10.5 mile Figure 8 Loop: Map Link

Start – El Corte Elementary School (junction of Indian Crossing and Alpine Rd)
Left onto trail along Alpine Road
Left and then right into Ranch House Parking Lot
Straight onto Memorial Trail
Left onto Bay Laurel Trail
Right on Arroyo Trail
Left onto Old Spanish Trail
Right on Lake Trail
Right on Toyon Trail
Right on Old Spanish Trail
Straight onto Coal Mine Trail
Straight onto Old Spanish Trail (short distance)
Left onto Arroyo Trail
Right onto Sunrise Trail
Right on Buck Meadow Drive Fire road (short distance)
Left onto Los Trancos Trail
Left on Black Oak Trail
Right on Deer Path Trail
Left on Sweet Springs Trail
Left on Trail along Alpine Road – Finish

Variation (~10 miles): Turn left on the Buck Meadow Drive Fire Road (instead of right) and take Buck Meadow Trail, heading straight onto Blue Oak Trail and then left on Black Oak Trail with the same finish from here.