San Andreas Fault Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Wildlife

The trail is relatively free of obstacles and is not heavily traveled, so it is good for running if you are looking for a short run through the woods.

The San Andreas Fault Trail can be accessed via the Franciscan Loop Trail from the parking lot on Page Mill Road or the small pull off near the Page Mill Trail. There are several stations on the Franciscan Loop Trail that provide visitors with information about the San Andreas Fault and earthquakes in general before getting to the Fault Trail. When you reach station 4, you are on the lollipop portion of the trail which is clearly labeled Fault Trail.

From there, the trail meanders through the woods, highlighting various geological aspects of earthquakes. For example, stations show how much the earth can move by highlighting how a fence might become separated along the fault line during an earthquake. Due to the presence of springs around a fault line, there are examples of landslides that happen due the saturation of the ground.

The path zig zags across the fault line as it rises gently along the hills before descending deeper into the woods. The area is well shaded, making this a good area for running during the heat of the day. In the mornings and the evenings, you can encounter various forms of wildlife (deer, turkeys, woodpeckers, squirrels, etc) as they feed.

After passing station 9, where you cross the fault again, the trail begins to climb back to its origin. It's an easy climb back out of the valley from here on out. You emerge back at the bench where you broke off from the Franciscan Loop Trail. From here, you can head back to your car or follow the Franciscan Loop Trail deeper into the preserve.

The area is well shaded with various forms of plants and trees throughout the area. Deer, turkeys, squirrels, lizards, and woodpeckers can be seen along the trail, especially in the mornings and evenings when they are feeding.