Los Trancos Woods / Vista Verde Neighborhood, Portola Valley, CA

Wildlife, gorgeous views, open space, and an excellent sense of community

Los Trancos Woods and Vista Verde are two separate neighborhoods that share an access road and a remote, rustic character. Surrounded by thousands of acres of wooded permanent open space on sloping terrain, Los Trancos Woods and Vista Verde are located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County just up the road from nearby Portola Valley. Each is a charming, self-sufficient community, but both are strongly connected to Portola Valley through the schools and town amenities.

Los Trancos Woods / Vista Verde Neighborhood Real Estate Insider

The median home in Los Trancos Woods sold for $1,130,000 in 2006 while the median home in Vista Verde sold for $1,835,000. Los Trancos Woods was originally developed as a subdivision of summer homes in 1928, but in 1941, people began living there year round. Today, most of the summer homes have been updated or replaced, and further development has been restricted in order to retain its rural character.

Roads in Los Trancos Woods are lined with trees intermingled with ivy and moss and occasional bobcats, coyotes and mountain lions are spotted by residents as well as a large population of deer. House numbers are painted on wooden signs and nailed to redwoods along the roads.

Because of Los Trancos Wood”s remoteness, the Los Trancos Woods Community Association focuses on emergency preparedness and address issues such as limiting house sizes and a proposed sewage system. The community also comes together for book clubs and picnics and publishes a director of residents.

Built on the ridge above Los Trancos Woods is Vista Verde, where 105 rural estates were originally developed in the early 1960s. Lots are generally larger than one acre and homes were designed to blend with the natural landscape, with open space on three sides and private parks throughout the neighborhood.

Vista Verde is perhaps even more self-sufficient than Los Trancos Woods, running emergency preparedness drills twice a year and maintaining a community directory, including people who may need help during a disaster. Socially, the neighborhood gathers for an annual summer picnic at Pony Tracks Ranch, progressive dinners and a yearly spring celebration.

Los Trancos Woods / Vista Verde Neighborhood School Information

Los Trancos and Vista Verde are served by two school districts: the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD), and Portola Valley School District. PAUSD schools include Lucille M. Nixon School, Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School and Henry M. Gunn Senior High School. PAUSD schools scores very well on the API

Portola Valley schools include Ormandale Elementary, which scores in the mid 900s on the API, and Corte Madera School, which also scores very well on the API. Woodside High has somewhat lower scores on the API, due to the intermixing of students from other districts. Summit Prep a college prep charter school is also an option for Sequoia Union High School district students. At Woodside High, opportunities abound through programs such as the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, and top-tier students often go on to attend prestigious schools, such as the UC Berkley or the nearby Stanford University. Some families send their children to The Woodside Priory located in Portola Valley only minutes away.

Keller Williams Realty & the Arjani Group

Are you searching for a home in the Los Trancos Woods or Vista Verde Neighborhoods? If so, we can help! Our extensive real estate expertise will guide you from finding the right home to closing. We’ll even assist you with relocation! Whether you are moving from across San Mateo County or from beyond the state of California, we’ll make your transition smooth and rewarding. You're always welcome to call us at (650) 331-2993 for more information. Thank you for visiting our website!

www.ArjaniHomes.com is owned by Anne Arjani who is a licensed Realtor® of Keller Williams Realty, 505 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Keller Williams Realty is licensed in the state of California, is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports the Fair Housing Act. Terms and Conditions apply.