The Mission Trail Nature Preserve is a 34-acre park that encompasses three miles of hiking trails and a native plant garden. The Preserve’s habitats include a Monterey pine forest, coast live oak woodland, wetland, willow riparian corridor and a coastal prairie. 

The Preserve was designed as a nature park in 1979 for passive recreational use, including dog walking. The park boundaries include the Flanders Mansion, the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden and the meadow off Martin Road.  The City has an active management plan to remove invasive plants, restore wetlands, and improve the trail system.