Story:
Hidden Villa is a educational organization that uses a farm to teach about the environment and social justice. While the main entrance is the starting place for most hikes, we started at the small Rhus Ridge Rd parking lot (8-10 cars and no facilities). The traihead here is about 1.25 miles from the main entrance. This hike is 8.3 miles with about 2300 ft of elevation change. I would rate it as strenuous.
We started up the Rhus Ridge trail This portion of the trail is quite steep, but only lasts for about 0.9 miles until the junction of Black Mountain trail. About 0.9 mi, we reached the junction of the ewing trail and down to the creek trail. Since it had rained the night before, the creek was flowing pretty good. In spite of the rain, the trails were in very good shape.
We continued on the creek trail (very pretty) until we reached the bridge at the bottom were you can go to the farm (r) or continue straight to the Bunny loop trail. A short hike brought us to another creek were we had to jump across. Not deep or wide, but some people did get their feet wet.
The hike up the Bunny loop trail was a series of switchbacks. The trip to the top is about 3/4 mi and 440 ft. The trip down was steeper but the creek running next to the trail was fabulous..very pretty. The Bunny loop trail ended at the Duveneck property.
We continued down the paved road towards the hostel. At the hostel, the hostel trail goes up the side of the hill in a series of switchbacks. We continued up the hill on the hostel trail until the junction of black mountain trail where we turned left heading back to the parking lot.
Hidden Villa is a educational organization that uses a farm to teach about the environment and social justice. While the main entrance is the starting place for most hikes, we started at the small Rhus Ridge Rd parking lot (8-10 cars and no facilities). The traihead here is about 1.25 miles from the main entrance. This hike is 8.3 miles with about 2300 ft of elevation change. I would rate it as strenuous.
We started up the Rhus Ridge trail This portion of the trail is quite steep, but only lasts for about 0.9 miles until the junction of Black Mountain trail. About 0.9 mi, we reached the junction of the ewing trail and down to the creek trail. Since it had rained the night before, the creek was flowing pretty good. In spite of the rain, the trails were in very good shape.
We continued on the creek trail (very pretty) until we reached the bridge at the bottom were you can go to the farm (r) or continue straight to the Bunny loop trail. A short hike brought us to another creek were we had to jump across. Not deep or wide, but some people did get their feet wet.
The hike up the Bunny loop trail was a series of switchbacks. The trip to the top is about 3/4 mi and 440 ft. The trip down was steeper but the creek running next to the trail was fabulous..very pretty. The Bunny loop trail ended at the Duveneck property.
We continued down the paved road towards the hostel. At the hostel, the hostel trail goes up the side of the hill in a series of switchbacks. We continued up the hill on the hostel trail until the junction of black mountain trail where we turned left heading back to the parking lot.
Tips:
This hike is HOT during the summer, bring plenty of water.
This hike is HOT during the summer, bring plenty of water.
Tags:
rancho san antonio, monte bello, rhus ridge trail, black mountain
rancho san antonio, monte bello, rhus ridge trail, black mountain
Comments (1)
This was a beautiful and challenging hike. It has wide vistas and the Creek and Bunny Loop trails were grand.
by hikeaholic on Dec 30, 2010
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