Ancient Oaks Trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve near Vista Verde, CA. It climbs 710 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi2,202 – 2,569 ft · steepest grade: 17%4.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Audrey's Way 37.30733, -122.19825
Nearest town Vista Verde, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Ancient Oaks Trail
3.8 mi · ▲ 710 ft · 1 hr 37 min
Elevation 2,203–2,569 ft
Out & Back · Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: Audrey's Way · 37.30733, -122.19825
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 84°F / low 64° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:17 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Audrey's Way, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right onto New Ancient Oaks Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Ancient Oaks Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miReach Ancient Oaks Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto New Ancient Oaks Trail, heading S.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Audrey's Way, heading NE.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
98% dirt2% gravel
Weather
ClearTemperature 84°F64°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 6:17 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:15 PM
Wed
81°53°
Thu
89°50°
Fri
94°56°
Sat
90°53°
Sun
82°46°
Mon
77°46°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:55 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:15 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:43 PM.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Audrey's Way Trailhead
- Borel Hill & Ridge Viewpoint via New Ancient Oaks Trail 2.6 mi · ▲ 345 ft
- New Ancient Oaks Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 472 ft
- New Ancient Oaks Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 508 ft
- Charquin Trail–Council Circle Trail, 3 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 665 ft
- Ipiwa Viewpoint–Alpine Pond, 3 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 743 ft
- Alpine Pond & Butano View Trail via Ipiwa Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 925 ft
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Hikes near Vista Verde, California