Bodhidharma Cave–Grizzly Flat Trail South, 6 sights is a 15.8-mile out-and-back in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve near Vista Verde, CA. The route reaches Bodhidharma Cave at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 3,310 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade. It scores 35/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi1,289 – 2,412 ft · steepest grade: 27%16.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Skid Road Trail 37.31271, -122.17570
Nearest town Vista Verde, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Bodhidharma Cave–Grizzly Flat Trail South, 6 sights
15.8 mi · ▲ 3,310 ft · 6 hr 55 min
Elevation 1,291–2,412 ft
Out & Back · Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: Skid Road Trail · 37.31271, -122.17570
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Skid Road Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Stevens Creek Nature Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miBear left, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Canyon Trail, heading N.
- 3 miTurn right onto Grizzly Flat Trail, heading SE.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Grizzly Flat Trail South, heading SE.
- 1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Peters Creek Trail, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Long Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Portola Heights Road, heading W.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Long Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear left onto Portola Heights Road, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Long Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 500 ftReach Bodhidharma Cave, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Portola Heights Road, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Long Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Portola Heights Road, heading NW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Long Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Peters Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Grizzly Flat Trail South, heading W.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Grizzly Flat Trail, heading S.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Canyon Trail, heading E.
- 3 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftBear right onto Stevens Creek Nature Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Skid Road Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
34% dirt66% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:16 AMSunset 8:15 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.4 mi in (~231 min). Leave by 4:04 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 12:15 AM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Skid Road Trail Trailhead
- Canyon Trail & Skid Road Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 762 ft
- Skid Road Trail & Stevens Creek Nature Trail via Canyon Trail 6 mi · ▲ 1,239 ft
- Canyon Trail & Skid Road Trail 10.9 mi · ▲ 1,938 ft
- Grizzly Flat Trail North–Grizzly Flat Trail South, 4 sights 13.6 mi · ▲ 2,828 ft
- Upper High Meadow Viewpoint–Bella Vista Trail, 5 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 4,104 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Vista Verde, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Vista Verde, California