Canyon Trail–Franciscan Loop Trail, 3 sights is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve near Vista Verde, CA. It is mostly level, with 230 ft of elevation gain. It scores 40/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi2,100 – 2,254 ft3.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Franciscan Loop Trail 37.32640, -122.17944
Nearest town Vista Verde, CA
Directions
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Canyon Trail–Franciscan Loop Trail, 3 sights
2.7 mi · ▲ 230 ft · 1 hr 1 min
Elevation 2,100–2,255 ft
Out & Back · Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: Franciscan Loop Trail · 37.32640, -122.17944
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Franciscan Loop Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Canyon Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 400 ftBear right onto Stevens Creek Nature Trail, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn right onto White Oak Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miReach Franciscan Loop Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Stevens Creek Nature Trail, heading SE.
- 400 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Canyon Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Franciscan Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:10 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 6:16 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:59 PM, 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
- 2.5 mi · out & back · via Canyon Trail
- 3.1 mi · out & back · via Canyon Trail
- 4.9 mi · out & back · via Canyon Trail
- 5.7 mi · out & back · via Canyon Trail
- 7.8 mi · out & back · via Canyon Trail
- 8.4 mi · out & back · via Canyon Trail
- 9 mi · out & back · via Canyon Trail
- 9.7 mi · out & back · via Canyon Trail
More from Franciscan Loop Trail Trailhead
- Canyon Trail & Franciscan Loop Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 1,243 ft
- Gerow's Waterfall–Two Moon Lake, 9 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 2,995 ft
- Wallace Stegner Bench–Canyon Trail, 8 sights 14.5 mi · ▲ 2,829 ft
- Ewing Hill–Bella Vista Trail, 9 sights 13.4 mi · ▲ 3,101 ft
- Black Mountain–Monte Bello Road (Trail) Viewpoint, 5 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 855 ft
- Franciscan Loop Trail–Lost Creek Loop Trail, 3 sights 2.8 mi · ▲ 369 ft
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