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A steep climb up to the top of the ridge with views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Pacific Ocean on clear days.


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Map Key

0.6

Miles

1.0

KM

89%

Runnable

2,493' 760 m

High

2,373' 723 m

Low

146' 44 m

Up

54' 16 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (4°)

15%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views · Wildlife

Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve is open half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

Need to Know

There are no facilities on this trail, so make sure to pack enough water, snacks and sunscreen for your adventure. The newest restroom facilities are at the various trailheads in the park (Alpine parking lot and at the end of the Ipiwa Trail along Skyline Blvd.

Runner Notes

This is an old farm road that climbs the hillside and then descends down to the Sunny Jim Trail. While steep, there is plenty of room to pass people and free from roots, rocks and other obstacles.

Description

The Butano Ridge Trail is a doublewide dirt trail that departs the Sunny Jim Trail and climbs steeply up the hill past a water tower. While the trail starts in the woods, as the trail turns to the left, it emerges into grassland and views of the surrounding hills and on a clear day, the Pacific Ocean, come into view on the right hand side of the trail.

The trail offers similar views to the Ipiwa Trail, just higher on the hillside. The trail continue to climb uphill, less steeply at this point until the quarter mile mark. Here, the trail drops down the hillside, past a small connector on the left side of the trail that leads back to the Sunny Jim Trail.

The trail drops down the hillside and at three tenths of a mile, a short connector breaks off to the right that leads down to the Ipiwa Trail. The trail climbs back up the hillside and then levels out briefly, still offering great views of the area. From here, the trails winds around the hillside and drops back down to the Sunny Jim Trail.

You can turn right and descend toward Horseshoe Lake via the Sunny Jim Trail, or turn left and head back to where you started.

Flora & Fauna

Deer, turkeys, and bobcats may be seen in the morning or evenings in the fields of the preserve. Various birds, including hawks and turkey vultures can be seen riding the air currents above you.

Contacts

Shared By:

David Hitchcock

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#35155

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#4,024

in California

#35,155

Overall
2 Views Last Month
34 Since Jan 2, 2021
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Photos

Facing west towards the Pacific Ocean
Nov 25, 2015 near Ladera, CA
Looking along the ridge line toward Russian Ridge from the Butano View Trail.
Jan 2, 2021 near La Honda, CA
A views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Pacific Ocean off in the distance.
Jan 2, 2021 near La Honda, CA
The trail descends through the woods as it makes its way toward Alpine Pond.
Sep 25, 2017 near La Honda, CA
The trails as it starts to descend the hillside with the Santa Cruz mountains in the distance.
Jan 2, 2021 near La Honda, CA
The trail climbs steeply up the hill past this water tower before turning to the left.
Jan 2, 2021 near La Honda, CA

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