Rattlesnake Flats Trail

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How to get there: Park at the Point Buchon Trail or Spooner Cove parking lot to access this trail. These directions will follow the Rattlesnake Flats Trail from south to north. From the Point Buchon Trail, follow the Coon Creek Trail for a little over a mile and the turnoff for this trail will be on the left. Alternatively, if you're coming down from the Oats Peak Trail, follow Coon Creek Trail down for about 1.5 miles and the turnoff for Rattlesnake Flats Trail will be on the right. The turnoff is well-signed and hard to miss in either direction.

Trail Directions: From the junction with the Coon Creek Trail the trail climbs steeply out of the canyon that Coon Creek runs through, and works its way onto the side of a ridge. There are many switchbacks in the first half mile or so, but the trail smooths out after this. Continue uphill for another half mile to the top of a ridge. There is then a steep, rocky mile-long descent into a different parking area.

From the parking area, follow signs and take an immediate right to continue on the trail. After the parking lot, the trail turns to a doubletrack fire road and continues uphill for .5 miles. At the top of the ridge there is a campsite and toilet. Follow signs and continue straight past the campsite back onto singletrack. After coming across the second campsite, take a left and continue downhill on a steep, gravel fire-road. Slightly before reaching the main road, follow signs and take a sharp right to stay on the trail. Rattlesnake Flats Trail terminates at the junction with the Valencia Peak Trail.

Trail Description: This is a narrow, rocky singletrack trail for 90% of its length. It will get pretty overgrown during the summer and this one tends to be much warmer than the trails paralleling the ocean. It connects the Point Buchon Trail with Spooners Cove like the Bluff Trail, but this route is certainly more rugged and offers good views of the ocean. Take this option if you want technical trail and the Bluff Trail if you want to open things up for a faster hike.