Valley View Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views · Wildflowers

Parking in the main parking lot is $6.00. If you are simply doing the hike, you can park for free on Oddstad road. There are restrooms and water in the picnic area on the south side of the Weiler Ranch Trail, about 100 yards from the start of the Valley View trail.

The Valley View Trail is a wide, moderately steep dirt trail that branches off the Weiler Ranch Trail at about the 0.2 mile point. It does a couple of switchbacks up through a eucalyptus forest and then continues up a ridge through grasslands and chaparral, with lots of flowers. The climb is limited by the boundary of the Crystal Springs Watershed, so instead of reaching the top of something, it just switchbacks back down to meet the Weiler Ranch Trail at about the 0.6 mile point.

Besides the flowers, I like the trail because of its views of Montara Mountain and the steep, deeply recessed slopes on the other side of valley. The slopes are densely covered with trees and bushes, giving them a rounded appearance. Especially when it is misty or partially covered with fog, the view reminds me of the scenery in some Chinese or South Asia pictures and paintings.

Whether you start from Oddstad Road or the park's main parking lot, the total minimum hike is 2.2 miles. If you extend the hike by going to the end of the Weiler Ranch Trail, it would be 3.0 miles. For those who want a longer hike or hill run, when combined with the Hazelnut Trail, the total route is 6.0 miles if you start from Oddstad Road and a little shorter if you start from the parking lot.

For a family outing, there are numerous picnic facilities about 100 yards away on the south side of the Weiler Ranch Trail, including picnic tables, barbecue pits, volley ball courts, horseshoe rings, restrooms and water. A short, self-guided nature trail starts from near there.

Typical grasslands and chaparral bushes and flowers, except there are more Franciscan Paintbrush here than I've seen on any other trail.