Rift Zone Trail

Distance: 2 to 8.6 miles (3 to 13.8 km) roundtrip Explore the floor of a valley that follows the San Andreas Fault , passing through meadows and woods. Evidence of former earthquakes are rather subtle, coming in the form of diverted streams, shutter ridges, and sag ponds that most visitors overlook. One will only find a fresh scar on the surface of the ground if there has been a large earthquake recently; the last one was on April 18, 1906. Start at either the Bear Valley Trailhead at the trail's north end, or the Five Brooks Trailhead at its south. The description below proceeds from north to south. From the southwestern corner of the Bear Valley Trailhead, the Rift Zone Trail heads east through a meadow for 0.3 miles (0.5 km) before crossing a bridge over the tree-lined Bear Valley Creek. Those paying attention may notice that the creek is deflected by a low ridge just upstream from this location-one of the first indications one will encounter of the valley's seismic history. After crossing the bridge, the trail climbs up and over a partially wooded shutter ridge and then crosses through another meadow, which, until relatively recently, served as a cattle pasture. After another 0.5 miles (0.8 km) [0.8 miles (1.3 km) from Bear Valley], the trail crosses the access road for the Vedanta Society Retreat. The trail beyond this road is only open to the general public from 8 am until 2 hours before sunset. Please be sure to close the gates after you pass through. South of the road, the trail passes through private property for the next couple miles (few kilometers); please treat both the private land and public park lands with respect and practice Leave No Trace principles. Take only pictures and leave only footprints. From the access road, the trail turns south and passes through two active (and sometimes muddy) cattle pastures. The trail may be difficult to distinguish from the cattle paths, but, so long as the cows haven't pushed them over, there should be posts with small signs along the designated path to help you find your way. After 0.3 miles (0.5 km), the trail pass through a gate in the fence separating the pastures. Again, please be sure to close any gates you open. The trail then turns south-southwest for another 0.3 miles (0.5 km) before heading west through a gate near the southwest corner of the pasture. Follow the trail ~235 feet (~70 m) west between the fence line and the tree line. Pass through the smallergate to the left (closest to the tree line) and keep to the left to stay on the Rift Zone Trail, which intersects in this immediate area with ranch roads and fences. From this junction, the trail (an old ranch road) heads south a bit before bending south-southeast to travel between a fenced meadow on the west and trees to the east. After another 0.2 miles (0.3 km), the trail enters the woods. After another hundred yards/meters or so into the woods [1.8 miles (2.9 km) from Bear Valley], one will encounter a shallow sag pond. Young redwoods grow east of the trail to the south of the pond for a few hundred yards. Beyond the pond, the terrain becomes more hilly, but the trail should be easier to follow with only a couple junctions with other ranch roads that are rarely used (and are closed to the general public). Follow the Rift Zone Trail through woods and a few meadowsuntil you reach the Five Brooks Horse Camp, located 4.0 miles (6.4 km) from Bear Valley Trailhead. The southernmost 0.2 miles (0.3 kilometers) of the Rift Zone Trail are closed due a severe washout of the trail. Due to the presence of these hazardous conditions, use of the trail by anyone is not safe until these hazards are mitigated. Please do not use this section of trail until the trail has been repaired. There is a detour route available: To get from the the Rift Zone Trail at the north end of the Horse Camp to Five Brooks Trailhead: head south on the Rift Zone Trail through the Horse Camp for 460 feet (140 m) to the Stewart Trail-Horse Camp Con...