Name: The Grotto Trail
Rating: 3.0

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Plan in onX Backcountry

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Dogs Off-leash

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The trails are open year-round but can get muddy (or snowy) in places during the winter.

The trails are used by hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians, so please observe proper trail etiquette. A few trails are reserved for mountain biking (these are usually signed as such), so please don’t hike on these.

There are no potable water sources in the park or along the trails – be sure to bring plenty of your own.

Need to Know

There are no fees to use this park. There are 7 designated parking areas throughout the park, each with room for 5 to 12 cars. They are located near clusters of trail heads. Some have chemical toilets but most have no amenities beyond a parking space. Very useful paper trails maps are sometimes available at the parking area kiosks but can also be obtained online.

Description

The 0.7-mile Grotto Trail runs between the Halls of Manzanita Trail and the Canyon Vista Trail, around steep rock gullies and through thick copses of manzanita. There is a viewpoint along the way and, with a little off-trail scrambling up a narrow canyon, you can visit The Grotto—a narrow cleft in the rocks.

Flora & Fauna

Watch out for ticks in the spring, rattlesnakes (rare) in the warmer months, and poison oak all year-round. Consider these nuisances if you let your dog off-leash.