The Ridgeline Traverse is the trail guests either plan their whole trip around or discover on day two and wish they'd done on day one. It's fourteen miles out and back, gains about 2,400 feet from the lodge, and takes most fit hikers between six and eight hours. This is a straightforward account of what the trail is actually like.
01 Miles one through four: the climb through the oaks
The trail leaves the lodge heading northeast and gains elevation steadily through the first four miles. The first mile is the steepest section, a series of switchbacks through chaparral that opens into black oak woodland around mile two. The oaks provide shade for most of the morning if you start early, which is worth factoring into your departure time.
By mile four you're above the main oak band and the trail flattens briefly on a small saddle. This is a good place to stop, eat something, and check how your legs feel. The next section is more exposed.
02 Miles four through seven: the ridge proper
From the saddle, the trail follows the ridge crest with views opening on both sides. To the west you can see back toward the lodge and the lower meadow. To the east the terrain drops away toward the high desert, and on a clear day the view extends a long way. The trail surface here is mostly decomposed granite, firm and well-drained.
This is the section where the black oaks and big-leaf maples put on their autumn colour. In October and November the ridge between mile four and mile seven is the most photographed stretch of trail on the property. The exposure also means wind, and the temperature drops noticeably compared to the sheltered oak woodland below.
03 The turnaround and the descent
The official turnaround is at the granite slabs around mile seven, where the trail ends at a broad flat rock with a cairn. Most guests spend fifteen or twenty minutes here before heading back. The descent follows the same route and takes roughly the same time as the ascent for most people, though tired legs on the steep switchbacks in the first mile can slow things down.
Plan to be back at the lodge before 4 pm in autumn. The temperature drops fast after the sun goes behind the ridge, and the last mile of switchbacks is easier in daylight.
The Ridgeline Traverse is a full day. Bring more water than you think you need, start early, and don't skip the saddle snack at mile four.