This is a great hike and works especial well as a ginko walk when you just want to be in nature and not worry about any strenuous hiking. The trail can be tricky and is not a good choice for anyone with mobility issues as there are a number of spots that require navigating down steep embankments. A number of wooden stairwells make the nearly 1000 feet in elevation change easy. The paths and stairs are all maintained by volunteers - the Friends of Ruffin Canyon.
The 84 acre park also has a strong relationship with the nearby middle school. The students at Taft Middle School helped to put the native plant garden together and they hand painted rocks with the names of the plants as unique identification placards.
I think that this was a marvelous idea because not only does it make identifying the plants easy it also helps to involve a new generation of young people in protecting and enjoying our wild places.
Depending on the time of day that you are on the trail you will probably see a host of birds, various small mammals, insects - possible an owl which nests in the nearby owl box. The trail is about 2.5 miles and has a couple of different entry / exit points and is a great spot to see a host of native plants: lemonade berry, sage, laurel sumac, agave, and buckwheat just to name a few.
Along the canyon floor there is a small stream that is easy to miss depending on which entry trail you take. Along the stream you will find various riparian wetland plants like rushes, sedges, willows, etc. read more