Walk at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery

This is a beautiful walk that I did a few times in the last 10 years and I always intend to go more often. Join me for a peaceful time.

Read the website for more information: http://www.abhayagiri.org/home/ . Please be aware of the etiquette of the grounds, as listed on the website.

We'll have a quiet walk uphill through a steep oak canyon, on the north side of the mountain (shade), and then a gradual downhill on the south side of the mountain (sun) through the monastic cabins, in silence.

Directions to the Monastery from their website follow.

Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery
16201 Tomki Road
Redwood Valley, CA 95470

Please note that many GPS devices provide incorrect directions to the monastery. If your GPS tries to direct you along any road other than Tomki Road, please do not follow it.

The best way to find the monastery is to rely on these written directions below:

1. Take the West Road exit (#557) from HWY 101, north of Ukiah (about half-way between Ukiah and Willits).
2. If you were heading north on HWY 101 from Ukiah turn right onto West Road from the exit ramp. If you were heading South on HWY 101 from Willits turn left onto West Road from the exit ramp.
3. Go straight on West Road past North State Street and then past School Way.
4. Follow West Road for three miles until it reaches a stop sign and T-junction (where Tomki Road, East Road and West Road meet).
5. Turn left at the "T" onto Tomki Road. Continue for 4 miles.
6. There will be a big turn-out with 20 mailboxes on your right. Just a few feet beyond these mail boxes, a large stucco wall with a small sign, "Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery" marks the entrance. Turn right onto the paved driveway heading steeply up and to the right.

The hike is steep, and the loop is two miles with 1200 elevation gain. (please correct this if you know this is different). We will go slow and steady. Near monastic housing, guests are asked to observe silence. Please stick together as a group. It's best to wear shoes with tread, as the oak land trail can be really slippery in the summer.

More about the past hikes - it's not an easy hike, it's uphill. The 2nd time I hiked it, I learned that one of our party had a known heart condition - and should not have been on that trail. It's up and up and up. We like to hike as a group and know that some of us hike slower or faster. We stop and look at trail junctions, and we look at maps, we bring our gps, compass, and maps, so we always know where we are. It's easy to get on the wrong trail. We take our time to look at the icons and statues peeking out from the woods. This is private property and we need to stay on the path. The Monks accept donations of all kinds for their monastery.

Redwood Photo by David Nelson from August 2025.