Land of Medicine Buddha: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area

In the Santa Cruz Mountains, near the town of Soquel, there lies a magical place, Land of Medicine Buddha. Where life simplifies, and everything seems to make more sense. You’ll find yourself whisked away to a place where all is quiet and calm, just under an hour from San Jose.

We’ve heard about Land of Medicine Buddha from another SF Bay Area travel blogger, Joyce Zee, who runs the “Around the Bay And Away” blog, and finally got a chance to visit it ourselves. Follow us on this unique hiking escape, and we hope it’ll inspire you to check it out as well.

What is Land of Medicine Buddha?

Land of Medicine Buddha is an active Buddhist community, meditation and retreat center. Just ten minutes away from the coastal village of Capitola, its grounds cover 108 acres of redwood forest, bordering 10,000 acres of redwood state forest.

Easy to moderate trails weave through the property, with thought-provoking and inspirational sights along the way. Whether you’re out for a hike or want to soak it all in, Land of Medicine Buddha is an idyllic place to unwind.

The Land of Medicine Buddha community follows the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism (Gelug means “virtuous”) that was founded over six hundred years ago by Lama Tsongkhapa (1357–1419)). Gelug became the most prominent school of Tibetan Buddhism (the other three are Nyingma, Kagyu, and Sakya). It is also known as the “Yellow Hat” school, led by the Dalai Lama.

But you don’t have to be a Buddhist to enter Land of Medicine Buddha – all are welcome, and it’s dog-friendly (on leash).

Our Hike in Land of Medicine Buddha

We arrived around 11.30 am on a Saturday, and the onsite parking still had ample spots (packed by the time we left). The woman at the main gate told us that before the pandemic, the Land would get over 300 visitors daily during the weekends. We recommend going early, as they’ve just re-opened their trails to the public on May 1st, and summer travelers are on the loose. So, check it sooner than later, before word gets out 😊.

The Prayer Wheels

The first thing that draws your undivided attention is a huge, beautifully decorated prayer wheel in the main square. This, our friends, is one of the most powerful prayer wheels on Earth, packed with 170,425,600,000 mantras, including 168 billion Om Mani Padme Hum mantras (most commonly interpreted as “The Jewel is in the Lotus”, the most sacred and well-known mantra of compassion). You are welcome to turn the prayer wheel clockwise and also learn more about it from an educational plaque on the side.

There is also a smaller pagoda prayer wheel in the Ksitigarbha garden with 64 billion Om Mani Padme Hum mantras by the bookstore and the beginning of the trails, right by the cabins (available for rent), and the swimming pool.

Bell, Gong, and the Ksitigarbha Statue

B-O-N-G! From just up the path, rang the deep bonging of a bell, echoing through the redwoods. So, we hit the short, uphill pathway to investigate the sound. Here we found the Ksitigarbha golden statue with thirty-two smaller prayer wheels surrounding it.

There was also a gong and a huge bell we had heard earlier.

Of course, we had to ring the Namgyalma Bell: it is said that when you hear the sound of her bell — all your troubles are dispelled in the moment, and the wisdom is gained.

Stupa

To our left, there was a sign reading “Stupa” and the “Wish Fulfilling Temple”. The path split: one paved, the other a dirt trail. Nothing was indicating which went where, so we continued on the dirt trail and discovered a tall white Stupa still under construction. Originating in ancient India as funerary mounds, stupas were adopted into Buddhism to first hold Buddha’s ashes, but in general, it is now associated with Buddha’s presence. Traditionally, the outside of stupas is walked clockwise for meditation and prayers.

This particular Stupa at Land of Medicine Buddha is a part of a project “100,000 Stupas”, and is built as a replica of the famous Mahabodhi Temple “Great Awakening Temple” in India, which contains a descendant of a Bodhi Tree (Fig Tree) under which Buddha found enlightenment. Here you can find a Fig Tree planted to the west. It is envisioned that this stupa will inspire wisdom, compassion, and peace for all, and be surrounded by a beautiful meditation garden.

Eight Verses Trail

In this area, you’ll notice the signs for 2-mile and 6-mile loop trails and the beginning of the Eight Verses Trail that we chose to explore.

Every 10-15 minutes along the trail, we encountered plaques containing a verse from Tibetan text, accompanied by an explanation. There is a wooden bench by each of the plaques, so one can sit down and ponder the verses, and enjoy strings of colorful prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.

As the trail guides you through the forest, you’re provided plenty of opportunities to forestbathe, enjoy the peaceful nature around you, and simply relax.

Wish Fulfilling Temple

Looping back to the Ksitigarbha statue, we realized that we hadn’t found the Wish Fulfilling Temple yet. So we decided to check out the paved path at the split to see where that went. In less than two minutes up the path, there it was, The Wish Fulfilling Temple!

Brightly colored and adorned inside and out, we were surprised how we had missed it the first time around. The temple was closed at the time, but we walked around it, peeking through the windows. We could see dozens of urns, beautiful murals on the walls, and a tall golden statue of Buddha inside.

Our hike in Land of Medicine Buddha is easily one of our favorite hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not only does it give you an opportunity to relax, quiet your mind, and get lost in nature for a little bit, but it’s also inspirational and educational. And, being just 10 minutes away from a picture-perfect coastal village of Capitola – you get a chance to enjoy the redwoods and lunch at the ocean, all in the same trip!

Travel Tips:

Land of Medicine Buddha

Land of Medicine Buddha opening hours: 9 am-2 pm daily (normally April-November). You can go for a day hike like we did, participate in a meditation class or two, or reserve a spot to stay onsite for a while. When visiting for a hike, plan to spend about an hour or two, depending on how far you choose to wander.

Bring cash for donation. Parking is free, but $5.00 donations are very welcomed. For more information, please visit the Land of Medicine Buddha site.

Address: 5800 Prescott Rd, Soquel, CA 95073 For

Capitola

Capitola is a historical beach town south of Santa Cruz, with numerous shops and restaurants which make Capitola very popular with day-trippers and tourists.

On weekends parking is tight, but be patient, spots will open up. There is also paid parking available, and parking violations are strictly enforced, so be aware.

For more hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area please check our outdoor adventures in Alum Rock Park, Rancho San Antonio, Foothills Park, and more in the Local Discoveries section. What are your favorite hikes? Have you ever been to Land of Medicine Buddha? We love hearing from you, so please comment below and subscribe to our blog!